Lets assume for a second they are the server chips. Perhaps, all these theories about Apple skipping the Gulftowns aren't as crazy as we thought.
The assumption is highly likely wrong since that is not what Intel did last year, nor the year before. The initial run will use "less" of the new architecture (fewer cores and features ) because it is easier to get correct and into profitable production first. Once Intel is confident have worked out the kinks will move on to the server versions. That sequence also works better because the system vendors have longer test cycles they run on server/business class boxes than they run on $1099 special (and lower priced ) boxes they ship out.
So the server version is much more likely to come later. The projections for the Sandy Bridge Xeon class offerings is for a year from now.
The
major feature of Sandy Bridge that Intel is excited about is the on die graphics processor. That isn't going to be in most (if any) of the Xeon class offerings.
What if Apple gets the same treatment as they did with the 2008 Mac Pros and gets their chips from Intel than the rest of the other vendors?
That was a one shot deal. I suspect many of the other vendors weren't particularly pleased with that and probably was also aided due to Apple being a very new entrant to the market for those ( so didn't have much of a legacy train to deal with. Nor did they likely have high volume relative to many of the competitors. )
Edit: Correct me if I'm wrong, but moving down to 32nm calls for cheaper prices too, right?
Short term; no. Not on the 32nm devices. You may see the older stuff from Intel drop but bringing online the next gen smaller dimensions typically costs billions. Most vendors initially attempt to pay themselves back for that very large investment.
When Intel introduced the new 32nm Xeons in March the prices went
up not down. (e.g. , the 5650 is more expensive than the 5550 )
Intel tends to do what Apple does. Keep prices relatively constant and add more features that are to convey value to the new offering. This is reason why number of cores, cache , etc. keep going up. if Intel was shipping single core CPUs on 32nm the prices would all be down in the sub $110 range; even for Xeons.
Long term yeah they'll go down generally across the range of offerings.... but that will be long after the Mac Pro update ships. So far hasn't happened. There is no 3620 nor 3640 shipping on the 32nm line up. So there is no 32nm upgrade for the "entry/base" and "mid/better" level single CPU package Mac Pro. Not all of the new processors are going to be 6 core either. The entry level Mac Pro is likely going to be 4 core.
There is a common farce that folks keep trying to perpetrate here that Xeon prices crater when new tech comes long. They don't. The mid-range consumer processors change in price year over year. Xeons don't. There is a window for the consumer ones where they try to sell to the "tech spec buying" market. Those folks tend to pay more to have the latest greatest and then move onto to whatever is most shiny and new at the drop of a hat.
In business market folks tend to buy the reliably priced more so than the "most shiny and new".
