Intel Launches Sixteen 45nm Processors, Pricing Revealed

[Rob Williams]

From our front-page news:Ahead of schedule, Intel issued a release yesterday afternoon announcing the launch of their 45nm processors... all sixteen. For the desktop/enthusiast segment, the lone initial model is the QX9650 Quad-Core, which we put to the test just two weeks (http://techgage.com/article/intel_core_2_extreme_qx9650_-_the_45nm_era_begins/) ago. Penryn/45nm brings higher power efficiency with the help of the new High-K transistors, higher cache and front-side bus and also the introduction of the SSE4 instruction set, targeting video encoding.

The QX9650 is available for $999 in quantities of 1,000. On the server side, consumers have the choice of twelve different models right now, with dual-cores to be available next month. On the high-end, the Xeon X5482 offers a 3.20GHz frequency with a healthy 150W TDP, while the low-end sees a 2.0GHz 80W model. Pricing for Xeon Quad-Cores ranges between $209 and $1279.

<table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="550"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffce5b"> Model

</td> <td bgcolor="#ffce5b">Freq./TDP

</td> <td bgcolor="#ffce5b"> L2 Cache

</td> <td bgcolor="#ffce5b"> FSB

</td> <td bgcolor="#ffce5b"> $/1,000

</td> <td bgcolor="#ffce5b"> Availability

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 </td> <td>3.0GHz (130W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$999
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon X5482 </td> <td>3.20GHz (150W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1600MHz
</td> <td>$1279
</td> <td>Now - 45d
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5472 </td> <td>3.00GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1600MHz
</td> <td>$1022
</td> <td>Now - 45d
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon X5472 </td> <td>3.00GHz (120W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1600MHz
</td> <td>$958
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5462 </td> <td>2.80GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1600MHz
</td> <td>$797
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon X5460 </td> <td>3.16GHz (120W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$1172
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5450 </td> <td>3.00GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$915
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon X5450 </td> <td>3.00GHz (120W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$851
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5440 </td> <td>2.83GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$690
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5430 </td> <td>2.66GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$455
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5420 </td> <td>2.50GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$316
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5410 </td> <td>2.33GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$256
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5405 </td> <td>2.00GHz (80W)
</td> <td>12MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$209
</td> <td>Now
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Dual-Core Xeon X5272 </td> <td>3.40GHz (80W)
</td> <td>6MB
</td> <td>1600MHz
</td> <td>$1172
</td> <td>30d - 45d
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Dual-Core Xeon X5260 </td> <td>3.33GHz (80W)
</td> <td>6MB
</td> <td>1333MHz
</td> <td>$851
</td> <td>30d - 45d
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intel Dual-Core Xeon E5205 </td> <td>1.86GHz (65W)
</td> <td>6MB
</td> <td>1066MHz
</td> <td>$177
</td> <td>30d - 45d
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Of great interest is the fact that five models utilize a 1600MHz FSB, proving that Intel is looking to make that the new standard as soon as possible. We began seeing 1333MHz FSB processors this past summer (http://techgage.com/article/intel_core_2_extreme_qx6850_quad-core/), so it took no time to see a push for an even higher frequency. The desktop will not see processors with a 1600MHz FSB until early 2008, with the launch of the QX9770 and QX9775 (Skulltrail (http://techgage.com/article/idf_07_sf_skulltrail_-_high-end_has_new_meaning/)) models.
At the time of writing, no American or Canadian e-tailer I checked had any of these processors available. Intel is announcing immediate availability, so they should begin popping up at your favorite e-tailer in the coming days.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 11, 2007 - Built using an entirely new transistor formula that alleviates the wasteful electricity leaks that threaten the pace of future computer innovation, Intel Corporation today unveiled 16 server and high-end PC processors. In addition to increasing computer performance and saving energy use, these processors also eliminate eco-unfriendly lead and, in 2008, halogen materials.

Source: Intel Press Release (http://techgage.com/pr/Intel_Launches_Sixteen_45nm_Processors_Pricing_Rev ealed)

[NicePants42]

While you correctly point out that the QX9650 is the only desktop CPU currently available, I would like to specifically note that the Xeon CPUs on that table are at this time all socket LGA771, NOT LGA775.

A few months ago when the Q6600 price first fell below $300, people started noticing that the Xeon X3210 and X3220 were LGA775 Processors - essentially the same thing as the Q6600, but not marketed as desktop chips. That isn't the case with these new Xeon CPUs - they will only work on server motherboards.

[Merlin]

While you correctly point out that the QX9650 is the only desktop CPU currently available, I would like to specifically note that the Xeon CPUs on that table are at this time all socket LGA771, NOT LGA775.

A few months ago when the Q6600 price first fell below $300, people started noticing that the Xeon X3210 and X3220 were LGA775 Processors - essentially the same thing as the Q6600, but not marketed as desktop chips. That isn't the case with these new Xeon CPUs - they will only work on server motherboards.
Might be good for a game server?
I really don't know.

:techgage:Merlin:techgage:

[Rob Williams]

They would be fantastic for a game server, but that's not the problem. Since Nate made that post, the LGA775 versions became available, so all is good.