Intel Corp. has quietly started to sell its Pentium D processor, an anticipated update for the Pentium D family that brings higher performance for the performance-mainstream desktops powered by Intel’s chips. It is interesting to note that Intel had not formally announced the Pentium D 960 processor, nor another high-performance chip – the Pentium 965 Extreme Edition.
Intel Pentium D 960 processor operates at 3.60GHz clock-speed, features 4MB of cache (2MB per core), utilizes 800MHz processor system bus and is drop-in compatible with Intel dual-core infrastructure – computers running Intel 945-, 955- or 975-series chipsets and featuring 05B platform compatibility guide (PCG 05B). Meanwhile the Pentium 965 Extreme Edition functions at 3.73GHz, uses 1066MHz quad pumped bus and supports Hyper-Threading technology that allows up to 4 threads to be executed at once.
Intel Pentium D 900-series processors code-named Presler employ two separate processing cores on a single piece of substrate. The chips are produced using 65nm process technology.
Tokyo, Japan stores sell the new Pentium D 960 chip for up to about $620, however, Intel’s online price-list does not currently include the Pentium D 960 processor, even though the company’s roadmap indicated that the chip should emerge in late April at the price of $637, which means that Intel will be aggressive in terms of pricing on the new processor.
Clock-speed increase and price drops will help Intel to increase the pressure on its rival Advanced Micro Devices in the dual-core space, where chips from AMD became more popular among performance enthusiasts.
Comments currently: 6
Discussion started: 05/02/06 02:25:00 PM
Latest comment: 05/02/06 11:42:20 PM
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1.
Nobody cares.
[Posted by: Hobo | Date: 05/02/06 02:25:00 PM]
+ expand thread (3 answers)
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It's news, it should be reported, and some people will care.
Admittedly, it is still not an attractive processor, but they are not in the business of deciding what people care, because it is impossible, but reporting news that relates to the computer world.
The most interesting thing is the price, which is kind of low considering what it is. That has to be saying they can't rid of the lemons fast enough and are just trying to keep market share before raping AMD in the second half.
[Posted by: TA152H | Date: 05/02/06 06:27:43 PM]
Interesting price: If only the 965 was that price!
[Posted by: Russel | Date: 05/02/06 08:12:07 PM]
Russel,
I agree with you on the 965, it seems strangely expensive, considering it is not a very good processor compared to the Athlon 64 and particularly the upcoming P8 family. Based on the number of overclocked processors and tests run on the Preslers, it would seem to me that running at 3.73 GHz is not that difficult for Intel and the yields are probably not a huge problem.
So why is it so expensive while everyone knows Intel has huge inventory problems and needs to get rid of this junk while they start ramping for the P8? I guess they figure it would initiate an unwanted price war with AMD at the high end, but I am not sure. It may be that they are waiting for the P8 to really start the war with AMD, and then steeply discount the dreadful P7s to hit AMD in the mid and low end, while dominating them on the high end with the P8.
In some respects, Intel's glut of inventory is good for them, since they can convert more lines now to P8 production while at the same time reducing the inventory. They clearly will not be able to sell these miserable parts (particularly the 90nm stuff) for much, but they will have parts for their customers while they convert to P8 production faster than they otherwise would be able to do. Plus, the 90nm lines will obviously be the first to convert to the P8, thus giving them a much higher ratio of 65nm P7s as they move forward.
So, it has been expensive, but in at least this respect at least something positive can be said about their inventory glut. Still, it is hard for me to understand who will keep buying P7s once the P8 is out, considering the difference between the two. Maybe if they move them to the Celeron market very quickly and get them out of the mainstream, they can do OK because people buying Celerons expect them to be somewhat lesser processors and are more concerned with the cost. But, that will be a lot of Celerons to sell early on, and they will probably not be able to make enough P8s for the other markets, so it is going to be ugly for Intel for a while.
[Posted by: TA152H | Date: 05/02/06 11:42:20 PM]
2.
precisely
[Posted by: nails | Date: 05/02/06 05:24:52 PM]
3.
...Conroe info please.
[Posted by: Po | Date: 05/02/06 05:53:47 PM]
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