Nehalem Goes Wide; AMD Cancels Kuma

Chicago (IL) - It typically takes a while until new processor architectures become available to the mass market, but a new roadmap leaked onto the Internet suggests that the upcoming Nehalem processor will not just be available to the performance segment initially.

The leaked roadmap, published by Expreview, lists the Nehalem CPU with Bloomfield core within Intel’s Extreme, performance and mainstream segments. Clock speeds are 2.66 GHz for the mainstream, 2.93 GHz for higher-end CPU and 3.2 GHz for the Extreme version. Bloomfield joins Intel’s current Q9550, Q9400 and the (not yet released) E8600 processor. Intel’s mainstream processor portfolio typically spans from just over $200 to about $500, so expect the cheapest Bloomfield CPU to slip into this range, while the Extreme version should cost at least $1000.

Meanwhile, the AMD rumor mill has been spinning this morning. Xbit Labs) that AMD has cancelled its dual-core Kuma processors (next-gen Athlon X2) as well as dual-core and quad-core Agena FX processors based on its triple- and quad-core designs. The cancellation of its dual-core chips apparently has been triggered by complaints about the performance of the triple-core Phenom X3 8000-series : The triple-cores are priced against dual-core processors and simply leave no room for dual-cores, HKEPC claims.

The FX-series, planned to debut as FX-90 and FX-90 processors has hit a power wall, consuming about 140 watts at 2.66 GHz, according to the website. If HKEPC is right, we will have to wait until the 45 nm generation of AMD processors for new dual-cores and FX CPUs. And according to our sources, 45 nm CPUs will not be rolled out until Q4 of this year — 1 year behind Intel and six months behind AMD’s original plan.

Tom’s Hardware had the opportunity to sit through a private meeting with Intel engineers earlier last week at Computex in Taipei and witness a very promising Nehalem test run. The prototype system consisted of a single 4-core Nehalem CPU with Hyper Threading activated, providing a total of 8 logical processors. The demonstrated lasted roughly 10 minutes and consisted of real-time 1080p HD editing and high resolution photo manipulation. Core frequency ? In the same ballpark as some of the fastest overclocked Penryn chips available. Best part of the test run was that we were told the CPU was running air-cooled.

To take down some recent rumors, Intel spoke to us indicating that while several publications indicated that the Nehalem family would be delayed, this is in fact incorrect. Our Intel contact indicated that Nehalem is still on track and going into full production towards the end of 2008.