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1997

Intel Pentium II

Intel

Intel Pentium II
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Specifications

CPU
Pentium II @ 233 – 450 MHz (Slot 1 SECC cartridge)
Memory
32 – 128 MB SDRAM
Storage
2 – 8 GB IDE; CD-ROM and the very first CD-RW drives
Display
AGP 2D + 3D accelerators (NVIDIA Riva TNT, 3dfx Voodoo2)
OS
Windows 98 / NT 4 / 2000
Intro price
$1,500 – $3,000 systems

The machine

Intel moved off the traditional socket and onto a daughtercard called Slot 1, with the cache on a separate die at a fraction of core speed. Not Intel's most elegant moment, but it kept the line moving.

Why it matters

Brought the Pentium Pro's powerful out-of-order core to the consumer market, with MMX bolted on. Set the stage for the original Athlon to leapfrog Intel two years later.