Ship Date: Now

Intel released two new CPUs this week amid much confusion regarding the new parts' technology, performance, and price tag.

Sharky Extreme got a hold of the two new Pentium III models and put them through our standard battery of evaluation tests to determine their value and worth to consumers.

These two new Pentium IIIs are indeed based on previous Intel technology, including their current .25 micron manufacturing process, but they operate at a higher front side bus speed when used with acceptable 440BX, i810e, and in the future, i820 mainboards.

The "B" designation within the new CPU's product names is meant to indicate to customers that these CPUs operate at a 133MHz Bus speed, which aids in selecting the right model.

While some have mistakenly referred to the new P3-533B and P3-600B as "Coppermine" class CPUs (Intel's next-generation .18 micron core CPUs which are expected to debut in late October) they are in fact Katmai-class processors, as all Pentium IIIs have been since the time of the line's launch last February.

They're not revolutionary products, but these new P3s offer some unique advantages over their predecessors, which will be described as we proceed together through this article.

First off, lets clear the air and allow readers to visualize the current Pentium III CPU lineup as it exists now with the addition of these two new CPUs: