Intel's microprocessors provide the engines for computers worldwide. Every 18 months, computer processing power doubles, and Intel moves into the manufacture of smaller, more powerful microprocessors.

A chip's capability is based on the number of transistors on a piece of silicon. Intel could get around three million transistors on to a silicon wafer when it started manufacturing operations in Ireland in 1989; the new .13 micron chips to be manufactured here will hold between 20 and 25 million transistors on a similar sized piece of silicon.

The micron refers to the size of the gaps between each transistor on a chip. The .13 micron chips will have gaps between the transistors of approximately one six hundredth of a human hair.

By continually reducing the gaps, users of the chips can enjoy faster computer processing power with greater memory. Such chips are ideal to drive the massive market for Internet based applications, including multimedia systems, 3D graphics and DVD.