New Core 2 Processors Around the Corner

Intel's roadmap adds more quad-core and value dual-core in the pipeline

It’s been a while since Intel last made notable updates to its desktop processor roadmap. Last month DailyTech revealed Intel is expected to launch a variety of new Core 2 Duo and Pentium E 2100 processors including refreshed Conroe based products next year. Intel’s latest desktop roadmap reveals more new processors and removes some previously reported models.

 

Intel is expected to release its first mainstream quad-core Core 2 Quad Q6600 early next year. The processor is still on track for a Q1’2007 launch with an $851 per-unit in 1,000 unit quantities price tag. While this may seem a bit steep, Intel is expected to cut the price of the Core 2 Quad 6600 down to $530 per-unit in 1,000 unit quantities when Q2’2007 rolls around.

The Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 won’t be the only one in the Core 2 Quad family though. Somewhere between Q2’2007 to Q3’2007 Intel will add one more member to its Core 2 Quad family. This will arrive as the Core 2 Quad Q6400. The Core 2 Quad Q6400 will be clocked at 2.13 GHz and operate on a 1066 MHz front-side bus. It will have an 8MB L2 cache with support for Intel VT, Enhanced Intel Speedstep, Intel EM64T and NX bit technologies.

 

Moving onto the dual-core product roadmap Intel has made a few changes to its latest roadmap. Gone from the latest roadmap is the Core 2 Duo E6390 which was essentially a Core 2 Duo E6400 with Intel VT and vPro extensions disabled. The previously reported Intel Core 2 Duo E6650 has been renamed in the latest roadmap. The latest roadmap has renamed the Core 2 Duo E6650 to Core 2 Duo E6550. Aside from the naming changes it remains a 1333 MHz front-side bus processor clocked at 2.33 GHz.

Previous roadmaps have indicated that 3.0 GHz Core 2 Duo processors will be available next year as well. Currently, this remains unchanged.

New to this roadmap are new Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 and E6320 processors. These processors are clocked at 2.13 GHz and 1.86 GHz like the Core 2 Duo E6400 and E6300. However, the Core 2 Duo E6420 and E6320 will have 4MB of L2 cache instead of the 2MB found on the Core 2 Duo E6400 and E6300. The two processors are expected to launch in Q2’2007. Pricing for the Core 2 Duo E6420 and E6320 will be $183 and $163 in 1,000 unit quantities respectively.

 

Since the Core 2 Duo E6420 and E6320 are endowed with 4MB of L2 cache this leaves room for the new Core 2 Duo E4x00 series processors. It was previously reported the Core 2 Duo E4x00 series was expected to have two models—the Core 2 Duo 4400 and 4200. However the roadmap has changed and the Core 2 Duo E4200 has been scrapped. Nevertheless in place of the Core 2 Duo E4200 is a new E4300. The Core 2 Duo E4300 is clocked at 1.8 GHz on an 800 MHz front-side bus. It’s expected to launch late January with pricing starting at $163 in 1,000 unit quantities. The Core 2 Duo E4300 is expected to have a one year life cycle with a product discontinuance notice expected in Q4’2007 and reach end-of-life in Q1’2008.

Joining the Core 2 Duo E4300 will be the Core 2 Duo E4400. The Core 2 Duo E4400 is expected to arrive in Q2’2007. It will be clocked at 2.0 GHz and priced at $133 in 1,000 unit quantities. With the launch of the Core 2 Duo E4300 in Q2’2007, Intel is expected to slash prices on the Core 2 Duo E4300 down to $113 in 1,000 unit quantities.

(c) www.dailytech.com