Intel to Cancel NetBurst, Pentium 4, Xeon Evolutio

[neb1211]

Intel will reportedly announce that it will discontinue the development process of the next-generation NetBurst microprocessors code-named Tejas and Jayhawk. The chips are apparently too hot to go the market.

According to reports over Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and some other sources, Intel will announce on Friday its future plans that do not include Tejas and Jayhawk processors, but that are formed around the architecture used in the Pentium M chips.

The move is believed to represent a significant shift in the development plans of the world’s largest chipmaker and stems from its desire to build chips that are powerful without generating excessive amounts of heat, Reuters reported.

Originally planned for the launch in the second half of 2004, Xeon processors “Jayhawk” – successors of Intel Xeon “Nocona” CPUs, were then said to release in the second quarter of 2005. The Jayhawk core was expected to boast the same micro-architecture as a desktop chip code-named Tejas that would continue quantitative and qualitative boosts of NetBurst specifications. The chip were projected to have 24KB L1 cache, 16K uOps Trace Cache, 1MB L2 cache, a more efficient branch prediction mechanism, a new set of instructions known as “Tejas New Instructions” as well as improved Hyper-Threading organization and so on.

The key performance driver of all NetBurst microprocessors is their clock-speed. However, extremely high frequencies also drive power consumption and heat generation dramatically upwards. Additionally, the Santa Clara, California-based chipmaker ran into problems with its 90nm fabrication process that caused chips to dissipate even more heat because of the power leakage process.

In contrast, Intel Pentium M processors designed for notebooks consume considerably less energy compared to the Pentium 4, but performs nearly as fast. There are indications of dual-core Pentium M-like chips as well as 64-bit capable Pentium M chips to enter the market next year or in 2006.

Taken from http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20040507000306.html

[GraphixAlex]

DAMN!    

[neb1211]

It depends on how you look at it.  A 64-bit or dual core Pentium M would be pretty.  I wouldn't mind having a Pentium M in a desktop like Intel is talking about doing.  

[acemaverick1381]

64 bit does sound nice, but right now only Linux can take advantage of it. What is the point of having a 64 bit processer if you can't even take advantage of the power it brings?

[neb1211]

Windows can take advantage of it but there isn't the hardware driver support quite yet.

[acemaverick1381]

Yeh, and that the point. Whats the point of buying a 64bit right now unless it is for Linux or Macintosh? And seeing the issues Windows is having with Longhorn and 64bit issues, I sorta have to wonder...

[neb1211]

There are advantages to having a 64-bit processor in a 32-bit Windows world.

1) Most 32-bit programs will run faster.
2) Impressing your friends.

[acemaverick1381]

32bit programs run faster? Since when? I've tried two 64bit machines one running 2000 one running XP, and I don't notice a difference in either of them compared to my laptop. And I'll give you impressing your friends, but it just doesn't make sense to me all that much. If Longhorn ever gets all its bugs worked out, I think you will then see what I meant my taking advantage of.

[neb1211]

I have used many computers with 64-bit processors and it is a pretty noticable difference.  Games are the ones that benefit the greatest right now.

[acemaverick1381]

Hmm, since I am not a gamer, I cannot say that I have tried a 64 bit processor with games. But, overall, when it comes to what I do with a computer, RAM plays much more of a role than a 64bit processer does. Granted, if I had a 64bit processor I would use it, but if I am buying a comp for myself, I would much rather get something with a centrino in it.

However, when/if Longhorn is able to work half decently, I still think that is when the real noticeable differnece is going to take place.

[neb1211]

There is no doubt that the real noticable difference will come when Longhorn comes out.  I wouldn't hold my breath for that though because it keeps getting delayed more and more.