45-nm Intel Penryn and Nehalem: architectural details
Nehalem processors in detail
Formerly, some mention of Nehalem micro architecture slipped
in the press, but most of the information is unofficial. Recently,
representatives of Intel have confirmed the information that Nehalem
processors will include up to 8 cores, and some sources even report
that all the cores will be placed on a single chip, although that may
be implemented only on ? 32-nm chips of the Nehalem micro architecture.
The Nehalem micro architecture will support the Simultaneous
Multi-Treading (SMT) technology which in fact is revival of the popular
Hyper-Threading (HT). There were slipped rumors regarding the so-called
MTT (Multi-Threading Technology). In any case, whatever the name may
be, the idea is the only one – with Nehalem processors Intel
intends to divide each core into two logical (virtual) processors.
Therefore, in the case of an 8-core processor it is possible to arrange
a simultaneous processing of up to 16 threads at a time.
It is planned to use the concept of a multi-tier shared cache
in new processors. At the same time, Patrick Gelsinger notes that only
the higher level cache will be shared. There is also a mention of the
Enhanced Dynamic Power Management technology that is related to the
enhancement of the "performance per watt" ratio, although there is
still no detailed evidence of that.
Representatives of Intel disclosed information on the plans
for using integrated memory controller (IMC) in CPUs. For now, there is
still no precise data as to which memory types will be supported by the
IMC, but in view of the emergence of Nehalem processors (second half of
2008) it is reasonable to assume the support for DDR3. It tells of the
replacement of FSB with a high-speed of the Serial Point-to-point
Interconnect types (most probably, it meant CSI, Common Systems
Interconnect). There is also a confirmation of the plans to present
models with the integrated GPU. Anyway, all the above information is
unlikely to be unexpected - it is important to find acknowledgement of
the rumors and guesses at the official level.
According to rumors, platforms known as Stoutland and Thurley
based on chips of the Nehalem micro architecture will be presented. The
Stoutland platform implies data transmission over the CSI bus at 4.8 to
6.4 giga-transactions per second. As part of the platform, there is a
mention of the Boxboro chipset with 72 lines of the PCI Express 2.0
bus. The Thurley platform will offer support for 42 lines of the PCI
Express. The system will allow for installation of up to 96 GB system
memory. The networking capabilities will be determined by the Ethernet
controller of 10 Gbit/s bandwidth.
Afterword
While the mass deliveries of Penryn processors is a reality of
the nearest future, there is still some uncertainty regarding the
timelines for the release of Nehalem chips – there is a
mention of the launch of production in early 2008. According to rumors,
the first small lots of new chips will appear in the second half of
2008 (probably,later in the year), whereas the mass production will
start in 2009.
According to the latest data, the pioneers of 45-nm production
will be factories D1D (Oregon, USA) and Fab 32 (Arizona, USA). Later,
in the first half of 2008, these factories will be joined by Fab 28
which is currently under construction in the town Kiryat-Gatt (Israel).
Apart from construction of new factories, Intel also intends
to re-equip the existing ones. For example, the plans include
re-equipment of Fab 11X at Rio-Rancho , New Mexico, which was the first
in the industry to establish production of chips on 300-mm wafers. They
will start producing first 45-nm chips over here in the second half of
2008. Judging by the timelines set for the launch of production, we can
expect that the factory will be one of the leading at the manufacture
of Nehalem processors.
Ahead of us, there is a lot more rumors and facts on Intel's
45-nm processors. Currently, IBM and AMD are also actively working at
the 45-nm process technology, so there is no way for Intel to avoid a
lot of intrigues and fencing on the subject between the fanciers of AMD
and Intel. But what is left to us is simply wait for new interesting
information from the companies' official representatives.
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