Gainstown? Nehalem? I'm confused...

[lazyboy922]

I, like many, is anxiously awaiting the new Mac Pro. I thought the next processor would be Nehalem, but i'm also reading some posts that it will be Gainstown? I'm somewhat confused, are they one in the same? Or completely different? I've been reading about some great performance gains with Nehalem...

I also hear they are coming out next Tuesday, is this true? (<--joke).

Thanks!

Don

[Arkaaito]

My understanding is that Gainstown is a particular processor family and Nehalem is the name of the microarchitecture it's built on. YMMV, but you may find the Wikipedia page of Intel chipsets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_chipsets) helpful.

[lazyboy922]

Ah thanks! I didn't even think about checking Wiki...

[nanofrog]

Ah thanks! I didn't even think about checking Wiki...

Wiki is a wonderful place. :D :p

[Tallest Skil]

Ah thanks! I didn't even think about checking Wiki...

Gainestown is the two-processor Xeon and Beckton is the four-processor Xeon.

Did Intel ever have two versions of the Xeon chip at once before?

[Umbongo]

Nehalem is the processor microarchitecture.

Gainestown is the codename for the dual processor Xeons.

Tylersburg is the codename for the chipset that will be used.

5500 is the series number for the new dual processor Xeons and Chipset.

i7 is the marketing name for the high end desktop (Bloomfield) processors out right now. However you will often see i7 and Mac Pros talked about together because Intel like to confuse people as much as possible.

[nanofrog]

Gainestown is the two-processor Xeon and Beckton is the four-processor Xeon.

Did Intel ever have two versions of the Xeon chip at once before?
Yes. :)

DP and MP versions have existed simultaneously before. Market share would be lost if Intel didn't offer both. (I don't know about you, but I can't afford an MP based system. So I'm grateful they offer both). :p

Check the release dates, as you should see the overlap.