Speaking about the dual-processor servers and workstations market, we would like to point out that Intel is not yet planning to introduce the 800MHz bus here, which will be promoted in the desktop market in Q2 2003. Moreover, until they shift to 0.09micron manufacturing technology, Xeon processors will keep supporting not only the 533MHz bus, but also the older 400MHz one.

This way on February 23 Intel will announce Xeon processors based on Prestonia core with 3.06GHz core clock rate intended for 533MHz bus and 3GHz processors for 400MHz bus. Then in Q3 2003 they will launch Xeon (Prestonia) with 3.2GHz frequency also supporting both buses. And only the Xeon 3.4GHz due in Q4 will work only with 533MHz bus and will have no 400MHz supporting counterpart. By the way, this particular Xeon 3.4GHz will become the first CPU based on the new Nocona core, which is the server analogue of Prescott manufactured with 0.09micron technology. This processor will feature an integrated 1MB L2 cache.

At launch the new Xeon 3.06GHz/533MHz will cost $722 in 1000-unit quantities and up, and Xeon 3GHz/400MHz will sell at $690. 2.8GHz model will retain its price ($455 for a 533MHz QP version and $433 for 400MHz QP model), while the slower processors will get somewhat cheaper: 2.66GHz CPU will then cost $285, 2.4GHz - $209, 2GHz - $198 (of course, this is about the CPUs supporting 533MHz QP, while those for 400MHz bus should cost $10 less).

In H1 2004 we will see Nocona based Xeon processors, which will support 667MHz bus. Strange as it might seem, but desktop processors will never support this bus, while the 800MHz bus available by desktops at that time, will never be implemented in server solutions from Intel. The clock frequencies of Xeon with 667MHz bus will range from 3GHz to 3.6GHz. Intel is also going to introduce two new chipsets for the new Xeon processors with 667MHz bus. These are known as LindenHurst (for servers) and TumWater (for workstations). At the same time Intel will announce Xeon 3.6GHz for 533MHz bus based on Nocona core.

Also there will be one more interesting Xeon CPU for dual-processor systems, which is due in Q3 2002. It will be Xeon 3.06GHz with 1MB L3 cache. This will be the only solution in the dual-processor Xeon family equipped with an L3 cache.

As for Xeon-MP CPUs for multi-processor systems, this family will acquire new members in Q2 2003: Xeon MP 2.6GHz with 2MB and 1MB L3 cache. This CPU will be based on Gallatin core manufactured with 0.13micron technology and will use 400MHz bus. In H1 2004 there will come new Xeon MP processors with the integrated 4MB L3 cache. These CPUs will also use 400MHz bus and will be made with 0.13micron technology.

We would also like to remind you that in Q2 2003 there should formally arrive a 64bit Madison with 3MB, 4Mb or 6MB L3 cache, and in Q3 2003 we expect to see Deerfield with 3MB L3 cache. These solutions will cost about the same as their predecessors on McKinley core: the fastest model will cost $4227 (1.5GHz/6MB L3), the next one - $2247 (1.4GHz/4MB L3) and the slowest one - $1338 (1.3GHz/3MB L3).