Intel's 45 nm Wolfdale processor and Penryn architecture

Computers

Intel will be unleashing the next generation of dual-core processors, based on the Wolfdale 45 nm transistor. The 45 nm Wolfdale will replace the 65 nm Merom in Intel dual-core processors. Intel will label the new processors Core 2 Duo E8000 and dub the entire family of new processors Penryn. However, Apple MacBook Air and Lenovo's X300 lightweight laptops continue to house a 20 watt version of the 65 nm Merom. In addition to reduced power consumption and therefore greater greenness and improved efficiency, the new Core 2 Duo boast increased clock and caching speeds. A 45 nm Wolfdale has a 6 MB L2 Cache, compared with 4 MB for the 65nm Merom. Power consumption is reduced mainly because of more efficient manufacturing that minimizes current leaks. Currently, AMD, Intel's main competitor, does not offer a comparable processor. Not even AMD's quad-core processors compare with the 45 nm Wolfdale on most benchmarking tests.

The Wolfdale will be marketed as the E8500 series. The new Intel micro-processors also offer improved virtualization. They also overclock reliably well. The processors run cooler than their predecessors, making idle temperatures cool enough to give the fans a rest. The main drawback with the 45 nm Wolfdale series is price: they are currently running at about $1,000. Yet the authors point out that they are not much more expensive than their 65 nm predecessor processors. The cooler temperatures also means less power draw, which may be a concern for some consumers.

They will therefore eventually be geared for mass-marked computer users though; even if they are now appearing more like a power-PC product. Benchmark tests rate the 45 nm Wolfdale near the top or at the top of their categories, making them especially useful for gaming PCs. However, benchmarking data shows reduced performance with some applications including iTunes. The follow-up to the 45 nm Wolfdale is already in the works, though. Called Nehalem, it will be released after the 45 nm Wolfdale-installed Intel Penryn series hit the market.

The article illustrates differences in processor performance, pointing out that features of fancy new processors do not necessarily meet the needs of all consumers and certainly not ordinary ones who take price into consideration when buying PCs and whose gaming needs are limited. Moreover, the article outlines different priorities in research and design between Intel and AMD. Clearly Intel is taking the lead in introducing next-generation Core 2 Duo chipsets that integrate with current motherboard designs but that offer consumers faster speeds, improved caching, cooler temperatures, and improved power efficiency.

The new processors show how subtle changes to processor architecture and manufacturing can lead to more widespread changes in the market. Transitioning to upgraded technology can be accomplished gradually, the article implies. For example, the new 45 nm Wolfdale processors integrate with preexisting motherboard configurations, and therefore require no overhaul in any other hardware department. This allows Intel to market the new processors more readily and prevent common problems associated with new technologies.