Intel Unveils New CPU Architecture, Proclaims New Directions for Platforms

by Anton Shilov
08/23/2005 | 07:45 PM

At the Intel Developer Forum the president and chief executive officer of the world’s largest chipmaker said that the company would introduce a new power-efficient architecture for central processing unit next year. The new architecture is said to combine the strengths of the company’s NetBurst and Pentium M architectures and add new features.  

“You’re going to see Intel combine its R&D innovation, manufacturing and technology leadership with energy-efficient micro-architectures and powerful multicore processors to deliver unique platforms best tailored to individual needs,” said Paul Otellini, Intel’s chief.

The head of Intel showed the first public demonstration of Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest – processors for notebook, desktop and server platforms designed on Intel’s 65nm technology manufacturing process. He also said Intel has more than 10 processor projects that contain four (quad-core) or more processor cores per chip.

While Mr. Otellini did not reveal much about the architecture of the new processors, except of the fact that the new architecture will mix the advantages of existing products, add new capabilities and will be multi-core, he indicated that with the new architecture Intel’s processors may increase performance up to ten times when compared to today’s chips.

“We will deliver ‘factor of 10’ breakthroughs to a variety of platforms that can reduce energy consumption tenfold or bring 10 times the performance of today’s products. At the same time, Intel innovation will continue to deliver unique digital enterprise, home, office and mobile features, such as greater manageability, security and virtualization, along with an increasing capability to manage and view digital content,” Mr. Otellini said.

Intel Corp. indicated that lowering power consumption of central processing units in particular and computers is general is a crucial goal for the company. The firm said that future generations of portable PCs would require less than a watt of power, but still would provide “converged communication and PC-like experience”.