COMPILER

The software contained in a chip's microcode that translates a software program from a high-level language into code that can be read and processed by the microprocessor.

EPIC

(explicitly parallel instruction computing) Like reduced or complex instruction set computing before it, EPIC is a collection of techniques aimed at bunching multiple instructions into one long instruction and using a software compiler to put the long instructions into an order so that they can be dispatched quickly. Intel (Nasdaq : INTC) believes that EPIC -- in contrast to the aging RISC and CISC architecture -- has decades of headroom.

IA-32

(Intel architecture, 32 bits) Intel's existing x86 microprocessor line, which ranges from the 8086 processor of the early '80s to today's pentium 4.

IA-64

(Intel architecture, 64 bits) The name of the instruction set architecture that Intel's newest chips will use. It contains all the specifications necessary to create a chip.

ITANIUM

Formerly code-named Merced, Itanium is the first 64-bit microprocessor being produced by Intel. The chips are overdue and are expected to be launched in volume this year.

McKINLEY

Code name for the follow-up chip to Itanium. Intel officials say they will be released in 2001 and will be twice as fast as Itanium.

PENTIUM 4

The latest version of Intel's 32-bit microprocessor, launched in November.

VLIW

(very long instruction word) A computing architecture that combines a number of small instructions into one long instruction for a complex microprocessor. Such a chip relies upon its compiler to arrange the code in a a manner that can be quickly processed.