Intel to Focus IDF on Shift to 32-nm 'Westmere' Chips

According to sources on the web Intel has begun producing 32-nm "Westmere" chips, the focus of the company's Intel Developer Forum in two weeks.

Intel plans to announce on Sunday night that is has begun manufacturing its 32-nm shrink of its Core microprocessor line, which the company refers to by the umbrella code name of "Westmere". Those chips will be spearheaded by the so-called "Dales" chips -- "Clarkdale" for the desktop, and "Arrandale" for the notebook -- which will contain an Intel CPU and graphics core together in the same package. Arrandale is expected to ship during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Intel is also expected to announce that its has developed a system-on-chip technology to complement its CPU efforts, leading to improved versions of its SoC efforts for the consumer, commercial, communications, and other markets. In addition, Intel plans to announce new transistor improvements.

Intel will also talk about a new second-generation high-k+ metal gate transistor formula, which will give Intel "a 3+ year advantage in addressing leaky and energy inefficient transistors," according to a blog post from Intel spokesman Bill Kircos. Intel has shipped more than 200 million 45nm CPUs using high-k+ metal gate transistors, Kircos will say.

The Intel Developer Forum will begin on Sept. 14 in San Francisco, a frequent venue for what Intel refers to as its "geekfest".

As always, Guru3D is not invited for IDF.