Intel processor introduction question

Hi there,

I was wondering if anybody knew how Intel tends to introduce a new series of Processors (e.g. Core 2, or Nehalem). What I want to know is wether they release the top models first or if they tend to launch a complete new line?

I ask this because I'm thinking of upgrading my machine somewhere near the end of this year but it seems somewhat silly to spend a load of cash on something (a Peryn?) I won't be able to upgrade afterwards. On the other hand it's also silly to wait for months for the latest and greatest only to realize that the new stuff costs 799$ and 999$ (which is more than I'm willing to spend on a CPU.

Kind regards,

Lyngvi.

As long as you get a new revision motherboard with the 1333FSB capability, then you could buy a cheap but highly overclockable chip from the current range such as E6300 or E6400, and then upgrade your chip to a penryn model later in the year. All the current boards support Quad Core as well so thatis covered too.

Make sure you get a decent set of components (ram, psu etc) as well and u will be set for a least a few years.

As far as releases go, they usually release bottom and mid range first, and paper release the top models at the same time, but you will find the top models are in short or no supply for the forst month or two. However, I say usually and until it happens nobody knows. Remember thet recently Intel have managed to do some very strange things such as "get it right" and they may have a full range for release at the same time.

Don't forget there is a refresh release some with the 6*20 chips coming out.

The E6320 and 6420 are Allandale chips with 4mb cache (which I would have thought would make them conroe, but go figure) clocked at 1.86ghz and 2.13 ghz respectively.

Penryn and westmere (which follows penryn) are the same socket and will cover off the next 2 -3 years so dont panic.

Nehalem and Gesher look like they will be on a different board as they are copying AMD to a certain extent in the way that the FSB is handled point to point aka hypertransport and using an on die memory controller so goodbye northbridge.

This article has a pretty good explanation:


http://www.trustedreviews.com/cpu- [...] -Future/p1

*slaps forehead* I read 6*20 as... well, six times twenty = 120

From the article you linked I'm somewhat confused with what you wrote. The way I read it, Peryn will have the same socket as C2D does now. Then Nehalem and Westmere will have a different socket because of the FBS thing. And then Gesher might have a new socket again although that's too early to tell I suppose.

Best for me would probably be to wait for Nehalem in 2008 and then upgrade to Westmere end-2009. Although with my luck, whatever motherboard I buy won't support it

All that just to play games really, since everything else is more than fast enough, even compiling that little bit of code I write.

Lyngvi.

I don't think so
Originall E6300 and E6400 were manufactured using the same mask with E6600 / E6700 (Conroe mask, Stepping B0), but with 2MB of shared L2 cache disabled.
Now E6300 and E6400 are manufactured using the same mask with E4300 / E4400 (Allendale mask, Stepping L0).

Totally different from you
Conroe: 4MB shared L2 cache die
Allendale: 2MB shared L2 cache die

But E6300 / E6400 were manufactured using Conroe die but now Allendale die.

They usually have parades.

Check this link:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Pro [...] &OrderBy=1

I don't think this is credible enough. 8O

I just want a CPU-Z image.

Erm ok, how about you use google and then find the other umpteen thousand links to 6320/6420 Allendales.

What do you want me to do, send you one!!!!!!?????

Some more. took me about 3 seconds to find.

http://www.hardwareschotte.de/hard [...] +Duo+E6320

http://www.neoseeker.com/Hardware/ [...] duo_e6320/


You see why there is confusion.

Yeah, and as you can see the Cpuz is giving out wrong information about the chip so it can't be counted. And as you see on your other link, some people are saying these new parts are conroe. So you see why my original post was correct. Numerous sites describe 6320 and 6420 as Allendale, also some describe them as conroe.

Even Intels site doesnt clear it up as they don't seem to mention conroe or allendale against any chips!!

Buying a motherboard from Intel with the hope/expectation of being able to upgrade later to a new series of CPU is always a crapshhot, so as they say about mutual funds "past performance is no guarantee of future returns" - that being said, generally speaking, if you buy intels top of the line motherboard series, ~~usually~~ you can upgrade to the next CPU series with just a BIOS update.

For example when the Intel 875 series came out, you ran your Northwood for a year then had the option to <<cough>> "upgrade" to a Prescott.

945 boards first used for the Penium D series will usually run a Conroe, some however are limited to an 800 mhz FSB, (The 945 chipset is basically a 945 opened up to the 1066 FSB)

Similarly, todays 975 motherboards require just a BIOS flash to run the new 1333 FSB chips, and the prototype Penryns are running on 975 chipsets, (somewhat modified it seems) so there is a ~~chance~~ Prenyns will run on a 975.

Very soon Intel will start shipping the new X38 series chipsets and these are anticipated to run Penryn as well.

Nehalem is a totally different puppy.

The exact details are a bit scare but it looks like Nehalem will have both CSI (a.k.a. hypertransport) versions and FSB versions as well.

It is ~~barely~~ possible that X38 boards will run the FSB Nehalems, but I just don't see how it is even conceptually possible they would run the CSI Nehalems.