Intel's Quad-Core, Xeon 3000 Launch Excites Partners Vendor expects to ship industry's first quad-core chips in mid-November By Paula Rooney, CRN 12:01 AM EDT Mon. Sep. 25, 2006 From the September 25, 2006 CRN Intel will try to multiply its market and channel momentum with the launch of its first quad-core processor and Xeon 3000 SMB server platform this week, sources said. At the Intel Developer Forum this week in San Francisco, the company is expected to announce that its much-anticipated quad-core desktop and server processor is slated to ship in mid-November, sources told CRN. Sources believe the quad core will be named Intel Core 2 Quad or Core 2 Quadro. The current dual-core processors, for which Intel launched its Multiple branding campaign last week, are known as Core 2 Duo. Partners say they are very excited about the industry's first quad processor because it will work with existing 5000 series motherboards that were designed for dual-core systems, sources said. For example, the quad-core processors can be "dropped" right into Intel's Xeon-based Bensley server platform, said one source. "It's a huge boost because I won't have to retool and rework the motherboard switching to quad-core from dual-core," said one system builder who requested anonymity. "It was a difficult transition switching from single- to dual-core Xeons." Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., also is expected to officially launch three Xeon 3000-based entry-level server boards that support multiple Intel processors, including Xeon, Pentium and Centrino, at attractive pricing, sources said. The Xeon 3000, essentially a rebranding of its high-end Core 2 Duo desktop processor, will be priced at $150, sources said. Intel also will offer three motherboards that incorporate the Xeon 3000 chipset: the $250 S3000AHLX, which supports PCI-X 64; and the $200 five-slot S3000AH and $170 four-slot S3000AHV, both of which support PCI-Express and PCI. "That's very aggressive pricing," said another channel source. "I'm used to paying in the $350 to $450 range for a server-class motherboard." The products bolster Intel's partner-courting efforts, including a channel reorganization and a strong product counterattack against Advanced Micro Devices. AMD is expected to release its quad-core mid-2007 and said the Xeon 3000 is a simple rebranding of the Core 2 Duo desktop chip. Most partners believe AMD will remain strong in the channel, but the winds are shifting in Intel's favor. "Intel's competitive again, and AMD sidling up to Dell is rubbing partners the wrong way," said one partner, who requested anonymity. "There's a net negative between the channel and AMD because it takes away a key competitive advantage the channel had against Dell."
I currently run several quad core processor machines and I tend to agree with you. I do a lot of data warehouse stuff for clients. I am also heavy into SQL Servers right now. I normally say hold off to new tech stuff and this will be no different as client level introductions go. But I have a pretty good feeling about this unlike the dual core intros earlier. I got some really great deals (eBay) on a few dual core quad processor machines that I'll be upgrading to the quad quad (4 x 4, hmm) format when my supplier can get me a few.
80 core CPUs within 5 years : http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-6119618.html?part=rss&tag=6119618&subj=news
Yeah and and as mentioned in the previous article, this is pretty cool too. World's First Hybrid Silicon Laser: Chip That Emits And Guides Light Could Drive Silicon Photonics
Been a while since they were first too! ------------------------------- Intel To Land First Blow In Quad-Core Fight With AMD Intel's first quad-core x86-based processors will hit the market in November and be used in high-end gaming systems. Its first mainstream desktop version will be ready in the first quarter of 2007. By Darrell Dunn InformationWeek Sep 26, 2006 05:00 PM Intel plans to combine its speed advantage over rival Advanced Micro Devices in the upcoming quad-core quarrel with promises to meet aggressive energy efficiency goals for processors targeted at both servers and desktop PCs. Intel's first quad-core x86-based processors will hit the market in November with the introduction of the QX 6700, or the Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor, and will be used in high-end gaming systems. In the first quarter of 2007, Intel plans its first mainstream desktop version to be called the Core 2 Quad. For servers, the Quad-Core Xeon 5300 will ship later this year, with a low-power Quad-Core Xeon L5310 planned for the first quarter of 2007, as well as high-performance and higher-powered Xeon version planned for introduction next year primarily for workstations or server installations where heat is not a primary concern. The quad-core devices will in most cases meet existing thermal envelopes for power dissipation in desktop and server installations, while providing a 50% to 70% performance boost. The initial Xeon 5300 is expected to use 80 watts, the same as the existing Xeon dual-core platform. The low-voltage quad-core Xeon will run at 50 watts, and will likely be used primarily in blade servers. The high-performance Xeon will run at 120 watts. Desktop quad-core processors will run between 100 and 130 watts. Intel will use the same approach it used initially in moving from single core to dual core processors during the transition to quad-core. The first quad-core designs from Intel will combine two dual-core processors into a single package. AMD, by contrast will bring out its first quad-core processors using a single, or monolithic, design that places all four cores into a single piece of silicon. The multi-chip package approach will allow Intel to get to market quicker with its quad-core processors, and with better usable processor yields that will translate into lower manufacturing costs. As Intel transitions to the next step in manufacturing technology, 45 nanometers, it will likely move its quad-core designs to a monolithic design as well. "This is a multi-chip package, but so what? I think you'd be misreading the market if you think people care about the packaging," Paul Tortellini, Intel president and CEO, said after his keynote Tuesday. Nathan Brookwood, an analyst with Insight 64, says it appears that Intel will be "right in the ballpark" in maintaining good thermal performance with its processors during the dual-core to quad-core transition. Mike Feibus, an analyst with Tec Knowledge Strategies Inc., says the quad-core jump Intel will get on AMD is too late to reverse much of the momentum that AMD has gained. "A lot of damage has already been done," he says. "The Dell move [to use AMD processors] was a slap in the face for Intel." AMD has been able to get "quite a bit of mileage" our of its energy efficiency push with its Opteron processors for servers in the past two years. Intel's recent introductions, including the upcoming quad-core devices, should enable it to also begin touting its ability to deliver the best performance per watt, Feibus says.
Quad core benchmarks. Unsurprisingly, it's quicker. http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/09/10/four_cores_on_the_rampage/