Products

We currently offer products in a broad range of categories. These products include:

microprocessors with one, two, or four processor cores, designed for desktops, workstations, servers, notebooks, embedded products, communications products, and consumer electronics;
chipsets designed for desktops, workstations, servers, notebooks, embedded products, communications products, and consumer electronics;
motherboard products designed for our desktop, workstation, and server platforms;
NAND flash memory products primarily used in digital audio players, memory cards, and system-level applications, such as solid-state drives;
NOR flash memory products (during the first quarter of 2008, we expect to complete the divestiture of our NOR flash memory assets to Numonyx; see "Note 13: Divestitures" in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K);
wired and wireless Internet connectivity products, including network adapters and embedded wireless cards, based on industry-standard technologies used to translate and transmit data in packets across networks;
other communications infrastructure products—including network processors, communications boards, and optical transponders—that are basic building blocks for modular communications platforms;
networked storage products that allow storage resources to be added to either of the two most prevalent types of networking technology: Ethernet or Fibre Channel; and
software products and services that help enable and advance the computing ecosystem.

We offer features to improve microprocessor capabilities that can enhance system performance and user experience. For example, we offer Intel^® Active Management Technology (Intel^® AMT), which helps information technology managers diagnose, fix, and protect enabled systems that are plugged into a power source and connected to a network, even if a computer is turned off or has a failed hard drive or operating system. We also offer Intel^® Virtualization Technology (Intel^® VT), which can enable a single computer system to function as multiple virtual systems by running multiple operating systems and applications, thereby consolidating workloads and providing increased security and management capabilities. In addition, our Intel^® Core™ microarchitecture includes other features that can increase performance and energy efficiency. To take advantage of these features, a computer system must have a microprocessor that supports a chipset and BIOS (basic input/output system) that use, and software that is optimized for, the technology. Performance will vary depending on the system hardware and software used.

We offer platforms that incorporate various components and technologies. A platform typically includes a microprocessor, chipset, and enabling software and may include additional hardware, services, and support. In developing our platforms, we may include components made by other companies. A component is one of any number of software or hardware features that may be incorporated into a computer, handheld device, or other computing system, including a microprocessor, chipset, motherboard, memory, wired or wireless connectivity device, or software. We refer to the platform brands within our product offerings as processor technologies.

We strive to design computing and communications systems and devices with improved overall performance and/or improved energy-efficient performance. Improved overall performance can include faster processing performance and other improved capabilities such as multithreading and multitasking. Performance can also be improved through enhanced connectivity, security, manageability, utilization, reliability, ease of use, and interoperability among devices. Improved energy-efficient performance involves balancing the addition of improved performance factors with lower power consumption. Lower power consumption may reduce system heat output, thereby providing power savings and reducing the total cost of ownership for the user.

Following is detailed information on our major product categories:

A microprocessor is the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system. It processes system data and controls other devices in the system, acting as the "brains" of the computer. The following characteristics of a microprocessor may affect overall performance:

Multi-core processors. Multi-core processors contain two or more processor cores, which enable improved multitasking and energy-efficient performance because computing tasks can be distributed across multiple cores.
CPU design. Microprocessor design can refer to the microarchitecture and/or the architecture. We use the term "microarchitecture" when referring to the layout, density, and logical design of each product generation. The term "architecture" generally refers to the largest size of numerical data that a microprocessor can handle, measured in bits (the smallest unit of information). Intel^® Itanium^® branded products are based on our 64-bit architecture (IA-64); our other microprocessor products are based on our 32-bit architecture (IA-32). Microprocessors with 64-bit processing capability can address significantly more memory than 32-bit microprocessors. One way to provide 64-bit processing capability is for processors based on 32-bit architecture to have 64-bit address extensions. The majority of our microprocessors are equipped with Intel^® 64 architecture, which provides 64-bit address extensions, supporting both 32-bit and 64-bit software applications.
Clock speed. Clock speed is the rate at which a microprocessor's internal logic operates and is one measure of a microprocessor's performance.
Memory size and access speed. Cache is a memory that can be located directly on the microprocessor, permitting quicker access to frequently used data and instructions. Some of our microprocessors have additional levels of cache to enable higher levels of performance. Memory storage is measured in bytes (8 bits per byte), with 1,024 bytes equaling a kilobyte (KB), 1.049 million bytes equaling a megabyte (MB), and 1.074 billion bytes equaling a gigabyte (GB).
Speed of communication between the CPU and the chipset. A bus carries data between parts of the system. A faster bus allows for faster data transfer into and out of the processor, enabling increased performance.

The chipset operates as the PC's "nervous system," sending data between the microprocessor and input, display, and storage devices, such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor, hard drive, and CD or DVD drive. Chipsets perform essential logic functions, such as balancing the performance of the system and removing bottlenecks. Chipsets also extend the graphics, audio, video, and other capabilities of many systems based on our microprocessors. Finally, chipsets control the access between the CPU and main memory.

A motherboard is the principal board within a system. A motherboard has connectors for attaching devices to the bus, and typically contains the CPU, memory, and the chipset.

Flash memory is a specialized type of memory component used to store user data and program code; it retains this information even when the power is off, and provides faster access to data than traditional hard drives. Flash memory has no moving parts, unlike devices such as rapidly spinning disk drives, allowing flash memory to be more tolerant of bumps and shocks. Flash memory is based on either NOR or NAND architecture. NOR flash memory, with its fast access or "read" capabilities, has traditionally been used to store executable code. NAND flash memory, which is slower in reading data but faster in writing data, has become the preferred flash memory for storing large quantities of data.

Wired and wireless Internet connectivity products, such as network adapters and embedded wireless cards, are based on industry-standard technologies used to translate and transmit data in packets across networks. Our wireless connectivity products are based on either the 802.11 or 802.16 industry standard. The 802.11 communication standard refers to a family of specifications commonly known as WiFi technology. We also have developed and are developing wireless connectivity products for both mobile and fixed networks based on the 802.16 industry standard, commonly known as WiMAX, which is short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology providing high-speed broadband connectivity that makes it possible to connect users to networks wirelessly, as well as networks to other networks, up to several miles apart.

Communications infrastructure products include advanced, programmable processors used in networking equipment that rapidly manage and direct data moving across the Internet and networks. Our modular communications platforms are based on telecommunications industry standards, such as carrier grade, allowing communications and media services to be managed independently from the network itself. Unlike proprietary systems platforms, carrier-grade, rack-mount servers based on our modular communications platforms are standards-based solutions that offer network infrastructure builders flexible, low-cost, low-power-consumption options for designing their networks.

Below, we discuss our key products and processor technologies, including some key introductions, for our major operating segments. For a discussion of our strategy, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K.