Intel 3.2GHz Core 2 Extreme pushed 1-2 months back?
updated 11:05 am EST, Wed January 16, 2008
Intel 3.2GHz C2E Delayed
Intel's fastest-ever mainstream quad-core processor has been delayed at least a month, say alleged insiders from mainboard suppliers. While originally pegged for a launch in January that follows just two months after the earlier 3GHz model became widely available, the new 45 nanometer chip has been pushed back to February and potentially March. No explanation has been given for the delay, which is set to take place even though the 3.2GHz processor is still estimated to cost $1,399 each in bulk -- about $400 more than the next-quickest model.
The delay revives worries that Intel may be consciously delaying CPU releases to spite AMD at the expense of availability to customers, releasing new speed upgrades to its Core 2 desktop line to undermine similar announcements from its rival. AMD has recently been forced to delay releases of top Phenom processors until spring to address a crucial calculation bug and is believed to have effectively given up its share of the performance CPU market for these extra few months as a result.
The 3.2GHz Core 2 Extreme is said to be the last traditional mainstream CPU from Intel until the release of its Nehalem architecture at the end of 2008, which switches a conventional all-in-one system bus to the more point-to-point Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) format that eliminates many of the bottlenecks in sending data through current processor designs.
