SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Intel Corp. today verified reports of a bug in the Xeon microprocessor and its companion 450NX core-logic chip set. Xeon is Intel's new Pentium II-class microprocessor.

"We have confirmed that there is an erratum, which takes place between Xeon and the 450NX chip set," an Intel spokeswoman said. The bug affects Xeon-based servers that use the new NX chip set. But it does not affect Xeon-based workstations, which use Intel's existing 450GX chip set.

Intel has developed a workaround for the glitch in the form of an update to the microcode which controls execution of instructions on the processor. "We have sent the workaround to our OEMs and they are going to validate it," the spokeswoman said.

A specific technical description of the bug wasn't available, but should become public shortly after Intel formally unveils Xeon on Monday, June 25.

Intel will debut the new CPU at company headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. Intel officials will be joined by a host of systems OEMs. While the glitch won't delay the delivery of Xeon-based workstations, it could put a slight crimp in vendors' server plans. "This will extend the validation of Xeon and the NX [chip set] with servers by a couple of weeks," Intel's spokeswoman said.

The Xeon processor employs the basic Pentium II architecture but adds enhanced cache, a 100-MHz processor bus and the ability to address several gigabytes of memory. Xeon, which utilizes Intel's new Slot 2 package, will debut in a 400-MHz speed grade followed by a 450-MHz device by the end of the year. The beefed up L2 caches will start at 512 kbytes and are planned in sizes up to 2 Mbytes.