EXHIBIT 32.1

                             APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
                  SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION

In connection with this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Applied Materials, Inc.
for the period ended February 1, 2004, I, Michael R. Splinter, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Materials, Inc., hereby certify pursuant
to 18 U.S.C.Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

      1.    this Form 10-Q for the period ended February 1, 2004 fully
            complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
            Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      2.    the information contained in this Form 10-Q for the period
            ended February 1, 2004 fairly presents, in all material respects,
            the financial condition and results of operations of Applied
            Materials, Inc. for the periods presented therein.


Date: March 12, 2004

                                                    /s/ Michael R. Splinter
                                                    -----------------------
                                                    Michael R. Splinter
                                                    President and
                                                    Chief Executive Officer