INTEL Shows Off an 8-Core PC

INTEL has showcased at CES a system capable of hosting 8 cores onto a single motherboard. While many knew that this was actually possible, it is a surprise nevertheless. To give you some details, let me say that the “V8” platform that was showcased today is similar to the one that is being used in Apple’s Mac Pro systems.


Last year when the Macs were launched, the idea was to offer real quad core systems motive for which two dual-core Xeons were used to turn the concept into reality. At the moment, quad-core Xeons existed only on papers but when they came out, users replaced the older dual cores with the newcomers and obtained eight-core home computers.

The system runs at 2.4GHz and uses a 1066MHz FSB. The motherboard is loaded with FB-DIMM memory with the V8 producing a 3DMark 06 CPU score of 6089 points. The showcased system uses a single NVIDIA 8800GTX graphics card because of the limits imposed by INTEL’s architecture.

As opposed to that, AMD’s Quad FX platform uses 2 dual-core CPUs but they can work with regular memory rather than Fully Buffered DIMMs. Unfortunately, AMD’s system is much slower than INTEL’s in a wide range of application. The same CPU test found in 3DMark 06 only credits the Quad FX with about 3700 points which is very low indeed.

Moreover, the Clovertons use less power than the FX-74 CPUs, so the system is easier to live with. The cooling system is rather plain compared to AMD’s custom built one but as I’ve said, the INTELs are way ahead, at least at this moment. And AMD doesn’t have a single CPU that can compete with INTEL’s V8.

However, one must not forget that AMD already has working Barcelona CPUs (codename for AMD’s quad cores). No one knows when they will come out but I guess it will happen as soon as possible. Until then, it’s INTEL mayhem.

Core 2 Duo to Reach 3GHz

Core 2 Duo is slowly evolving into quite a successful product. It’s both a powerful and affordable CPU. And then there’s the fact that it succeeded in turning the tables to INTEL’s side after 2 years of AMD supremacy.

Take into account that there is still a large quantity of older NetBurst CPUs represented by the 900 series and only about 20% of the sales this year INTEL has made represent Core 2 Duo products. And there’s also the problem of availability, since high priced Conroes are pretty rare. And you’d better remember this if you’re planning to buy a new PC on Christmas, since you’ll be lucky if you catch an Allendale CPU.

When it comes to future chipsets, it seems that INTEL has already figured out the recipe.
Salt Creek is the following chipset line coming from INTEL and will include several variations of the following products: X38 (Q3 2007) as the new high end chipset, P35 (Q2 2007) representing mainstream segment and G33/35 chipsets which will be value oriented. All chips will be built around the new ICH9 southbridge. X38 for example will be the first to introduce FSB 1333 and DDR3-1333. G33/35 line will have an integrated GPU with HDCP support and DirectX 10 features and will also use DDR3 rated at only 1066MHz. ICH9 means the disappearance of PATA connectors as well as integrating no less than 12 USB ports onboard among many other things.

The second quarter of 2008 will also bring the new 45nm line represented at first by the mobile Perynn line. That may sound a little far, but the fact that AMD is still struggling with 65nm CPU production should give INTEL all the time it needs.

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Sony Will Ship Blu-Ray Media

Sony Electronics announced that it had begun to ship its single-layer blank Blu-ray optical media and that it would start delivering dual-layer discs at the beginning of June. The company also confirmed the rumor saying that the manufacturer plans to equip its computers with Blu-ray disc drives.

Sony is shipping 25-GB BD media, which will retail for about $25 each disc. The 50-GB versions

of the media (BD-R and BD-RE) will be dual-layer discs that will be sold for $48 and $60, similar to pricing on TDK’s or Panasonic’s BD media. mesothelioma

It seems that, later this year, Sony will also release the internal BWU-100A drive, which will be able to handle both 25-GB and 50-GB discs, burning a full 25 GB disc in about 30 minutes. Retail pricing for the BWU-100A drive will be available later this year.