New Intel Computer Chip Promises Improved Graphics, Video, Sound

Intel Corp. and the best-known makers of personal computers launched technology Wednesday they hope will put consumers back in the buying mood.

Machines equipped with the new Intel Pentium MMX chips were shown off with promises of substantially improved graphics, video, sound and communications.

The Intel microprocessors with the new technology will run existing programs 10 percent to 20 percent faster than previous same-speed processors, the company said. Programs written to take advantage of the new chip should run 60 times faster.

This means improvements in a wide variety of programs, including photo and video editing, 3-D graphics, animation and games, Intel said.

“Our whole goal here is to deliver a new level of performance, a new level of capability to the consumer,” said Mike Aymar, vice president of Intel’s desktop products group.

Industry observers think some consumers interested in buying PCs held off purchases during the holiday season knowing that computers with the MMX chip would be available this month. Some believe the new processor could tempt more people to buy PCs.