Intel Shifts Future Core Processors into Turbo Mode

(Business News & Technology News, 20 Aug 2008)

In his Intel Developer Forum keynote, Pat Gelsinger, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group, details the roadmap for Intel's continued march toward pervasive, higher performance and power efficient computing. Gelsinger discusses new features of the company's next-generation processor family including a new turbo mode that shifts the processor into a higher gear for mind-blowing performance without a heat penalty.
The company's first desktop PC chips branded Intel Core i7 processors and initial energy-efficient, high-performance server products (codenamed "Nehalem-EP") will be first to production. Intel is also planning to manufacture a second server derivative designed for the expandable sever market ("Nehalem-EX"), and desktop ("Havendale" and "Lynnfield") and mobile ("Auburndale" and "Clarksfield") client versions in the second half of 2009. "Our engineers have put together an incredible processing family here that will include a tremendous amount of new processor features all centered on delivering faster computer performance and terrific energy efficiency," Gelsinger says.

The next-generation Core microarchitecture also features Intel Hyper-Threading Technology—delivering up to 8-threaded performance capability on four cores in the initial versions and best-in-class memory bandwidth, thanks to the new QuickPath Interconnect - a technology that connects processors, chipsets and memory together, and delivers up to three times the memory bandwidth of previous generation Core microarchitecture solutions.

The new Intel Xeon processor X7460 with six cores and 16MB L3 cache for expandable servers launching in September has already broken multiple performance world records. An 8-socket IBM System x 3950 M2 server became the first platform to break the 1 million tpmC barrier on the TPC-C benchmark. New 4-Socket performance records include TPC-C on HP Proliant DL580 G5, TPC-E on Dell PowerEdge R900, SPECjbb 2005 on Sun Fire X4450 and SPECint_rate2006 on Fujitsu-Siemens PRIMERGY RX600 S4.

Gelsinger also discusses the industry's first many-core Intel Architecture (IA) based design, codenamed "Larrabee". Expected in 2009 or 2010, the first product based on Larrabee will target the personal computer graphics market, support DirectX and OpenGL, and run today's games and programs. Larrabee is expected to kick start an industry-wide effort to create and optimize software for the dozens, hundreds and thousands of cores expected to power future computers.

The Intel executive also outlines Intel's vision for the next wave of the Internet, called the Embedded Internet. Emerging markets in the embedded computing space such as IP networking and security, video intelligence, medical, in-vehicle infotainment and home automation can greatly benefit from the always-on Internet connectivity. Gelsinger says this area is another growth opportunity for Intel and the high-tech industry, and predicted that there will be 15 billion devices connected to the Internet as a result of the rapid rise of the embedded internet.

Where Will Mobile Computing's "On-the-Go, Go?"
Showing the breadth and health of Intel's next-generation processors, David (Dadi) Perlmutter, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Mobility Group demonstrates the first working laptop platform codenamed "Calpella".

"Calpella will redefine how we compute on-the-go by giving users a stunning new computing visual experience, better manageability and security, enhanced turbo mode features and evolutionary power management for notebooks," says Perlmutter. "It is all about dramatic mobile performance without compromise."

New Mobile Processors Unveiled
Building on the recent Intel Centrino 2 launch for notebook PCs in July, Perlmutter unveiled Intel's first-ever mobile-focused quad-core laptop workstation—the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor. While the products include four cores, they only use 45W of power.

Perlmutter also introduced the company's second-generation dual-core mobile processors for increasingly popular ultra thin and light notebook PCs.

He also outlines upcoming mobile platform enhancements including the Intel High-Performance SATA Solid-State Drive product line for faster system responsiveness, lower power consumption and rugged, reliable operation and available later this year, Intel Anti-Theft Technology, which features intelligent hardware-based detection and response mechanisms that enable IT managers or service providers to disable the platform and/or access to data in case of loss or theft.

WiMAX Connecting Soon
Emerging WiMAX 4G networks around the world will be connecting the plethora of mobile platforms and devices, and specifically within the United States where Sprint XOHM plans to turn on its first citywide network in Baltimore in September. Globally, more than 400 WiMAX trials and networks extend the richness of the mobility experience. Perlmutter also announced that Dell has now joined other computer-makers such as Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Panasonic, and Toshiba as publicly committing to include the Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5050 Series module to future laptop product lines.

Barrett: "Get involved"
During the conference's opening keynote, Intel Chairman Craig Barrett applauds the developer community for technology innovations that contributed to unimagined advances in entertainment and business productivity during the past 40 years. He says the impact of their work is borderless and challenged them to collaborate and use their technology expertise to inspire and empower the billions of people who have recently joined the world's free economic system.

"Technology is a tool to address some of the world's most pressing challenges related to health care, education, economic development and the environment," says Barrett, who also chairs a United Nations initiative on technology in the developing world. "No nations or individuals are untouched by these issues. Get involved. Be part of the solution."

Barrett has also announced that Intel will award four $100,000 prizes to the most innovative ideas for applying technology to meet unmet needs related to education, health care, economic development and the environment.

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