Intel, AMD Pack Dual Processing Cores on Single Chip
Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. are revving up for what they see as the next big step in the evolution of x86 processors—the introduction of dual processing cores. Both companies are demonstrating technology that puts two processing cores on a single chip, providing users with almost double the processing power in the same amount of space.
Intel's shift toward enhancing the internal transistors within a single chip will be the focus of the Intel Developer Forum this week in San Francisco. The Santa Clara, Calif., company has already said it will combine two Itanium cores into a single chip, a practice the company will imitate in the desktop, server and, eventually, mobile microprocessor space as well. The forum will feature a demonstration of a dual-core processor, Intel executives said. Intel is expected to demonstrate its 64-bit Itanium chip, code-named Montecito, that is due in mid-2005.
"If you think about the value vector for Intel, over the last few decades we've been delivering performance," said Pat Gelsinger, Intel's chief technology officer. "Moving forward, multicore will be the way that will be delivered in the future. ... But we're also expanding the value proposition in meaningful ways."
