Intel Pentium 4 Processor Logo

The Intel Pentium 4 processor was a line of CPUs (central processing units) manufactured by Intel Corporation and introduced in 2000. It was a successor to the Pentium III and was the first CPU to use the NetBurst microarchitecture.

The Pentium 4 was designed to run at high clock speeds, with initial versions ranging from 1.3 GHz to 2.0 GHz. Later versions reached clock speeds up to 3.8 GHz. The high clock speed made the Pentium 4 initially popular among users who demanded high performance, such as gamers and professionals who used demanding software.

However, the Pentium 4 was criticized for its inefficient design, which led to high power consumption and heat generation. It was also less efficient in performing certain tasks compared to other processors on the market, despite its high clock speed. As a result, Intel eventually replaced the Pentium 4 with newer processor lines such as the Intel Core series.