More and more details on Intel's upcoming Core i3 and i5 range surface with each day that passes by. Branding will be "simplified into entry-level (Intel Core i3), mid-level (Intel Core i5), and high-level (Intel Core i7)."
As you guys know by now, three processors will be launched initially: Core i5 750, Core i7 860, and Core i7 870. The entire new naming schema in combo with the three different sockets (!) are becoming messy, have a look at the following table:
Core i3 |
Core i5 |
Core i7 |
Core i9 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Codename |
Wolfdale | Yorkfield | Lynnfield | Clarkdale | Lynnfield | Bloomfield | Gulftown |
|
Process |
45nm | 45nm | 45nm | 32nm | 45nm | 45nm | 32nm |
|
Architecture |
Core 2 | Core 2 | Nehalem | Westmere | Nehalem | Nehalem | Westmere |
|
Socket (LGA) |
775 | 775 | 1156 | 1156 | 1156 | 1366 | 1366 |
|
Intel chipset support |
P35, P43, P45, G35, G43, G45, Q35, Q43, Q45, X38, X48 | P35, P43, P45, G35, G43, G45, Q35, Q43, Q45, X38, X48 | P55, P57, H55, H57, Q57 | P57, H57, Q57 | P55, P57, H55, H57, Q57 | X58 | X58 |
|
Cores / Threads |
2 / 2 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12 |
|
Hyper Threading |
No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
QPI / DMI |
DMI | DMI | DMI | DMI | DMI | QPI | QPI |
|
Memory |
Dual-channel | Dual-channel | Dual-channel | Dual-channel | Dual-channel | Tri-channel | Tri-channel |
|
Turbo boost |
No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
L3 cache |
No | No | 8MB | 4MB | 8MB | 8MB | 12MB |
|
45nm IGP |
No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
|
Availability |
Now Core 2 Duo | Now Core 2 Quad | Q4 2009 | Q4 2009 | Q1 2010 | Now Core i7 | Q1 2010 |
So now you know the fundamentals. But here's an overview of what Intel has planned in the long run:
And then this chart surfaced recently, Core i5 dual-core processors with hyper-threading.
There will be some Core i5 models have their model number series beginning in the 600 series leaving the 500 series Core i3 processors behind them, it is reported that Core i3 dual-core processors range between US $123~$143, while Core i5 dual-core ones between $176~$284.
So we just learned the Westmere 32nm processors feature two cores, and HyperThreading technology enabling four logical CPUs (threads). Each core has a dedicated L2 cache of 256 KB, while a 4 MB L3 cache is shared between two cores.
What an astounding confusing stigma Intel is creating with it's over-SKUing, re-branding and three different sockets with accompanying chipsets.
