Tech Shout!

Intel is in the works of launching the quad-core Kentsfield based Xeon 3000 seriesprocessors. The new Xeon X3220 and X3210 processors will not only be identical to the recently named Intel Core 2 Quadro processors but also share the same Kentsfield core.

There will be no architectural or socket differences between desktop Core 2 Quadro and Xeon X3000 series processors, with the exception of product placement and marketing. The new Xeon X3220 and X3210 processors will arrive clocked at 2.4 and 2.13 GHz with a 1066 MHz front-side bus respectively. Both Kentsfield Xeon X3000 processors will feature 8MB of L2 cache. Be ready for the Intel Xeon X3220 and X3210 to arrive in the first quarter of 2007 for $851 and $690 in 1,000-unit lots.

Prior to the release of Kentsfield based Xeons, Intel will launch the Clovertown Xeon DP processors. The new Clovertown Xeon DP processors are quad-core and multi-processor enabled. With a compatible LGA771 motherboard users can install two Clovertown processors in a system for eight-core computing. The new Xeons will arrive in X5355, E5345, E5320 and E5310 models clocked at 2.66, 2.33, 1.86 and 1.60 GHz respectively. Intel Xeon DP models X5355 and E5345 will have a 1,333 MHz front-side bus while the Xeon DP E5320 and E5310 have a slightly slower 1,066 MHz front-side bus. All Clovertown Xeon processors will have 8MB of L2 cache. The Intel Clovertown Xeon DP processors will be priced at $1172, $851, $690 and $455 for models X5355, E5345, E5320 and E5310 in 1,000-unit lots respectively. It will hit the stores by the end of Q4 of 2006.

Last but certainly not the least is the new Tulsa Xeon MP processor. The latest dual-core Xeon MP 7150N will be clocked at 3.5 GHz with a 667 MHz front-side bus. This particular model will have 2MB of L2 cache and 16MB of L3 cache. Pricing for the new Xeon MP 7150N will be $2,622 in 1,000 unit lots. It is slated to be available by the first quarter of 2007.