Penryn Entering Final Testing Stage Page: 1


Intel 45 nm dual-core desktop processor entering final testing phase.

Intel's preparation for their next node size reduction is apparently going according to plan, with Penryn and its sister CPUs swinging into volume production in the third quarter of this year. The desktop variant of Penryn - Wolfdale has reached final pre-release status and in fact may be sent out to most system builders for testing purposes and early reviews next month.

Details about Wolfdale remain scarce, but there is every indication that Intel is pushing hard to get this processor out to system builders, analysts and journalists as quickly as possible. Timing will be critical for Intel, as AMD has its Agena quad-cores and Kuma dual-cores running and is expected to ramp the processor into volume production soon. AMDs server quad-core Barcelona is still aimed at a mid-2007 release, which puts the launch of Agena/Kuma at a mid- to late-Q3 2007 release.

Everything appears to be heading towards an exciting showdown towards the end of the year.

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