Intel: speculation about new processor versions and price reductions

Two new processors that Intel has not yet officially presented and is apparently also not yet shipping, have popped up on price comparison websites: Core 2 Duo E7300 – 2.66 GHz, 3 MB L2 cache, FSB1066 and Core 2 Quad Q9400 – 266 GHz, 2×3 MB L2 cache, FSB1333. However, the Q9400 was already presented in April, the last time prices were lowered in a public price list for analysts. Apparently this was a mistake because it disappeared from the list shortly afterwards.

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The two processors are now turning up in the price and type lists of web shops, which get their data from specialized providers, so we can expect them to be made available soon. As various web sites now claim, based on insider information from undisclosed sources, one possible release date would be July 20, when the next round of CPU price reductions is expected.

In contrast, there is little but speculation about two other processors: the Pentium Dual Core E5200 – 2.5 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, FSB800 and a Core 2 Quad Q8200 – 2.33 GHz, 2×2 MB L2 cache. These two products would be the first of a new series. Up to now, the Pentium Dual Core for desktop computers – not to be confused with the outdated NetBurst dual core Pentium D – has only been available as part of the 65 nm E2000 family and as a Quad Core in the Q6000 series – 65 nm, 2×4 MB L2 cache, FSB1066, Q9000 – 45 nm, 2×3 or 2×6 MB L2 cache, FSB1333, as well as the Extreme versions. But apparently, Intel wants to make a more compact version of its Penryn dual core processor with 2 MB – instead of 3 and 6 MB – L2 cache, for sale individually, or as a pair, in more inexpensive packages.

Q8000 quad cores could make life harder for AMD; after all, they would complement Intel's current inexpensive Q6600 and Q6700 quad cores, which are currently selling in the UK starting at around £125 and £160, respectively. Then, AMD would probably be forced to reduce prices even further for its recently extended Phenom  X4 9000, which has a 285 square millimetre silicon surface, making it a third larger than Penryn dies, which each have 6 MB L2 cache – collectively 214 square millimetres. One quad core consisting of two dual core dies each, with only 2 MB of L2 cache, would probably be much more compact and therefore less expensive to produce.

A Pentium dual core E5000 would also be a logical extension. With the transition to 45 nm technology, the inexpensive Core 2 Duos have moved from the E4000 family to the E7000, while the "true" Core 2 Duos with VT-x, FSB1333 and larger cache have grown up from the E6000 – Conroe, to the E8000 – Wolfdale.

In the course of the summer, Intel plans to release new steppings for Core  2 duos and quads, which will potentially provide more leeway for greater clock rates, or reduced power consumption. AMD hopes that quick migration to 45 nm production will also increase performance and lower prices.

(trk)