Some of the enthusiasm for Intel's blazing-fast Nehalem-based Core i7 parts was lost due to the undeniably high entry price. For those seeking high-end performance with a little change left in the wallet, Intel is now teasing its recently-disclosed 32nm Westmere - complete with on-board IGP.
With rival AMD having made its way to 45nm, it's no surprise to see Intel flexing its silicon-muscle and here's vice president Steve Smith showing off some of that 32nm goodness.
There's a nice little teaser at the end, too, effectively telling us that we could be buying a 32nm Westmere-based system running Microsoft's Windows 7 "in the near future".
Despite our enthusiasm for the latest-greatest components, Core i7 is passing many of us by due to its substantial start-up costs. A new board, coupled with DDR3 memory and a pricey processor isn't an easy pill to swallow. A mid-range 32nm Westmere, though requiring another new socket - LGA 1156, we feel - should be priced lower at similar clock speeds, and should arrive when DDR3 prices have fallen to a digestible level.
On a personal note, my ol' Core 2-based Inspiron 1520 weighs-a-tonne notebook is long overdue an upgrade. A portable equipped with a Westmere-based dual-core-plus-integrated-graphics Arrandale is looking mighty tasty.
To find out more about Intel's 32nm roadmap, or to just get your head around its myriad of code names, head on over to Tarinder's analysis: Intel introduces CPUs with GPUs on 32nm Westmere: Nehalem axed.
