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 August 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 August 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
       August 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: August 31, 2004

                                                By: /s/ MICHAEL R. SPLINTER
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Michael R. Splinter
                                                    President and
                                                    Chief Executive Officer