Editors Day 2005: A “NEW” ECS Looks to the Future

Intel and AMD

Intel

With ECS Editors Day dovetailing the San Francisco Intel Developer Forum, there really wasn't anything new from Intel. The presentations basically summarized the Intel presentations from IDF. For more info on upcoming Intel Desktop, Mobile, and Server solutions, you will want to take a look at our extensive coverage of IDF by clicking on Trade Shows above and following the nine articles covering IDF. You'll find in-depth information on all the new Intel processors, chipsets, VIIV, and other Intel developments.

Intel basically positioned their new upcoming desktop processors as the best of current NetBurst architecture combined with Pentium M. However, from our perspective, the developments looked more like a recognition of the failure of NetBurst/Prescott and a future staked on the promise of Pentium M - with fewer pipelines, more cache, lower CPU speeds, yet higher performance.

AMD

The bigger surprise was perhaps AMD's presentation. It was a surprise not because AMD presented anything new or exciting, but because they really didn't talk about anything new. With all the new directions for Intel, we really thought that AMD might counter with a few announcements of their own. However, other than confirming that we will see an FX59 "soon" and a 5000+ or higher x2 in the near future, AMD didn't talk about anything new.

At this point, we have to trust that AMD is confident that they can compete with Intel's new salvos in the processor arena. As to how they plan to do that, we can only say that they have shared little to nothing about the AMD future.