PC Watch has published a roadmap of Intel CPUs for the next two years. The processors in magenta are destined for laptops.
This confirms the likely arrival of the Bloomfield (high end Nehalem) for the end of 2008; however, it especially details the progressive integration of Northbridge elements in CPUs. Moreover, we should recall that the Nehalem architecture will mean the return of SMT (Simultaneous Multi-Threading) with a concept similar to HyperThreading and the accent this time will be put on the performance/energy consumption ratio. Unsurprisingly, the memory controller will be integrated to the processor as has been the case for AMD for some time now. We can also see that DDR3 will be managed on 3 channels.
In 2009 and for the performance segment, PCI-Express will then find its place in the CPU or at least there will be a x16 lane for GPU management. The Quickpath Interconnect (QPI) which will appear with the Nehalem will then disappear with it and the (south)bridge will be directly connected to the processor by the DMI lane. By the way, the former ICH (I/O Controller Hub) name is abandoned for PCH (Platform Controller Hub). Lower down the line, we are limited to two physics cores but a GPU will be integrated even if there is still the possibility to add another discreet core. As for UMPCs, here again this involves integration of a GPU but 3D power is only secondary to size limitations for this type of product.
