X-bit labs

Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0GHz with 1333MHz Bus Incoming.

Category: CPU

by Anton Shilov

[ 10/17/2006 | 12:52 PM ]

Despite of the trend towards multi-core microprocessors, Intel Corp. will continue to boost performance of its dual-core central processing units (CPUs) by increasing their clock-speeds and processor system bus frequencies. According to slides presumably from Intel’s roadmap published by a web-site, desktop Core 2 Duo chips with 1333MHz bus will emerge in the third quarter of 2007.

The slides published by Matbe.com web-site claim that Intel will release Intel Core 2 Duo processors with E6850, E6750 and E6650 with 3.0GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.33GHz clock-speeds respectively and 1333MHz processor system bus in Q3 2007, when appropriate code-named Bearlake-series chipsets become available. The new microprocessors will also support technology called TXT, according to the slides which do not elaborate on the nature of the capability.

The code-named Bearlake-X chipset that will replace the Intel 975X from the top in the Q3 2007 will support PCI Express 2.0 bus with higher – 5.0GHz – clock-speed compared to current 2.5GHz, two PCI Express x16 lanes, dual-channel PC2-6400 (DDR2 800MHz) and PC3-10600 (DDR3 1333MHz) memory. Other members of the Bearlake family will also support central processing units (CPUs) with 1333MHz PSB, but they may not necessarily support multi-GPU capabilities as well as PC3-10600 (DDR3 1333MHz) memory, limiting maximum memory speed to PC3-8500 (DDR3 1066MHz),

The pictures also mention Core 2 Quad Q6600 as well as Core 2 Extreme QX6700 microprocessors with four processing engines. Nevertheless, the slides do not reflect Intel’s “second generation” quad-core CPUs that are due to become available in the second half of 2007.

Intel’s increase of dual-core central processing units’ clock-speed emphasizes Intel’s plan to retain quad-core microprocessors in the higher-end segment, whereas mainstream chips will continue to feature two cores.