Intel Likely to Launch New Itanium 2 in Days

by Anton Shilov
09/02/2004 | 09:08 AM

Intel Corp. is reportedly planning to formally introduce its high-end Itanium 2 processors code-named Madison 9M at the upcoming Intel Developer Forum Fall 2004 that kicks off next week. The firm is not only expected to unveil the chip, but also discuss all the aspects of the Itanium 2-based systems in addition to peculiarities of high performance computing.

Intel Itanium 2 processors with Madison 9M core are designed for powerful multiprocessor servers and will be available at speeds of up to 1.70GHz with 9MB, 6MB and 4MB L3 cache. Intel also has plans to roll-out cut-down version of Madison 9M – code-named Fanwood – for dual-processor servers and workstation. Both Fanwood and Madison 9M will use 400MHz processor system bus and will be drop-in compatible with existing infrastructure, sources said.

Intel Developer Forum Fall 2004 will be held in San Francisco, California, from the 7^th till the 9^th of September, 2004.

Earlier this year sources familiar with the roadmap of the world’s largest chipmaker did not reveal the exact core-clock of the forthcoming top-of-the-line chip code-named Madison 9M, restricting themselves with target core-clock range of 1.50GHz to 1.70GHz. The latter is the high-end of Intel’s expectation that reflects the company’s commitment to increasing raw computing power of the IA64 products and also actual ability to commercially ship its 64-bit EPIC microprocessors with large cache and high core-clock speed.

Additionally, Santa Clara, California-based chipmaker plans to shortly release boosted versions of low-power Itanium 2 processors for servers and workstations, sources close to the company note. Further plans include Itanium 2 products with higher-speed processor system bus, e.g., 533MHz and 667MHz.

Officials for Intel Corp. did not comment on the news-story.