Six-core processors would be released for high-end desktops and servers by the mid of this year. Built on Intel’s most up-to-date “Westemere” architecture, the new six-core chips will perform faster and save power as compared to quad-core processors. These chips consist of 1.17 billion transistors along with a 12MB cache.
32-nm process which is used in Intel’s latest Core processors is used to make six-core chips. Intel’s Core processors which were introduced in January share the same architecture with the six-core chips but there is a slight change. A separate graphics card would be required as these new chips won’t come with a built-in graphic module. No further details have been provided by Intel.
Intel would be coming up with six-core desktop processors under the code name “Gulftown”. This new processor will fit in the same slot as quad-core. This processor will be able to perform 12 threads simultaneously for a faster performance and will come under the brand name “i7”.
Intel’s new “Westmere-EP” chip will come with the same Xeon brand name just like Xeon processor under the code name “Dunnington”. But “Westmere-EP” will have faster speed with additional security improvements. Intel is aiming to launch these 32-nm Xeon chips within three months.
Advanced Encryption Standard is introduced in “Westmere for servers” for enhanced encryption & decryption, which would help securing data within or out the servers.
Six-core processors will come with enhanced power management i.e. idle cores would be shut down automatically to save power.
Intel is also aiming to launch their fastest “Nehalem-EX” eight-core chip by the mid of 2010.
