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Move over quad-core and make room for six-core chips. Intel is ready to start promoting its six-core Westmere processors, which the chip maker plans to talk at length about at this year's Intel Developer's Forum (IDF) in September.
Aimed at both desktops and notebooks, the 32nm Westmere processor will be built around Intel's Nehalem architecture. Production will begin before the end of the year with a formal launch expected in early 2010.
"Where Nehalem was new chip architecture design, Westmere is the next design being used to build processors that feature two 32nm cores with 4MB of cache that sit next to a memory controller and integrated graphics built on a separate, neighboring 45nm chip, all in one package. Westmeres will be the basis of upcoming all new Core chips (Core i3, i5, and 7) over the next few months," Intel wrote in a blog post.
Intel also has an eight-core Nehalem EX processor planned for later this year, but those will be aimed at two-socket servers, not home desktops.
Image Credit: Intel
Comments are closed on this article
ready4war
August 23, 2009 at 11:39am
WOW if it would fit my Asus EEe Pc, an Intel 900MHz Celeron CPU socket, and stil use my fan inside the EEE pc, then it would be faster especially with my Intel GMA graphic chip then it would be faster and i would run more programs!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spartacus
August 23, 2009 at 12:22am
So will these come with a stock liquid-cooling loop? ;)
seems like you're going to end up paying quite a bit for a stock heatsink for these things, its going to have to be a beast.
bingojubes
August 21, 2009 at 3:58pm
since these new chips will have a GPU alongside it under the die-cover, what does that mean for on-board video getting us through our updates and reinstalls? if theCPU dies, so does any chance of video, if you don't have a video card and no on-board video to at least. i think it' just going to make CPUs run much hotter than usual.
Invader_Zim
August 22, 2009 at 12:37am
If your CPU dies, the computer won't show you a damn thing to begin with. Besides, I'm sure that if your CPU dies when this is all (if it becomes the norm of course) mainstream and what not, any other CPU will more than likely have a GPU on chip. I don't quite like your logic.
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TechJunkie
August 22, 2009 at 4:50am
What he's saying is that if the gpu should fail and don't have a backup discrete gpu, your hosed until you get one. I bet these intel chips are going to be a pretty penny so replacing one just because the gpu fails is going to cost you your first born until it becomes the mainstream. This goes for all cpu/gpu chips whether by AMD or intel. Adding and cramming more stuff onto a cpu die is asking for trouble (heat, etc.) until the tech has proven itself through trial and error. I for one, will stick with discrete gpu's and other components so I have total control over what I can and can't do with my PC. I know you can flip a switch to turn it off like an IGP but that isn't the point. Pretty soon, if intel has it's way, your going to have a PC on a chip and what you buy is what you get with no type of personalization to speak of.
quickone
August 22, 2009 at 9:58am
I highly doubt this will catch on for the highend or more advanced users because of that level of control, or lack there of. This will be great for netbooks or the e-machine type computer, if they can perfect and cheaply make them.
Just wait until Intel buys Corsair and starts making a CPU/GPU/RAM chip. You'll have a computer on a chip and also a space heater for those long Michigan winters... or summers apparently.
