Intel Details Chip Roadmap 2007-2008: Penryn and Nehalem

[MacRumors]

Intel today released some details on its next-generation 45 nanometer chips (code-named Penryn) due later this year.

Penryn, the next chip family to be based on the Core micro-architecture, will include the following enhancements (among others):

- Speeds in excess of 3 GHz
- Dual-core L2 cache of 6 MB, Quad-core L2 cache of 12 MB
- Intel Virtualization Technology speed enhancements
- SSE4
- Enhanced Intel Dynamic Acceleration Technology: when one core sleeps, a still-active core will get a performance boost (single-threaded applications will see a boost).
- Deep Power Down Technology: "significantly reduces the power of the processor during idle periods such that internal transistor power leakage is no longer a factor. This helps extend battery life in laptops."

Intel currently has 15 Penryn-based chips lined up. The upcoming Penryn chips will be marketed under both the "Core" and "Xeon" brand names with dual core mobile processors, dual and quad-core desktop processors, and dual and quad-core server processors.

Apple will likely only select a few models to include in its lineup. Apple currently uses the Core Duo "Yonah" in the Mac Mini, Core 2 Duo "Merom" in the iMac, MacBook and MacBook Pro, and the Xeon 51xx "Woodcrest" in its Mac Pro and Xserve. Recurring rumors (1, 2, 3) of an upgraded Mac Pro utilizing Xeon 53xx "Clovertown" 4-core chips have yet to come to fruition.

In addition, Intel gives a glimpse towards its future next-generation Nehalem architecture. While Nehalem is still a ways off with initial production set for early 2008, Intel says that the architecture will see a rebirth of Hyperthreading, incorporate caching advances, and will scale to 8 cores and beyond.

[ Digg This ]

 

[spicyapple]

"Quad-core L2 cache of 12 MB"

Schweet! This is for Penryn notebooks, right?

 

[mainstreetmark]

Speed in Excess of 3 Gigahertz!! That's unpossible.

 

[Zwhaler]

I will be happy with the 2nd generation Meroms if Penryn won't have quad core notebooks. Now people will be asking weather or not to wait for Penryn, before Santa Rosa is even out!

 

[dante@sisna.com]

Intel today released some details on its next-generation 45 nanometer chips (code-named Penryn) due later this year.

Penryn, the next chip family to be based on the Core micro-architecture, will include the following enhancements (among others):

- Speeds in excess of 3 GHz
- Dual-core L2 cache of 6 MB, Quad-core L2 cache of 12 MB
- Intel Virtualization Technology speed enhancements
- SSE4
- Enhanced Intel Dynamic Acceleration Technology: when one core sleeps, a still-active core will get a performance boost (single-threaded applications will see a boost).
- Deep Power Down Technology: "significantly reduces the power of the processor during idle periods such that internal transistor power leakage is no longer a factor. This helps extend battery life in laptops."

Intel currently has 15 Penryn-based chips lined up. The upcoming Penryn chips will be marketed under both the "Core" and "Xeon" brand names with dual core mobile processors, dual and quad-core desktop processors, and dual and quad-core server processors.

Apple will likely only select a few models to include in its lineup. Apple currently uses the Core Duo "Yonah" in the Mac Mini, Core 2 Duo "Merom" in the iMac, MacBook and MacBook Pro, and the Xeon 51xx "Woodcrest" in its Mac Pro and Xserve. Recurring rumors (1, 2, 3) of an upgraded Mac Pro utilizing Xeon 53xx "Clovertown" 4-core chips have yet to come to fruition.

In addition, Intel gives a glimpse towards its future next-generation Nehalem architecture. While Nehalem is still a ways off with initial production set for early 2008, Intel says that the architecture will see a rebirth of Hyperthreading, incorporate caching advances, and will scale to 8 cores and beyond.

Nice so after the Stoakley Octo I guess we get the --- what --- The Hexadecagon (16) Core Mac Pro? Now that should really be the box for Final Cut Studio late 2008.

 

[LostPacket]

Bah. Just give us Clovertown already. At this rate, Apple won't include Penryn until Nehalem is out.

 

[Eidorian]

"Quad-core L2 cache of 12 MB"

Schweet! This is for Penryn notebooks, right?

Hahah, no.

I will be happy with the 2nd generation Meroms if Penryn won't have quad core notebooks. Now people will be asking weather or not to wait for Penryn, before Santa Rosa is even out!

Intel's "Gilo" should be out by now. Rumor is that it's a quad core Merom. We also have LV Xeon processors with a TDP of 50W. It shouldn't be that much harder to make a mobile quad core even using the 65 nm process.

I do like the single threaded Dynamic boost feature.

 

[spicyapple]

Now people will be asking weather[sic] or not to wait for Penryn, before Santa Rosa is even out!

Some schmuck already asked the question.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/274569/

 

[05elstonc]

It is amazing how far Intel has come in 2 years. I bet Steve and Co are quite happy with their decision to move to Intel. My 1.33 G4 12" Powerbook seems anemic now.

