The faster bus is a logical extension of a quad-pumped 133-MHz bus that Intel developed for the previous Penitum III generation. An Intel processor spokesman said only that the firm "hasn't talked about a 533-MHz FSB."

The reported new bus would offer higher performance and take greater advantage of the PC266 double data rate memory, which would have a compatible clock speed match.

Intel is shipping its 845 DDR chipset now for customer qualification, expecting a fullscale production launch in Q1 '02.

The 533-MHz FSB would also benefit Rambus' Direct RDRAM memory. Sources expect Rambus to announce a next-generation 1.06-GHz speed Direct RDRAM at its rescheduled developers conference Oct. 22-23 in San Jose, Calif.

Matching memory and processor clock speeds makes it easier for chip set core logic to transfer data at high speeds, although it isn't essential. DDR chipsets -- either from third party Taiwan vendors or Intel's own upcoming 845 DDR version -- can adjust core logic to interface PC266 memory chips with the current 400-MHz Pentium 4 FSB.

The 533-GHz P4 bus would handle more data and take better advantage of the future higher speed 1.06-GHz Direct RDRAM chip.

While Intel is gearing up for higher speed P4 bus lines, rival AMD this week took to the marketing front by naming its upcoming 1.5GHz version of the Athlon the AthlonXP, adopting the same initials as Microsoft's upcoming Windows XP multimedia-intensive operating system.