Intel(r)'s newest CPU, the Pentium(r) III, draws heavily on the semiconductor giant's recent past while at the same time promising throughput acceleration via an optimizable instruction set.

With no true hardware level improvements, the Pentium(r) III on the surface is a tough sell to PC performance aficionados, and that includes the staff at Sharky Extreme. Luckily, we've been able to test and analyze a new P3-450 CPU that we received the first week of February towards the goal of ascertaining whether or not it deserves our reader's hard-earned cash.

Utilizing a variety of benchmarks along with our contacts in the software development community, we've come to some conclusions about the Pentium(r) III, including its future.

The particular P3-450 we tested for this article was manufactured in mid-January, and carries an S-spec of SL364 - Malaysia. As you'll see it faired well under overclocking stress as well as general performance…..But is it enough to satisfy the masses it's intended for?

Read on….