Intel has demonstrated its first working quad core sample microprocessors for servers a mere two years after the introduction of the first dual core processors. The chip, codenamed Clovertown, features a new micro-architecture that will likely be detailed at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) this spring.
While the new processors will be manufactured using a 65nm processes, it is not clear whether all four cores will be on one die or separate. Intel CEO Justin Ratner said the company was so pleased by the design's performance that it decided to show working samples even though the design was still currently in the validation process.
The server used to showcase Clovertown was designed for two physical CPUs. Intel's CTO Pat Gelsinger said the company's research and development priorities recently have focused on increasing the number of execution cores on its processors as well as training software designers to utilize them more efficiently.
Mr. Ratner also theorized that microprocessors in a decade will have ten to hundreds of execution engines each.
News source: X-bit labs
While the new processors will be manufactured using a 65nm processes, it is not clear whether all four cores will be on one die or separate. Intel CEO Justin Ratner said the company was so pleased by the design's performance that it decided to show working samples even though the design was still currently in the validation process.
The server used to showcase Clovertown was designed for two physical CPUs. Intel's CTO Pat Gelsinger said the company's research and development priorities recently have focused on increasing the number of execution cores on its processors as well as training software designers to utilize them more efficiently.
Mr. Ratner also theorized that microprocessors in a decade will have ten to hundreds of execution engines each.
News source: X-bit labs
I haven't looked at Intel products since the mid '80's. You should try the FX-60.
Ed. Oops, missed the part where it mentioned these are for servers. Forget the OS and price issues. This is being made to compete with Opteron, not the X2.
-Spenser
something similar "might" happen when quad cores get release.... I wouldn't bet on it though, as quad core is a wee bit more pro than dual core. Dual cores might actually get used by most people. whereas quad will probably only get used by any number of peopel if gamemakers write games to utilize multithreading properly.
as it is games don't even use two cores, and when they do they'll probably be badly written and only be abel to use 2 to keep life easy for the devs.
the Xbox 360 having 3 cores, ight eventually make even game developers learn proper multithreading though. I will admit that multithreading is a bit more of a problem to integrate properly in something as non linear as a game. whereas in most regular applications it's a little easier since you know what will and what won't crash and how to avoid it, ish...
it does however seem like the predictions of those who said we might see CPU devs move away from making more powerful CPU's to simply adding more cores are coming true... wich is troubling...
Yeah, right.
Just because AMD doesn't announce it or disclose anything doesn't mean Intel is ahead of the game.
Let's see who will have true (single die, not Pentium-D fake dual-core) quad-core available first.
BTW, what is so great a qual-core qual-thread server CPU?
Sun is selling 8-core 32-thread server right now.
still waiting for Intel to get an on chip memory controller though
I think some specific operation processors like Cell can do lot better performance, if programmed correctly..and I know its lot more tougher to optimize it that way....But then it can be done... I think Sun's Niagara ROCKS !!!
I think Intel showing a 4-core processor isnt making much noise...because it aint gonna improve performance by much. Rather I think having a co-processor for executing special codes can be more useful... Something like ROCKTON (will b from Intel) or Java coprocessor(for AMD) will be more performance benificial !!
Last edited by sunbiz_3000 on 14 Feb 2006 - 20:06
as having HT on will reduce the overall perfomance of the core, as it will then have to split between two threads pretending to be two cores, rather than just using all the resources on one thread.
the reason why HT "could" be considered good before dual core was that it allowed better response time when you where wokring on multiple applications, like playing a game at the same time as you where doing somethign else ish. of course neither app woudl get the full power of the cpu then, I believe it's something like 60 and 40%
I'm not sure how well home computers will use this, but servers gain a very clear advantage from as many cores as possible. Even with 8 core processors, people will probably still by servers with 4 processors (32 cores!
Intel CPU is more and more an option to buy. They are simply cheaper and their chipsets are more stable (not like a crap from nvidia). My next PC will be DELL
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