Intel ICC - May 2005

Author
Aron Schatz
Posted
May 16, 2005
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36607
Intel ICC - May 2005
Intel is stepping up to introduce platforms to the desktop. Intel hopes to make the desktop as successful as Centrino on the mobile line. Also, check in for the new roadmaps.
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<B>Intro</B>:

<a href="http://www.intel.com">Intel</a> is begining to push for platformization to occur on the desktop as it has on notebooks with their Centrino line. I recently went to an Intel Channel Conference to find out the latest scoop on Intel's products. Needless to say, it is interesting.

<B>Processor Numbers</B>:

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I am sure everyone is familiar with Intel's processor numbering system. With the current system today, there are 3xx,5xx, and 7xx lines of CPUs. The 6xx line just came out and is the Pentium 4 with EM64T (x86-64). The 3xx series contains the Celeron M and the Celeron D lines. The 5xx series contains the Penitum 4 with Hyper Threading. The 7xx line is the Pentium M line for notebooks. The new 6xx line has EM64T as mentioned and also contains the new revision of the Prescott core containing 2MB of cache and SpeedStep. Extreme Edition CPUs do not use the model number rule and are marketted by clock speed. Shown at the conference is the not yet released 8xx line of CPUs. These will be marketted as Pentium D (notice that it does not contain '4' in the name). The 8xx line will be Intel's dual core CPU (codenamed Smithfield) line and will run at 800MHz FSB and higher. These CPUs will not contain Hyper-Threading. They will contain 2x1MB of cache, meaning that each core will have its own 1MB of L2 cache. The 820 will run at 2.8GHz, the 830 will run at 3GHz, and the 840 will run at 3.2GHz. All new desktop CPUs will be using the LGA775 package.

You'll also notice a refresh on the 5xx and the 3xx line of CPUs. If you notice a model number ending in 1 or 6, it contains EM64T.

<B>Intel Desktop Boards</B>:

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Intel wants to do on desktops what Centrino did for notebooks. Their new 945 and 955 chipsets will support all desktop CPUs in the LGA775 package, except the 955 will not run Celerons. The 955 is aimed at the high performance sector and Intel is confident that no one will be running a Celeron on this board (by forcing the issue). There are five types of platforms that Intel is marketting its products for. Extreme, Media, Executive, Classic, and Essentials are the new type of boards that you'll be seeing from Intel. Each motherboard will come out in a few of those flavors to cater to the individual user.

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Intel will be releasing a new southbridge dubbed ICH7. Among other nifty features, the ICH7R (with RAID) will support RAID 0,1,5 and 10. It will also support up to 4 Serial ATA drives in RAID. That's pretty impressive for a desktop platform. All new motherboards will be using the new revision of Serial ATA that bumps the speed to 300 MB/s. Do not be fooled by marketting, this is still Serial ATA 1.

<B>The Mobile Front</B>:

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Intel's Pentium M made notebook that have 3 or more hours of battery life the norm. This is where mobile is heading. Intel continues to push the Centrino line with an updated to the technology. Incorporating DDR2 and PCI Express, mobile users can expect similiar performance to desktop.

Another issue for Intel in the mobile front is whitebooks. Many people already assemble a desktop computer because the parts are interchangable and available. Intel wants to expand this concept further to notebooks with their whitebook program. Intel is working with ODMs (Original Design Manufactures) to create standard shells and screens for use in whitebooks. I hope that Intel succeeds in this manner as I would love to build my own notebooks.

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<B>Wrap-up</B>:

Now we can see where <a href="http://www.intel.com">Intel</a> is heading. On a lighter note, Intel refused to mention AMD at the conference, instead refering to them as 'That A Company'. Microsoft has conveinently released there 64-bit version of Windows right along with the 6xx line of CPUs from Intel. Intel will begin pushing for platformization on the desktop by the time you read this so get ready for even more choices which is good for the consumer. I will have more information from the conference on Windows x64 in another article. Thank you for reading.

This article has been editted at the request of Intel.

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