Intel Squeezes Six-core Processor Into 65 Watt Power Envelope
San Francisco (CA) - Intel is currently preparing the launch of its final Core-architecture processor design, the six-core server CPU Dunnington. Sources indicate that Intel was able to create product versions for all major power envelope levels in this segment, including a low-power 65 watt chip: Six cores and 65 watts sounds like a winner to us.
If there were still any doubts that over the scalability of the Core architecture, Dunnington should put any of those to rest. Like the quad-core Harpertown design, the multi-socket Dunnington will be targeting all three major server segments, covering the 130 watt, 95 watt and 65 watt power envelopes.
Considering that some Harpertown CPUs were rated at a 150 watt power envelope recently (updated to a 120 watt rating last week) and the fact that the 45 nm Dunnington will add two more cores, 9 MB L2 cache and a massive 16 MB L3 cache, the power achievement is impressive by any standard.
The Dunnington flagship, the X7460 model, will run at 2.66 GHz and will carry a thermal design power of 130 watt. The 65 watt version, which could become a major hit in blade-server designs will be clocked at 1.83 GHz. All Dunnington processors will be using FSB1066.
Our colleagues over at Fudzilla previously AMD recently announced that it will also be offering six-core processor, code-named Istanbul, in the first half of 2009. The socket F processor will feature a dual-die design and according to AMD, debut a lower clock speeds than the company’s quad-core processors. A monolithic AMD six-core processor based on a new micro-architecture is expected to be available in 2010.
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KyleSTL +1 on the comment about using the archaic 1066FSB. Why? especially considering you're taking a performance hit on the memory by using FBDIMMS anyway.Reply -
DXRick Being that server mobos already exist that can take two Xeon quad cores, I would presume the 6-cores are targeted at those that want 12-cores on a single server. Will they make a Skulltrail version too?Reply -
Mandrake_ These CPUs fit into the Caneland platform. They're for MP servers (i.e four or more sockets) and only support the 1066 FSB. The Clarksboro chipset would likely get too hot trying to run all four FSBs at 1333 or 1600.Reply -
jimmysmitty Running at 65TDP? Nice. Too bad the desktop market will never see one. Would be great for media and audio editing. Plus a 16MB L3 cache? Thats just insane really.Reply -
dragoncyber We used to think the Original Pentium Processor was insane too.Reply
We used to think the 1 GHZ barrier was unreachable.(It took long enough)
I used to read articles in computer magazines and think.." WOW, 16mb of ram?!?!?..thats a beast!!
Soon we will be saying, "NewEgg has the best price on the new INTEL ANDROIDS, or we will supplement our own brains with Wet Wired processors, and hard drives..EX>> Johnny Neumonic..
People once thought the world was flat too.
We havent even broken the surface yet. -
judgedredd I am waiting on the HD upgrade for my brain since I am suffering from CRS often. =PReply
Yeah I remember selling 16mb of ram at $150 a pop per 4meg 30 pin simm and the guy going on and on how the prices have come down so much. Back when AMD was beating on Intel in the 486 market. Sold my Aunt a Pentium 90 and then Intel finally said the math coprocessor was jacked up and honoring swapping them out. Good times. -
justjc Is this really that impressive considering AMDs feat of making a 65w quad on 65nm technology? After all it's not unlikely that AMD will be able to do the same, if they chose to do so, when they change to 45nm.Reply -
treading Back when AMD was beating out Intel in the 486 class both Cyrix and Nexgen were both faster. Cyrix got gobbled up by National Semi Conductor and AMD bought out Nexgen with the promise to bring out a pentium killer but just retired the engineers from nexgen. 16meg simms were $700 then.Reply