Intel and Its Fast Cane

The fastest available quad cored Xeon server intended processors, codenamed Caneland, are shipping now to system integrators according to an Intel statement. The processor maker also released the new brand names for the components built around the Core micro-architecture.

Kirk Skaugen, vice president and co-general manager of Intel's Server Products Group, was cited by the news site Information Week saying that the new platform is made of two processors series: "the Xeon processor 7300 series, formerly called Tigerton; and the Intel 7300 chipset, formerly Clarksboro".

The fastest processor from the new server platform will run at a top clock frequency of 2.93GHz, just a little slower than the maximum speed of a Barcelona quad cored server processor from AMD. When compared to the older dual core Xeon 7100 processor series, the current platform delivers twice the computing power, claims Intel. In addition, the power efficiency is more than doubled too. According to Information Week, "The Core micro-architecture replaces the NetBurst architecture used in older Xeon processors. Core is more energy efficient and is better for use in high-density blade servers". This processor launch is preparing the ground for the 45 nanometer processor codenamed Penryn, that is expected to blur the lines between server, desktop and mobile processors as it will be shipped in both dual core and quad core architectures.

"The 45nm process builds a smaller chip with less power leakage than the 65nm and 90nm predecessors. The 45nm process is widely seen as the next great advancement in the semiconductor industry," according to the above mentioned news site. Unfortunately for Intel's rival Advanced Micro Devices, it does not expect to have a 45 nanometer processor line until sometime in 2009 and even its fast approaching Barcelona quad cored processors are months late behind Intel's products and they will have to perform exceptionally in benchmarks and real life situations to regain the ground lost by its producer.