Intel: The Next Generation

We've all had some experience with Intel's amazing Core 2 micro-architecture in one way or another, whether it's the latest Intel Centrino processors used in our brand new laptops, or our Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme gaming box (You know, the one that would make an environmentalist cry if you told them the amount of power you were consuming per hour?) But in the coming year, Intel will blow Core 2 out of the water with their new architecture, code named Nehalem.

When the Core 2 Duo was first introduced in July of 2006, Intel was quick to produce the claim that it provided a 40% gain in performance over the Pentium D line of processors, while using 40% less power. However, even with the clear advantages of Core 2's architecture, AMD threatened with a supposedly more powerful processor: Phenom. As many of AMD's fans will tell you, Phenom is the first "true" quad-core CPU, as it uses the same wafer for all four cores. This differs from Intel in that Core 2 Quads use more than one wafer to house its multiple cores. Additionally, AMD themselves released a video criticizing Intel's use of a Front Side Bus in its processors, a technology that has been used long past its expiration date. Contrary to the differences in technology used, Core 2 processors still vastly out perform virtually any processor AMD has on the market today.

To solidify their lead, Intel is pushing out the successor to Core 2 in the second half of this year, around the same time that AMD is positioned to release their newest Phenom processors. Unfortunately for AMD, Nehalem is most likely to be vastly superior to any Phenom processor, and here's why:

• Nehalem will abandon the FSB. In it's place will be QuickPath, Intel's version of AMD's HyperTransport system
• 2 to 8 cores (Possibly more; source: Wikipedia article)
• DDR3 RAM (Although AMD's Phenom will have this too)
• HyperThreading returns! That's right, your OctoCore CPU will have 16 threads logically. I wonder how that'll look in Task Manager?
• AMD's monolithic argument is no more; all cores will now be manufactured on the same wafer.
• 45 nm manufacturing process

AnandTech recently reviewed an early version of Nehalem, and had this to say:

"We've been told to expect a 20 - 30% overall advantage over Penryn and it looks like Intel is on track to delivering just that in Q4. At 2.66GHz, Nehalem is already faster than the fastest 3.2GHz Penryns on the market today. At 3.2GHz, I'd feel comfortable calling it baby Skulltrail in all but the most heavily threaded benchmarks. This thing is fast and this is on a very early platform, keep in mind that Nehalem doesn't launch until Q4 of this year."

It's clear that Intel has learned from AMD, and is now giving them a run for their money. Though the future of AMD is now unsure, and Intel's has most likely been cemented, there is only one inevitability to speak of: I'm buying my first HyperThreaded OctoCore Nehalem processor the moment it's available.