14 DAY TRIAL // The release date of the next generation of quad core server intended processors from the Xeon line is official now. Intel decided that the best release data is the 11th of November, when the giant chipmaker will launch no less than seven processors based on the Harpertown core.
According to the news site DailyTech, Intel intends to clock the new processors at speeds between 2.0GHz to 3.16GHz and two variants will be made available to customers: the standard E model and the more performance-oriented X variant, while the low power, low voltage and lower performance and price L model is expected only in the first months of 2008, with two models in the pipeline.
As Intel designed the Penryn generation of server processors to compete with the lower energy consumption AMD Barcelona quad core CPU which needs around 90W, all the standard E models come with an 80W power envelope, the only one reaching over 100W is the X edition which climbs to an 120W TDP rating. Unlike previous processor launches, Intel did not issue a public statement or a press release, all information being available only on a public Web page designed for retail channel dealers and resellers.
The slowest Penryn CPU, codenamed E5405, which runs at 2.0GHz and has 12MB of level 2 cache memory, will be priced at $209, while the fastest E model, the E5450 processor with a frequency of 3.00GHz and the same amount of cache memory will be available for $851. The fastest Xeon, based on the Penryn quad core architecture, the one codenamed X5460, runs at a clock speed of 3.16GHz, has 12MB of level 2 cache memory and it will be priced at $1,172.
The Penryn architecture is the continuation of the Core 2 micro architecture that is implemented in the Woodcrest and Conroe processors and unlike other processors available on the market, the Penryn is built using the 45nm fabrication process. A number of new performance and power related technologies were also implemented, such as the new SSE4 multimedia accelerating instructions.