Following suit with our Intel road map back in September of this year, Intel has launched the last Quad-Core based on Core 2 that consumers may see for the next while, if more are to come at all – the Q8300.
The Intel Q8300 comes, properly, at the end of the Quad-Core launch frame. This is not to say that Intel will not be making anymore Quad-Core processors ever. Intel is now redirecting resources to other CPUs, such as the Core-i7. Intel is also apparently moving efforts into its Centrino 2 platform to further its market penetration over the next coming months.
Here is a current listing of Intel’s Core2 Quad line-up and a brief comparison along with it:
| Processor | Cache | Clock | FSB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q9650 (45nm) | 12MB shared L2 | 3.0GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q9550 (45nm) | 12MB shared L2 | 2.8GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q9450 (45nm) | 12MB shared L2 | 2.66GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q9400 (45nm) | 6MB shared L2 | 2.66GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q9300 (45nm) | 6MB shared L2 | 2.5GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q8300 (45nm) | 4MB shared L2 | 2.5GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q8200 (45nm) | 4MB shared L2 | 2.33GHz | 1333MHz |
| Q6700 (65nm) | 8MB shared L2 | 2.66GHz | 1066MHz |
| Q6600 (65nm) | 8MB shared L2 | 2.4GHz | 1066MHz |
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Q9000 Series | Q8000 Series | Q6000 Series |
| Cores | 4 (Quad) | 4 (Quad) | 4 (Quad) |
| Process | 45nm | 45nm | 65nm |
| L2 Cache | 12MB/6MB | 4MB | 8MB |
| FSB | 1333MHz | 1333MHz | 1066MHz |
| SSE | SSE4, SSE3, SSE2, SSE | SSE4, SSE3, SSE2, SSE | SSE3, SSE2, SSE |
| Chipset | Intel 3 & 4 Series | Intel 3 & 4 Series | Intel 3, G955, P965, 975X |
The new Quad-Core Q8300 comes in at 2.5GHz and sports a front side bus (FSB) of 1333MHz and 4MB of L2 cache. The new chip comes in just above the Q8200 which clocks at 2.33GHz and shares similarities with the Q9300. Estimated pricing for the Q8300 come in at US$224.
According to Stanley Huang, director of Technical Services and Marketing for Intel, the company is paying more attention to boost its Centrino 2 penetration rate. Huang also denied rumors that the upcoming Calpella platform might be delayed for its scheduled launch in 2010. Huang noted that work on the Calpella platform is going according to plans and that the product would be launched as originally scheduled.
