All sixes and i7s
Reports have surfaced claiming that Intel may release its six-core Westmere as early as March 2010, to coincide with the CeBIT trade fair in Hannover, Germany.
Rumour has it the processor will also not adopt the name Core i9, as some in the media had previously speculated, but will continue the Core i7 lineup.
"Intel never mentioned anything about a Core i9, ever," an industry insider told HEXUS, saying the name had largely been an invention of the media. Our source also went on to say that Intel generally came out with an ‘Extreme Edition' of their processors, making it likely the upcoming six core would be somewhere along the lines of a Core i7-980X Extreme Edition.
"Whatever it's called, it will probably have awesome performance," our source told us.
Earlier reports in the tech press suggested Intel would only introduce its six-core wonder in June of 2010, but now it's thought the release could be as early as March.
"Plus or minus four weeks" our source told us when we asked them about the date, adding "well, not really minus." Right, so April 2010 at the latest.
A leaked - and seemingly authentic - Intel slide on Chinese language site PCOnline is also doing the online rounds, citing the Core i7-980X as being based on a 32 nm process, having 130 Watts TDP, 12 MiB L3, socket LGA1366 and the firm's Turbo Boost technology.
As is the case for most of Intel's Extreme Editions, pricing should be around the $1000 mark.
Intel declined to comment on rumour and speculation.
