TECH NEWS – Intel has announced a new processor, simply called “Intel Processor”, to replace the entry-level Pentium and Celeron CPU series, which the chip maker plans to retire in 2023.

Intel says it will “retire the Intel Pentium and Intel Celeron brand names beginning in the first quarter of 2023,” and that the decision is to “sharpen focus on flagship brands” such as Intel Core, EVO, and vPro. The Intel processor will debut in its upcoming “Essential” series of PCs, which are entry-level systems.

The Pentium chip was released in 1993 and served as Intel’s flagship CPU for almost a decade before being replaced by the Intel Core family of chips. Since then, Pentium chips have been found primarily in entry-level workstations and laptops.

Celeron was released in 1998 as a CPU for low-cost and low-end systems. Like Pentium chips, Celeron processors are mainly found in Intel’s low-power notebooks. According to Intel, the withdrawal of the Pentium and Celeron brands in favor of the Intel Processor serves to simplify the product lines.

“Intel is committed to driving innovation to benefit users, and our entry-level processor families have been instrumental in raising the bar for PCs at all price points,” Josh Newman, vice president of mobile client platforms, said in a blog post (opens in a new tab). “The new Intel processor branding simplifies our offering so users can focus on choosing the right processor for their needs.”

I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for the Pentium chip. Anyone of my age had a Pentium or Celeron chip on their first PC. And for a long time, a PC with a Pentium chip meant you were working with serious horsepower.

As the great Weird Al Yankovic once said of the doomed Pentium processor, “While your computer crashes, mine is multitasking. It does all my work without me asking.” (“While your computer’s crashin’, mine’s multitaskin’. It does all my work without me even askin’.” )

Thank you, Pentium chip! You have earned your retirement.

Source: PC Gamer