14 DAY TRIAL // Santa Clara, California-based Intel is expected to update its processor lineup with the introduction of a couple of new processors, part of the chip maker's highly anticipated Core i5 series. There have been a few rumors and details that have been recently leaked on the Internet, providing some insight as to what to expect from Intel's forthcoming desktop CPUs. However, it now appears that we have a more detailed roadmap of these new parts, including brand names, clock speeds and launch dates.
According to a recent news-article on PC Watch, the world's leading chip maker is planning to unveil its first Core i5 chips sometime in the third quarter of this year. These new models will be based on the company's much-anticipated Lynnfield processors, which will also be at the basis of some additional Core i7 models, also due out in Q3 2009.
Two of the first Lynnfield processors to debut will be branded the Core i7 860 and Core i7 870, which are to provide support for DDR3 1333MHz memory and 8MB of cache and will feature Hyper-Threading technology. These two high-end chips will provide clock speeds between 2.83 and 3.46GHz for the 860 and between 2.93 and 3.6GHz for the 870 model. In the Core i5 department, Intel is expected to launch the Core i5 750, a 2.66GHZ (up to 3.2GHz) processor with similar features to the aforementioned Core i7 processors.
Sometime in first and second quarter of 2010, the company will continue to update its processor offering with the introduction of a couple of more Lynnfield-based models, the Core i7 860s, (an 82W version of the model that will be rolled out in 2009) and the Core i5 750s, featuring a clock speed of 2.4GHz (up to 3.2GHz), 8MB cache and DDR3 support.
At the beginning of 2010, Intel will also take the wraps off its first Clarkdale CPUs, most of which will be part of the Core i5 family, with only one listed in the Core i3 family.