ZDNet reports that Intel is poised to move away from the traditional gigahertz ratings of its processors, in an effort to emphasise overall performance instead of running speeds.
"Under the model number plan, each chip's clock speed will become one of several features -- including cache size and bus speed -- that go into summing up performance. The system is designed to help consumers compare chips on a 'good,' 'better' and 'best' basis, the source said."Apple, of course, has been calling for this for years, having claimed some of its processors performed better at certain tasks that faster-rated Pentiums (despite clock speeds that were much slower). Intel's motivation today is, presumably, that some newer chips perform less well than older slower-clocked chips. But is it also possible that pure processor performance is becoming less of an important factor for many users?
