Intel plans to unleash the first quad core CPU (Kentsfield) within one year. The switch to 45 nm in 2007 will enable eight cores and up to 12 MB L2 cache (Yorkfield) per CPU. We x-rayed the complete CPU roadmap. The climax of Intel's move to 45 nm will obviously be processors with as many as eight cores on a die. Technically, the Yorkfield and Harpertown cores are pretty similar, while Yorkfield steps into the desktop space and Harpertown harpoons the enterprise customer. Both will be 45 nm parts, with four cores and as much as 12 MB L2 cache. We can't say how the geometry of this chip is going to be and we suppose Intel is not entirely sure yet either.

As it looks right now, four Wolfdale type chips with 3 MB L2 cache each could be lined up together in order to realize the huge quad core super chip. Alternatively we could imagine Intel pulling two quad cores with 6 MB L2 cache each. Although these are not yet outlined, we believe this could be added rather quickly.

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