Sun has announced and outlined plans for its UltraSPARC microprocessors into the year 2002. Sun's roadmap details the growth of its UltraSPARC chip line from its current 360-MHz speed to an eventual 1.5 GHz or 1,500 MHz.

The UltraSPARC V, which Sun says will be ready in 2002, will run at 1.5 GHz. Sun says this is approximately four times faster than the fastest microprocessor currently available. The UltraSPARC IV, will start at 1 GHz and will also be Sun's first copper-based chip. Mike Gallagher, Sun's SPARC marketing manager, says copper is a more efficient metal, and it increases the performance of the microprocessor.

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