X-bit labs

Intel to Speed Up New Core 2-Based Xeon Introduction.

Category: CPU

by Anton Shilov

[ 05/18/2006 | 07:06 AM ]

Intel Corp. may speed up introduction of its processor for servers code-named Woodcrest by week, according to media reports. While the information is not confirmed, the closer introduction is inline with Intel’s plans to ramp up the new Core 2 micro-architecture processors in server platforms as quickly as possible.

Intel may unveil the Intel Xeon 5100-series processors code-named Woodcrest with two processing engines and unified level-two cache on the 19^th of June, 2006, reports HKEPC web-site. The company has many reasons to accelerate the introduction schedule of processors based on the company’s new micro-architecture named Core 2. However, it remains unknown whether Intel has already started to ship Woodcrest chips for revenue, as the company usually announces availability of its chips in systems, which means that its partners, such as Dell or HP, have to get the central processing units several weeks before the formal introduction to assemble systems and verify that they are stable and problem-free.

Earlier it was said that Intel was going to intro Woodcrest chips on the 25^th of June. Even earlier it was claimed that the new Xeon chips will ship in the third quarter, whereas June is the second quarter.

Intel Woodcrest processors will feature 1066MHz or 1333MHz processor system bus (PSB) depending on the model and will also have thermal design power (TDP) of 80W. The new chips will have two execution cores and will be made using 65nm process technology. The initial lineup will include models 5110, 5120, 5130, 5140, 5150 and 5160 that will operate at 1.60GHz, 1.86GHz, 2.00GHz, 2.33GHz, 2.67GHz and 3.00GHz, respectively. The chips will feature 4MB unified L2 cache, 1066 or 1333MHz PSB and will have TDP of 80W or below.

Intel Woodcrest processors promise to feature enhanced performance and moderate power consumption, two peculiarities that are expected to increase demand for the new Xeon central processing units and put a lot of pressure onto AMD Opteron processors, which have been gaining popularity in the most recent quarters. Besides, Woodcrest chips will feature rather aggressive pricing: the top-of-the-range model 5160 will be priced at $851, while the 5110 will cost $230 in 1000-unit quantities. The remaining 5120, 5130, 5140, 5150 models will be quoted at $700, $470, $330 and 270, respectively.

Intel will ramp up Woodcrest chips very rapidly. Apparently, its yet-to-be-introduced code-named Dempsey processors, which is based on the NetBurst micro-architecture, will acquire only a little more than 10% of Intel Xeon DP platform sales in Q2 2006. Already in Q3 2006 the Bensley platform that supports Dempsey and Woodcrest will acquire over 60% of shipments as the code-named Woodcrest chips will be featured in little less than 50% of DP server platforms supplied by Intel (which means that Dempsey chips will be used in 10-15% of Xeon DP-based servers only). In Q4 2006 shipments of Intel dual-processor will consist of slightly less than 70% of Woodcrest chips and a little more than 30% of NetBurst-based processors. In Q1 2007 70% of the Intel Xeon DP market will belong to the Woodcrest, 10% will be owned by Clovertown and 20% will go to the NetBurst micro-architecture-based chips.

Intel Corp. did not comment on performance.