Intel Phases Out Most 65nm-Based Xeon Processors

Intel, the industry's leading chip maker, is still producing its processors using both the 65nm and the 45nm process technology. However, the company plans to phase out its 65nm parts even before the end of next year, thus making it possible for its 45nm chips to gain a better market share during the upcoming months. On that note, in a product change notification (PCN) held yesterday, the company announced its partners that it planned to stop manufacturing no less than 31 different boxed Xeon processors.

 

In the PCN, the Santa Clara, California-based chip maker listed several processors built on the Woodcrest core (5120, 5150, LV5148, 5110, 5130, 5140, 5160), as well as nine quad-core versions that featured the Clorevertown core (E5310, E5320, L5320, E5335, L5335, E5345, X5365, X5355). In total, Intel plans to phase out 31 processors, including all the variations based on the afore-mentioned models.

 

According to the listed timeframe, customers will not be able to cancel their orders for the processors in question after January 23, next year. However, the company did say that it would continue to take orders for these CPUs until April 23, 2009, which is considered the last day for order placement. The company plans the final shipment for these processors for July 23, the same year.

 

However, Intel did state that it would continue to offer the boxed versions of these processors until the supply is depleted, and then to further deliver tray versions of the CPUs, after the box versions are no longer available. Tray versions of processors aren't offered with their own fan and also have a shorter warranty through the reseller, when compared with the boxed versions.

 

As of now, no details are available regarding the company's consumer lineup of 65nm-based processors, but it's likely that Intel will soon announce that it will no longer produce its 65nm chips as well.