 

[kroko]

my macpro buying plan seems to be postphoned again... when will i see a penryn desktop model for macUUBERPRO?!

 

[FF_productions]

It is amazing how far Intel has come in 2 years. I bet Steve and Co are quite happy with their decision to move to Intel. My 1.33 G4 12" Powerbook seems anemic now.

Yeah I'm glad I switched to Intel.

We all miss PPC and its dominance towards the Pentium chips, now things have changed.

 

[slffl]

Just when I'm ready to get the next Macbook Pro that comes out, they do this.

 

[kinless]

Always waiting for the next machine is the reason I've used a Beige G3 since 2001.

And I really wish I was kidding about that.

 

[wildmac]

so, Apple will wait until these chips are in production, and then ship an updated MacPro with the older chips at WWDC. sigh...

I don't think we'll see anything announced at NAAB besides software... The new MacPros will probably require Leopard, and that's why they are being delayed.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

my macpro buying plan seems to be postphoned again... when will i see a penryn desktop model for macUUBERPRO?!

Quick guess; October.

 

[TheManOfSilver]

OK OK ... I get it ... no quad core in a laptop just yet ...

... but how about in an iMac ... oh man I'd like that!

 

[Eidorian]

OK OK ... I get it ... no quad core in a laptop just yet ...

... but how about in an iMac ... oh man I'd like that!

I can see the 17" MacBook Pro being able to support a 50W TDP mobile quad core. The iMac (35-50W TDP w/PowerPC 970FX) should be able to as well. We just need the chips to be out first.

 

[Sopranino]

It is amazing how far Intel has come in 2 years. I bet Steve and Co are quite happy with their decision to move to Intel. My 1.33 G4 12" Powerbook seems anemic now.

1.33 is anemic??, my poor paltry 1 Ghz must really be outdated now......

Seriously though, it is amazing how fast Intel has ramped up the overall processing power (speed and multi core).

I have to wonder if Apple will be able to actually produce new versions of its computer lines whenever Intel releases a new chip. Consider that there are already new platforms and chips coming (Santa Rosa, Robson Caching, etc) and now Intel is announcing even newer technologies that will be available within a relatively short period of time. Apple has not released any information on any next (gen) versions of their computer lines including systems that may employ Santa Rosa, 65 Nanometer CPUs.

Any thoughts.....

Sopranino

 

[Multimedia]

How About A Dual Clovertown Mac Pro NOW?!?!?

"Quad-core L2 cache of 12 MB"

Schweet! This is for Penryn notebooks, right?

No.

Just give us our Dual Clovertown Mac Pro already. Please?

 

[Rocketman]

The 2H 2007 timing bodes well for WWDC announce and tiered delivery schedule for Macs accross the line.

Yes Penryn is suitable for mobile Macs like MacBookPro.

Rocketman

 

[Peace]

No.

Just give us our Dual Clovertown Mac Pro already. Please?

I can't say it enough..

NAB
NAB
NAB

All our wishes and desires..

We will see at NAB.

 

[sososowhat]

It is amazing how far Intel has come in 2 years. I bet Steve and Co are quite happy with their decision to move to Intel. My 1.33 G4 12" Powerbook seems anemic now.

You know, my 1.5 G4 12" is still a wonderful machine. I recently upped the RAM to 1.25G & it rocks. Sure, octo-core 6Ghz performance would be fun, but for everyday stuff on a laptop I care about form factor and battery life more than anything else. I'll buy when the 12" MBP is out, but even then probably mostly for the 802.11n, WiMax & built-in iSight more than for raw "power".

 

[shawnce]

No.

Just give us our Dual Clovertown Mac Pro already. Please?

I think Apple may wait until Penryn is available before shipping 8 core Mac Pro systems ... personally I don't believe Clovertown makes a compelling upgrade to the Mac Pro (using the existing chipset) ...with that said Leopard may make Clovertown based Mac Pro a little more compelling... and hence likely.

 

[Clive At Five]

Intel currently has 15 Penryn-based chips lined up. The upcoming Penryn chips will be marketed under both the "Core" and "Xeon" brand names with dual core mobile processors, dual and quad-core desktop processors, and dual and quad-core server processors.

Woah woah woah, wait.

Does this mean the "Core" chips will be pin-to-pin compatible with "Xeon" chips?

If yes, I can't wait to see the hardmac.com article about the fool who popped one into a MacMini and melted the thing down into the Earth's crust.

Excellent.

-Clive

 

[pgwalsh]

It is amazing how far Intel has come in 2 years. I bet Steve and Co are quite happy with their decision to move to Intel. My 1.33 G4 12" Powerbook seems anemic now.

I was screaming for them to switch for years and they finally did. I got blasted in a lot of threads as well. They did and I'm happy. I was also screaming for them to allow OS X to run on non-Apple branded computers, which they haven't and in hindsight, I'm glad they didn't.