Multiple Front Side Buses; Coming to an Intel Server Near You

Next Generation Processors

Unfortunately, next generation processor architecture seems more amok than anything we could have imagined (to be fair, this goes for AMD too, but that is a different article).  There are rumors of a next generation NetBurst processor, dubbed Cedarmill (or Cedar Mill), floating around.  Sources tell us that Cedarmill looks like Iriwindale/Prescott 2M on the 1066FSB, although the Intel roadmaps indicate absolutely nothing about it.  We have also heard rumors that it could be a 90nm part shipping in very late 2005, or perhaps a 65nm part shipping in 2006.  However, the roadmaps make zero mention of this chip, so take those rumors with a grain of salt for now.

Intel has dual core SKUs slated for every facet of its processor technology, even if just as a code name.  Before dual core we expect to see the launch of Iriwindale (Prescott 2M) - which does not seem to be much other than Xeons with 2MB L2 cache, DDR2 and EM64T - and no plans to go to 4GHz.  By the time 2006 rolls along, Intel has three server CPU code names on the table: Dempsey (Iriwindale Successor), Paxville (Cranford successor) and Tulsa (Potomac successor).  Dempsey looks like the DP/UP solution while Paxville and Tulsa are the MP solutions. 

Iriwindale, if you don't know already, is the upcoming Prescott successor.  We shouldn't really call it a successor, as Iriwindale is identical to Nocona with 2MB of L2 cache (90nm, 800MHz FSB).  However, the core does get a little freshening with EM64T integration and Enhanced Speed Step instructions.  Expect to see Iriwindale/Prescott 2M in Q1 next year, with speeds starting at 3GHz and ramping to 3.8GHz. 

After the dust settles when Iriwindale replaces Nocona, Intel has the roadmaps for Dempsey, Tulsa and Paxville laid out.  "Tulsa" and "Paxville" are fairly self explanatory; Tulsa is the Cranford/Potomac replacement, and Paxville is the eventual Tulsa successor.  There are footnotes indicating a ramp up of dual core technology for the multiprocessor (MP) market, and the dual FSB Twin Castle chipset would also designate that sort of migration.  Footnotes on the roadmap indicate both Paxville is definitely a dual core processor, although we suspect its successor Tulsa would be dual core as well.  Tulsa is the only 65nm processor mentioned on the roadmap, although we also expect Yonah (next generation Pentium M) to utilize 65nm.

Dempsey, the Iriwindale replacement, is certainly dual core (according to our roadmap).  Dempsey is slated for H1'06, somewhere just after the rumored Cedarmill launch.  

Below you can see a list of processors and some details.

• Prescott 2M: Identical to today's Prescott with some additional features like 2MB L2 cache.  Still 800MHz FSB, 90nm process.  New features include EM64T and Enhanced Speed Step. Slated for Q1'05.
• Iriwindale:  Prescott 2M for UP and DP servers/workstation.  Slated for Q1'05.
• Smithfield: Dual core Desktop processor.  800MHz FSB, EM64T, Enhanced Speed Step, XD and 1MB L2 cache per core. Produced on the 90nm process.  Slated for Q3'05.
• Dempsey: Dual Core Iriwindale replacement, nearly identical to Smithfield.  Slated for H2'05.
• Cranford: Xeon MP CPU with 667MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache.  Also supports XD, EM64T.  Expected Q1'05.
• Potomac: Xeon MP CPU with 667MHz FSB with 1MB L2 and up to 8MB L3 cache.  Expected for Q2'05.
• Paxville: Successor to Potomac/Cranford.  Expected H1'06.
• Tulsa:  Successor to Paxville.  Expected H2'06.
• Alviso: 90nm successor to Dothan (Pentium M).  Expected to launch Q1'05.
• Yonah/Jonah: 65nm, dual core successor to Alviso for the Napa platform.  Expected to launch Q1'06.
• Cedarmill: Iriwindale/Prescott 2M but with a 1066MHz FSB. Rumored for late '05 or early '06.

• EIST: Enhanced Intel Speed Step Technology; modifies the frequency on the fly to keep thermal and power consumption down.
• Foxton Technlogy (FT): Modifies CPU frequency on the fly, sort of like EIST (enterprise)
• DBS: Demand Based Switching; EIST for IA64 during idle time (enterprise)
• Pellston Technology (PT): Higher system RAS via cache redundancy (enterprise)
• Silvervale Technology (ST): Hardware virtualization (enterprise)
• Vanderpool Technology (VT): Hardware virtualization 
• AMT: Active Management Technology; Out of Band system management independent of operating system.
• LaGrande Technology (LT): Hardware based security measures against software security flaws.