Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/28/intel_kentsfield_quadcore_release/
Intel's quad-core processor, 'Kentsfield', may come to market earlier than anticipated. Intel's official release window spans the whole of 2007, but when the details of the chip emerged late last year, it was said to be earmarked for a mid-2007 debut. Now, apparently, it's coming out in Q1 next year.
So, at least, claim Taiwanese motherboard-maker sources cited (http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20060327A5019.html) by DigiTimes. The motivation behind the decision to ship in the first quarter appears to be that it will allow the chip giant to compete more effectively with AMD's quadies, due in the same timeframe.
Intel announced (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/07/server_peep_intel/) Kentsfield at its Developer Forum earlier this month, but the name was first circulated (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/05/intel_65nm_roadmap/) in December 2005. At that time, the part was said to sport 4MB of cache, but then it was also said to be a dual-core chip, so that figure must be in doubt.
The latest report's sources also claim Intel's 'Averill' business PC platform will ship in September alongside 'Conroe', the company's first next-generation architecture-based desktop processor. It's roadmapped for a Q3 introduction, but it had been thought that the part would arrive sooner rather than later. Since it's a 64-bit chip, Intel may well have felt it prudent to hold back, the better to ship closer to the debut of the delayed Windows Vista. ®
Intel to ship quad-core Core 2 Extreme in Q4 (17 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/17/intel_extreme_roadmap_aug_06/
Intel launches pro PC brand (25 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/25/intel_vpro_launch/
Intel pins hopes on new business product (24 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/24/intel_launches_new_processors/
Intel 'Conroe' pricing leaks out (5 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/05/intel_conroe_pricing_details/
AMD Fab 36 'generating revenue' (4 April 2006)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/04/04/amd_fab_36_revenue_shipments/
AMD readies Opteron 2xx, 8xx speed bump (30 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/30/amd_preps_opteron_update/
Intel puts on multi-core peep show (7 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/07/server_peep_intel/
Intel's Averill 'desktrino' platform to ship in pro, lite versions (16 February 2006)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/02/16/intel_averill_platform_plan/
Intel moves mobile 'Merom' back to Q4 (9 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/09/intel_mobile_roadmap_feb_06/
Intel's 'Conroe' to end dual-core, single-core split (9 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/09/intel_desktop_roadmap_feb_06/
Codename cornucopia reveals Intel's 65nm CPU plans (5 December 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/05/intel_65nm_roadmap/
Intel to take 'Averill' to market as Centrino-like platform (29 November 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/11/29/intel_averill_platform_plan/