14 DAY TRIAL // Even though official releases or news of any kind is hard to come by during the holiday period, the rumor mill is still very much alive and kicking. Rumors have been going around concerning a variety of so-called possibilities. Details on the infamous Google Chrome netbook supposedly surfaced, the FCC leaked info on Foxconn's upcoming netbook and even Intel was rumored to be planning on powering the next-generation Wii. The latest reports, however, deal with what Intel might not be intent on doing during 2010, namely release 32nm quad core processors.
Fudzilla reported that Intel's roadmap “is filled with either Nehalem or Lynnfield based 45nm quads” and that no plans seem to be in the works for similar chips based on the more advanced and less costly 32nm manufacturing process. The rumor implies that, besides the upcoming dual core 32nm chip with 45nm graphics circuits, only the six-core Core i7 980X 32nm Gulftown chip is currently being focused on. The roadmap supposedly doesn't include any quad core 32nm chips in the near future.
The Gulftown chip will, according to Fudzilla, likely be the only six-core processor released by the Santa Clara-based company during the next year. The report also mentions that quad-core 32nm-based processors are a very likely development, but only for the post-2010 period. Until then, Intel allegedly plans to introduce only the aforementioned 45nm-based quad-core CPUs.
The report states that the only thing that might drive Intel towards launching a faster six-core processor is strong competition from Advanced Micro Devices, although, currently, there are no rumors to suggest such a development on the latter’s side.
Of course, rumors are rumors and can go both ways. Fudzilla's report only stated that “there are no indications that 2010 will get a new 32nm quad.” Until any official announcements are made, however, end-users should pair this report with the mandatory grain of salt.
The 32nm chips with integrated graphics will debut at the rapidly nearing Consumer Electronics Show in January.