We already know from our previous issues that Intel planned to produce dual-core processors sometimes in future (see this news-story). Given the huge core-size of Itanium processors, it was generally expected that the company will cope with dual-core CPUs only by the end of 2005 with their Chivano code-named chip. Chivano would be a dual-core version of Montecito due to come in 2004, but apparently Intel changed their plans dramatically and now the latter will become the first dual-core processor from Intel.

Despite of numerous reports, Itanium 2 has been going pretty well. It features huge L3 cache and works at high frequencies. This year Intel adds its Madison and Deerfield cores to the Itanium 2 lineup. Both processors are made using 0.13 micron fabrication process and their core-clock starts from 1.50GHz. Madison implements 3, 4 or 6MB of L3 cache and is destined for 4 or 8-way systems. Deerfield can boast with 3MB of L3 and is intended for 2-way servers. Both CPUs will be launched in the middle of the year with mass production to follow afterwards.

Since Montecito has been postponed (we may say that Montecito eventually became Chivano), Intel will launch presumably next year a monstrous version of the Itanium 2 processor: with 9MB of L3 cache and core-clock above 1.50GHz.

The dual-core Intel CPU itself will be made using 90nm technology and will appear in 2005. Intel decided not to announce any frequencies of this babe at this point what makes sense, as it is really hard to predict it now. Of course Intel’s representatives said that dual-core will boost the performance very significantly what is absolutely correct.