14 DAY TRIAL // New documents issued by Intel unveil more information on the company's highly expected Nehalem processors. Earlier leaked info on the CPU's roadmap has already been presented in an article, yet it seems that there are a few things that may be added to the story. The chips will still make their debut on early November, as initially announced, and the prices will range from $999 for the Core i7 Extreme Edition 3.2GHz version, to $562 for the Core i7 2.93GHz designed for the Performance level and $284 for the Core i7 2.66GHz CPU aiming at the mainstream segment of the market.
These three models are based on the code-named Bloomfield core, designed with an integrated QPI controller and meant mainly for enthusiasts. The Core i7 3.2GHz model comes with one QPI link at 6.4GHz, while the other will feature one link at 4.8GHz. The three chips will have 8MB L3 cache and 256KB L2 cache per core, and will feature an integrated triple-channel DDR3 memory controller. While previous news showed them as coming only with support for 1066MHz memory clocks, recent info unveiled the fact that they actually can go easily 2000MHz, although Intel considers these speeds as overclocking. The official support refers only for 800MHz and 1066MHz, but they will also handle 1333, 1600, 1866, and 2000, and there are some motherboard manufacturers that have reportedly added BIOS presets for these memory frequencies.
After the release of these chips, the retail market will not see any other Nehalem processor for an entire year. While previous reports showed other releases in the early Q3 2009, it seems that the Lynnfield core will be ready for the holiday period, and the Havendale will be pushed to January 2010. Intel says that feedback from the market and its partners determined the company to operate these delays. According to the new info, the Core i7 2.93GHz and 2.66GHz processors will be replaced by equivalent Lynnfields during Q4 next year.
The Lynnfield processors will somehow differ from the Bloomfield chips in the fact that a PCIe 2.0 generation controller will replace the QPI controller. The memory controller will feature only one DDR3 64-bit channel, meaning that only 1160 pins would be needed and not 1366 pins as Bloomfield requires. The 8MB shared L3 cache and 256KB L2 cache per core will still be featured.
Havendale is the last in the line, and it will come with two CPU cores and an integrated GPU. We have already said a few words about this processor's architecture, and what should be added is that it will feature only 4MB of L3 cache, as there are only two cores packed inside. The specifications on the featured GPU have not been unveiled yet, but some expect it to be focused on basic features rather than performance.
Beside the desktop chips Intel plans to launch on the Nehalem line, the new information also revealed two mobile processors slated for release during the 2009-2010 time frame. The Clarksfield and Auburndale CPUs are basically the same as Lynnfield and Havendale, as they pack the same features, but will sport much lower TDP than the desktop processors. The socket interface they'll use is the same, LGA1160. All these chips will be made under the Intel 45nm fabrication process, and they are said to come with second generation SMT, the technology known as HyperThreading. 2010 will also bring to the market the hexa-core Westmere.