Intel Axing the First 45nm Chips

Intel, the Santa Clara based chip manufacturer, announced yesterday that it plans to immediately phase out a few of its 45nm processors, in addition to some of the 65nm chips that are being discontinued. The list of the axed CPUs includes Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Duo Mobile and one Core 2 Quad chip. Moreover, since it is moving towards the Santa Rosa platform and the NAND flash technology, the company also announced that it ends the 1GB Turbo Memory used in ReadyBoost.

Three of Intel's 45nm processors are being discontinued. The company revealed that “Market demand ... has shifted to higher performance Intel processors”. The giant chip manufacturer announced that it would be taking orders for these CPUs until January 9, 2009, while the manufacturing and shipping of the products would continue until May 7, 2010.

The three 45nm CPUs axed are Q9450 (2.66 GHz 1333 MT/s, quad-core, 95 watt, LGA775, Yorkfield 45nm), E8200 (2.66 GHz 1333 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775, Wolfdale 45nm) and E8190 (2.66 GHz 1333 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775, Wolfdale 45nm). As many of you already know, Intel started shipping the processors made under the 45 nanometer fabrication technology back in January this year. The company plans to phase out both PGA and BGA versions of the three 45nm products.

Besides the 45nm chips, the Santa Clara company is also ending mobile and desktop 65nm products, including E6850 (3.00 GHz 1333 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775), E6750 (2.66 GHz 1333 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775), E6550 (2.33 GHz 1333 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775), E6540 (2.33 GHz 1333 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775), all Conroe CPUS, and E4600 (2.40 GHz 800 MT/s, dual-core, 65 watt, LGA775), which is Allendale. The mobile chips axed are the Merom T7400 (2.16 GHz 667 MT/s, mobile dual-core, 34 watt, Socket-M) and Celeron-M 530 (1.73 GHz mobile, 533 MT/s, single-core, 30 watt, Socket-M).

The Turbo Memory was first demonstrated by Intel at Fall IDF 2005, and was included in OS technologies like Microsoft's ReadyDrive and ReadyBoost for Vista. The technology appeared on the first products in May, 2007, while a second version surfaced in July, 2008. All 1GB modules will be discontinued, announced the company, which also said it would end 1GB, 2GB and 4GB Z-U130 solid state drives while moving towards NAND-based flash products. For the Turbo Memory, orders will be taken until March 27, 2009, while shipping will end on June 26, 2009.