Intel has unveiled some information about the Nehalem, the second generation of processors using the duo High-K and 45 nm fabrication process. Nehalem is presented as a new micro-architecture, unlike the Penryn which is mainly a die-shrink, even if it has the same base as the Core architecture. Apparently, even if this information hasn't been confirmed, it won't work with Socket 775 motherboards but with a new Socket LGA1336.
Amongst the innovations, there is the number of cores which will reach up to 8 (2 dies of 4 core each) to execute simultaneously 16 threads. Indeed, each core will be able to process two threads in parallel. This is the comeback of the SMT (Simultaneous Multi-Threading) with a similar concept to the HyperThreading of the Netburst. Just like the HT of the Pentium 4, the SMT of the Nehalem is meant to optimize the use of the processor resources but this time to improve the global performance /energy consumption ratio. According to Intel, the improvement brought by the SMT will mainly concern server environments.
Intel also speaks of « multi level shared cache », which implies the presence of a shared L3 cache additionally to the L2 cache. The cores energy management will be dynamic and independent and the memory controller will be integrated to the CPU, just like AMD! The processor bus will be replaced by a new bus series (known as CSI, for “Common System Interface”) similar to the Hyper-Transport in principle and which will interconnects CPUs in a multi CPU configuration. The number of these connections will be, like with AMD, variable according to the line of product just like the cache size, the number of cores or the type of memory controller (standard DDR3 or FB-DIMM a apparently). This will help Intel to meet the requirements of each market.
Intel also dropped a bombshell by announcing that it will be possible to have, in option, a graphic controller integrated to the processor! Of course even if the presentation titled « High Performance Integrated graphics » it is likely that the performances might be similar to entry level products - not so long ago, Intel qualified the IGP as « Extreme Graphics »! This is Intel's answer to the Fusion initiative of ATI and AMD which will regroup GPU and CPU in the same die. In the long term, this announcement let us believe that the IGP market will have a hard time. Intel says that the production will begin in 2008 and mass production in 2009. At this date, our eyes will be focused on the Westmere, die-shrink 32nm and the new architecture named Gesher. To finish, we have to add that that even if it is always pleasant to have a manufacturer talking about the functionalities of future products, this operation is only meant to get some attention while everyone is waiting for some news from AMD and the Athlon 64 X4.
