Intel Details Penryn and Nehalem Processors

Intel announced yesterday it will begin production of its 45nm Penryn family processors in the second half of this year. Six processors are planned, including dual and quad-core versions for desktops and servers, as well as a dual core mobile and higher-end server processor. Intel also disclosed details of a future generation of processors codenamed Nehalem. The Wall Street Journal reports Intel said the Nehalem processors include the most fundamental design changes in its chips since the Pentium Pro family in 1996. Production is expected to begin next year and will feature a switch to built-in memory controllers, similar to what rival AMD began using in 2003, instead of utilizing chip sets. Intel explains enhancements in Penryn and Nehalem processors will result in "enormous" performance and energy efficiency gains. It said it will have two 45nm manufacturing fabs in production by the end of this year and two more by the second half of 2008.

Sources: Press release, The Wall Street Journal
Commentary: The Chip Glut Is Beyond Semi-Serious • Intel Shows Committment to China, Announces $2.5B Chip Factory • Intel Continues To Ramp Up 45-Nanometer Production Spending
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Intel (INTC). Competitors: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). ETFs: Semiconductor HOLDRs (SMH), iShares Goldman Sachs Semiconductor (IGW), SPDR Semiconductor (XSD)

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