Rumor: Intel preparing 3.2 GHz quad-core processors

Speaking of Intel, The Register is reporting that the chipmaker is preparing three, next-generation processors based on its "Nehalem" architecture, with the fastest topping out at 3.2 GHz. Each processor has four cores with eight processing threads.

The chip architecture, codenamed "Bloomfield," is targeted mostly at gamers. This is purely speculation, of course, but Apple's ~~mid-range~~ high-end desktops could be good candidates for the chips as well.

Intel anticipates the processors will be available in the fourth quarter of 2008.

[Via AMD vs. Intel.]

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Source: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/16/intel_roadmaps_bloom…

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Speaking of Intel, The Register is reporting that the chipmaker is preparing three, next-generation processors based on its "Nehalem"...

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brendan

i dont get it. the mac pros already have 3.2 Ghz quad cores? unless im missing something

June 17 2008 at 2:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to brendan's comment

Vanillacide

Yes you are missing something, the new cores are hyper-threaded so they act as two virtual cores per physical core. So a quad-core CPU appears to the OS as an octo-core CPU for all intents and purposes.

So if Apple replaced it's current two times quad-core CPUs in their 8-core MacPro with these 'Nehalem' chips they would have a 16-core MacPro (hence phytonix's comment).

June 22 2008 at 8:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

phytonix

16-Core Mac Pro?
Bring it on! But I am not buying any, not with my money anyway.

June 17 2008 at 1:11 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mmendoza27

These processors suck power at 130 watts, so they won't show up in an iMac. iMac's use the same processors as the MacBook Pro, or even faster processors as seen with the 3.06 Ghz Core2Duo Extreme.

I think they might put a quad-core Montevina (which Intel is supposedly working on). The Mac Pro's won't adopt these either because they are desktop processors, the Mac Pro's might adopt the DP server Nehalem processors called Gainestown. I think they will adopt Beckton, which supports FB-DIMMs, 4x QuickPath, and is a eight-core processor, which would mean a 16-core Mac Pro.

June 16 2008 at 5:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

MDK

Will this be the beginning of raytraced gaming?

June 16 2008 at 5:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bug

I've never heard the Mac Pros called a mid-range desktop before, because that's the likely home of these processors. At 130 watts these aren't showing up in an iMac anytime soon.

June 16 2008 at 4:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

tukan

Nice, I'd gladly pick up an iMac with this badboy. This and a Snow Leopard for me please :)

June 16 2008 at 3:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply