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Intel Updates Processor Road Map, Looks to 32-Nanometer Chips

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Processor manufacturer Intel announced on Tuesday that it plans to release two dual-core notebook and desktop processors while juggling manufacturing efforts to cut costs.
According to Macworld UK, the company will ship dual-core processors for mainstream notebooks and desktops made using the 32-nanometer process and skip plans to release similar chips manufactured using the 45-nm process.
The chips in question will ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
Company officials went on to state that such a road map update will bring the latest technologies to notebooks and desktops but did not comment as to exactly when in the fourth quarter the processors would be available.
The 32 nanometer-process chips will be an upgrade over existing 45-nanometer chips that go into current desktops and laptops, will be cheaper to manufacture, work faster and draw less power.
The new dual-core laptop chips, code-named “Arrandale”, will replace the Nehalem-based Auburndale processors according to company officials. Intel will also ship 32 nanometer dual-core desktop chips code-named “Clarkdale”, which will replace the company’s Nehalem-based Havendale chips.
The Arrandale series will boost graphics performance while drawing less power than Core 2 processors, said Stephen Smith, vice president and director of group operations at Intel. The new chips will also be more energy-efficient, which could improve laptop battery life.
The clock speeds will be similar to chips used in existing laptops, but offer better performance at a similar power envelope by running more threads via each core.
The new chips will be part of the company’s Westmere microarchitecture, which is a shrink of Intel’s existing Nehalem microarchitecture. Nehalem, which is used in Intel’s Core i7 desktop, integrates a memory controller and provides a faster pipe for the CPU to communicate with system components.
The new architecture is considered a significant upgrade over Intel’s earlier microarchitectures, as it cuts bottlenecks to improve system speed and performance-per-watt.
Earlier on Tuesday, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said the company will spend US$7 billion over the next two years to revamp manufacturing plants.
The new manufacturing process will also help create tiny integrated chips that can be fit into devices like set-top boxes and TVs, Intel said during its fourth-quarter earnings call in January. This move could help Intel enter new markets and add revenue opportunities.
Intel will begin producing chips with 32-nanometer circuitry in four fabrication plants starting in late 2009.
Stay tuned for additional details and let us know what you think in the comments or forums.


intellogo.jpg
Processor manufacturer Intel announced on Tuesday that it plans to release two dual-core notebook and desktop processors while juggling manufacturing efforts to cut costs.
According to Macworld UK, the company will ship dual-core processors for mainstream notebooks and desktops made using the 32-nanometer process and skip plans to release similar chips manufactured using the 45-nm process.
The chips in question will ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
Company officials went on to state that such a road map update will bring the latest technologies to notebooks and desktops but did not comment as to exactly when in the fourth quarter the processors would be available.
The 32 nanometer-process chips will be an upgrade over existing 45-nanometer chips that go into current desktops and laptops, will be cheaper to manufacture, work faster and draw less power.
The new dual-core laptop chips, code-named “Arrandale”, will replace the Nehalem-based Auburndale processors according to company officials. Intel will also ship 32 nanometer dual-core desktop chips code-named “Clarkdale”, which will replace the company’s Nehalem-based Havendale chips.
The Arrandale series will boost graphics performance while drawing less power than Core 2 processors, said Stephen Smith, vice president and director of group operations at Intel. The new chips will also be more energy-efficient, which could improve laptop battery life.
The clock speeds will be similar to chips used in existing laptops, but offer better performance at a similar power envelope by running more threads via each core.
The new chips will be part of the company’s Westmere microarchitecture, which is a shrink of Intel’s existing Nehalem microarchitecture. Nehalem, which is used in Intel’s Core i7 desktop, integrates a memory controller and provides a faster pipe for the CPU to communicate with system components.
The new architecture is considered a significant upgrade over Intel’s earlier microarchitectures, as it cuts bottlenecks to improve system speed and performance-per-watt.
Earlier on Tuesday, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said the company will spend US$7 billion over the next two years to revamp manufacturing plants.
The new manufacturing process will also help create tiny integrated chips that can be fit into devices like set-top boxes and TVs, Intel said during its fourth-quarter earnings call in January. This move could help Intel enter new markets and add revenue opportunities.
Intel will begin producing chips with 32-nanometer circuitry in four fabrication plants starting in late 2009.
Stay tuned for additional details and let us know what you think in the comments or forums.