Intel to Postpone Next-Generation Xeon Processors
After Intel pushed its future-generation desktop Tejas chips at a later date last week, this was only a question of time when it transpired that DP server Xeon processors with “Jayhawk” core are also postponed till Q2 2005. On the 15th of February Intel will add new Xeon 1M SKUs into its lineup of processors for dual-processor servers – Xeon 2M 3.20GHz, Xeon 1M 2.80GHz and Xeon 1M 2.40GHz. Those chips will be intended for 533MHz processor system bus and will be based on 0.13 micron cores. Xeon “Nocona” processors built using 90nm strained silicon technology and designed for 2-way platforms with 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus will come out at a later date in Q2 2004. The family will include processors clocked from 2.80GHz to 3.60GHz and will be priced from $209 to $851. It is very likely that 3.60GHz speed-bin will be almost immediately available for both Xeon and Pentium 4 CPUs, as Prescott 3.60GHz is scheduled for the second quarter as well.
Originally planned for the launch in the second half of 2004, Xeon processors “Jayhawk” – successors of Intel Xeon “Nocona” CPUs, are now said to launch in the second quarter of 2005. The Jayhawk core boasts the same micro-architecture as desktop chip code-named Tejas that will continue quantitative and qualitative boosts of NetBurst specifications. The chip will have 24KB L1 cache, 16K uOps Trace Cache, 1MB L2 cache [probably 2MB for 65nm version], a more efficient branch prediction mechanism, a new set of instructions known as “Tejas New Instructions” as well as improved Hyper-Threading organization, according to currently available information. Besides, there are rumours about possible 64-bit enhancements available in Tejas.
