Intel Roadmap Update: Mobile and Server Edition

Changes are a little more common on the server side of things. We see the Xeon equivalents of the new 6xx series desktop processors, as well as some changes in the Itanium roadmap. Intel has also cancelled the 3.80 GHz Nocona part due to its proximity with the 3.80 GHz Irwindale. The Irwindale has 2 MB of L2 cache - essentially the Xeon version of the Prescott 2M - and it should be noticeably faster than a Nocona with 2 MB of L3 cache.

It has been a while since the last server roadmap update, so we will include all of the recently launched Xeon "F" parts, which add support for EM64T along with XD support on the E-0 and later steppings. All of the Irwindale parts, incidentally, will include XD support from the start.

Most of the Xeon processors have been available for some time. The big news mirrors the desktop platform, where we see the addition of the Irwindale processors with 2 MB of L2 cache. One difference between the two is that the EM64T support has been disabled (for now) on the desktop processors, but it is fully functional on the workstation chips. The Irwindale also supports running in dual processor configurations. There are also uniprocessor Xeon chips available, and their launch dates mirror the DP Xeons.

The Xeon MP processors are still based on the old Gallatin core, and Intel extends the life of these platforms with the introduction of the 4 MB L3 cache chips, which will allow for a simple upgrade for companies that feel it is worthwhile. Moving forward, Intel has the Cranford processor, which is a Prescott core with multi-processor support running on a 667 FSB. Then in Q2'05, Intel will launch the Potomac core, which is a Prescott core that includes an addition 8 MB of L3 cache, again running on a 667 MHz FSB. The launch target lists a speed of greater than or equal to 3.50 GHz.

The Itanium platforms have mostly remained static of late, with the only changes being delays and removal of parts from the roadmap. The first Fanwood parts have been delayed to Q4'04, and the 1.7/4M Fanwood has been removed altogether. Intel isn't entirely clear on how the Fanwood and Madison cores differ, but Fanwood appears to be a tweaked Madison core with better power characteristics. Madison 9M parts experienced a similar shift, with the 1.6/9M part moving to Q4'04 and the 1.7/9M part disappearing as well. Intel is not halting the Itanium platform of course, and there is a vague "TBD" in Q2'05 for a 667 MHz FSB Itanium platform.

As far as chipsets go, Itanium will continue with the E8870 for the forseeable future, while Xeon chipsets will have Tumwater at present with more options on the way. Lindenhurst support for 2P systems is starting to ship, and that will last for the next year at least. 1P systems are now available with the Copper River chipset, with Mukilteo coming in the second half of 05. On the MP front, Intel has their Twin Castle chipset planned for the launch of the Cranford and Potomac processors.

That about wraps it up for this edition of the Intel Roadmap Update.