Since Intel Corp.’s positions on the market of desktop central processing units (CPUs) are very strong these days, the company is hardly interested in rapid transitions to newer micro-architectures. According to the information learnt by X-bit labs, by the end of the year the majority of Intel’s desktop processors will still be based on the Core 2 or Atom micro-architectures.

In Q1 2010 the share of microprocessors based on Nehalem micro-architecture among Intel’s desktop CPUs will be a little higher than 20%, the share will increase to a little less that about 30% in the second quarter, then will grow further to approximately 40% in Q3 and will raise to 45% in the fourth quarter of the year. As a result, the vast majority of microprocessors inside Intel-based desktops will be based on the Core 2 micro-architecture.

Since both Nehalem and Westmere generations of microprocessors share the same design, Intel considers all Bloomfield, Clarkdale, Gulftown and Lynnfield chips are considered to be based on the Nehalem micro-architecture.

The transition to 32nm process technology will be rather rapid, which is traditional for Intel. In Q1 2010 only about 12% of Intel’s desktop processors will be made using 32nm HKMG process technology, in the second quarter of this year the share of 32nm chips will raise to a little less than 20%, in the third quarter of 2010 a little less than 30% of desktop CPUs will be produced at 32nm node and in Q4 2010 about 35% of desktop Intel CPUs will be manufactured using 32nm fabrication process, whereas 65% of desktop chips will be made at 45nm node.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: Intel, Nehalem, Bloomfield, Clarkdale, Gulftown, Lynnfield, 32nm, 45nm