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Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processors “Likely” to Emerge in 2005 – Intel’s CEO.

Category: CPU

by Anton Shilov

[ 07/20/2005 | 03:12 AM ]

Intel Corp.’s CEO Paul Otellini in the most recent conference call dedicated to the company’s financial results of the latest quarter rather surprisingly said that the company was likely to release its 90nm dual-core Intel Xeon server processors and supporting platforms as early as in 2005, whereas the 65nm dual-core server chips and supporting platforms are only likely to come in mid-2006. While the company did not provide any further details, the claim may indicate acceleration of the introduction of certain processors, but postponements of other chips.

“We are sampling our dual-core [processors] for servers – both Xeon and Itanium – to our customers as we speak. The next big refresh for the dual-core DP and MP products is called Paxville processor due in early 2006 and that is highly likely to see that come into the 05,” said Intel’s chief executive Paul Otellini.

As Intel indicated during Intel Developer Forum Spring 2005, the code-named Paxville core is to power Intel Xeon MP processors which will be available in Q1 2006. The chip is drop-in compatible with E8500 chipset-based Truland platform and thus should operate using 667MHz processor system bus. The chip will support EM64T, EDB and Hyper-Threading technologies. The microprocessor was originally meant to be an MP part, designed to work in multiprocessor servers, this is the first time when Intel refers the Paxville as a chip for dual-processor servers.

“And then there is a platform refresh after that in the middle-06, which is also on target. You will see a new platform, not just a processor, but a platform, from Intel every six months or so…” said Paul Otellini, possibly referring to Bensley platform and Dempsey processor.

Intel Xeon processors for 2-way servers and workstations code-named Dempsey is a part of the company’s server platform code-named Bensley, which is based on Blackford chipset. The platform will support FB-DIMM memory, PCI Express bus and is expected to support Intel’s Hyper-Threading and Active Management Technology. According to Intel, first shipments of the Bensley platform development kit were scheduled for mid-Q2 – late-Q2 2005, whereas availability target was set to Q1 2006, earlier, than Intel’s chief indicated. Dempsey will be made using 65nm process technology and utilize LGA771 packaging, incompatible with current infrastructure.

Intel Corp.’s its arch-rival Advanced Micro Devices has been shipping its AMD Opteron dual-core processors for MP and DP servers as well as AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core products for weeks now.

Intel representatives did not immediately return enquiries seeking for additional comments.

Intel announced second-quarter revenue of $9.2 billion, up 15% year-over-year and down 2% sequentially. Second-quarter net income was $2 billion, up 16% year-over-year and down 6% sequentially. Earnings per share were 33 cents, up 22% from 27 cents in the second quarter of 2004 and down 6% from 35 cents in the first quarter of 2005.