Intel Corp. is expected to introduce its first desktop computer processors capable of powerful 64-bit computing. Market analyst said it will be at least a year before there are programs that can take advantage of that ability.

Conventional processors today handle data 32 bits at a time. The new chips can process twice as much data at once, allowing for faster numbers crunching, video editing and game playing.

Engineers liken the improvement in performance to doubling the number of lanes on a freeway. But there is little 64-bit software available. After several delays, Microsoft says a 64-bit version of its Windows XP operating system will be available in the first half of this year.

The move by Intel had been expected. Archrival chip maker AMD introduced its first 64-bit desktop chip in September 2003.

Intel has already begun shipping the five processors it is introducing today in its flagship Pentium 4 chip lineup. Intel achieved the 64-bit capability by adding extensions to 32-bit chips that allow them to access greater portions of memory.

By: DocMemory
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