Understanding Intel’s New Chips

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TIP: The way Intel release cycles work is they release a new chip architecture, then shrink the design to a smaller die-size, make some minor improvements and re-release it, then start the cycle over again. Penryn is the die-shrink and minor improvement of the Conroe chip design, and Nehalem is the brand new chip design after Penryn.

With the launch of Intel’s new family of chips coming November 12th (and continuing under January ‘08) these stupid code names are likely driving you crazy, so let’s clear some of them up right here:

Current Gen

Conroe: 65nm Desktop Core 2 chips on the market right now.
Merom: 65m Laptop/Notebook Core 2 chips on the market right now.

Next Gen

Penryn: The 45nm core design that represents the family of new processors coming out starting November 12th
- Yorkfield: Code-name for the Desktop Penryn-based CPUs coming out starting November
  - Skulltrail: Code-name for special unlocked Yorkfield-based processors that can be run in a dual-slot motherboard for a total of 4×4, or 8-core setup
- Harpertown: Code-name for the Server (Xeon) Penryn-based CPUs coming out starting November

Future Gen

Nehalem: 2008/09 brand new architecture

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This post was written by:

Riyad Kalla - who has written 1611 posts on The “Break it Down” Blog.

Ultimately I just want to provide a resource that folks find useful.

2 Comments For This Post

Ian Stockton Says:
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm

In the world of “breaking it down,” this is an excellent video: http://thenewsroom.com/details/741154?c_id=wom-bc-js

Riyad Kalla Says:
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:01 pm

Ian great link, thanks for posting!

Nehalem sounds like some pretty major changes… Cell-like almost.

2 Trackbacks For This Post

The “Break it Down” Blog » Blog Archive » Intel 45nm Lineup, Detailed Says:
October 1st, 2007 at 5:16 pm

[...] more information about Intel’s upcoming replacement lineup of CPUs for us to drool over. We have covered the chips that are coming out before, but this time we have the actual list of CPUs and a bit more [...]

The “Break it Down” Blog » Blog Archive » Intel QX9650 (Yorkfield) Not That Great Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 4:18 pm

[...] on top of one, you were likely waiting to see how the QX9650 did before making your decision. (Double-check our previous coverage of the chips, their names and making sense of it [...]

Ian Stockton Says:
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
In the world of “breaking it down,” this is an excellent video: http://thenewsroom.com/details/741154?c_id=wom-bc-js
Riyad Kalla Says:
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Ian great link, thanks for posting!

Nehalem sounds like some pretty major changes… Cell-like almost.

The “Break it Down” Blog » Blog Archive » Intel 45nm Lineup, Detailed Says:
October 1st, 2007 at 5:16 pm
[...] more information about Intel’s upcoming replacement lineup of CPUs for us to drool over. We have covered the chips that are coming out before, but this time we have the actual list of CPUs and a bit more [...]
The “Break it Down” Blog » Blog Archive » Intel QX9650 (Yorkfield) Not That Great Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
[...] on top of one, you were likely waiting to see how the QX9650 did before making your decision. (Double-check our previous coverage of the chips, their names and making sense of it [...]

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