Intel details multi-core plans

Rethink IT, April, 2005

Intel announced at its recent Developer Forum that it has completed initial production runs of dual-core processors. It also provided further details about its multi-core plans as it races to catch up with IBM in this area.

Intel plans to deliver two separate dual-core products and dual-core enabled chipsets for its Pentium processor families in the second quarter, including the Pentium Extreme Edition. This will include Hyper-Threading Technology, providing the ability to process four software threads simultaneously.

"In addition to our products, we are investing heavily to further prepare the industry for the shift to multi-core computing platforms," said Robert Crooke, vice president at the desktop platforms group. "We accelerated this effort with the introduction of Hyper-Threading Technology three years ago and we're extending it by building multi-core processors."

Extreme Edition will be combined with a new chipset named the Intel 955X Express, formerly codenamed 'Glenwood', which includes features such as High Definition Audio, PCI-Express and faster dual-channel DDR-2 memory. Intel will also couple its mainstream 'Smithfield' processor with two new chipsets, 945G Express and 945P Express, both previously codenamed 'Lakeport', in the second quarter of the year.

Intel has more than 10 multi-core related projects underway.

For more on the Developer Forum see page 24.