Intel Q6600, Xeon X3220 and X3210 to Receive New Stepping

Intel has informed its customers that the Core 2 Quad Q6600 desktop quad-core processor as well as the Xeon X3220 and X3210 server quad-core CPUs have been transitioned to a new stepping. According to a product change notification released on Friday, the three processors were transitioned from the B-3 to the G-0 processor stepping. All new stepping CPUs have 10W lower TDP - 95W instead of the original 105W. The new CPUs, which can be identified by the CPUID "06FB" (B-3 processors were labeled "06F7"), also increase the Tcase, a value that describes the maximum temperature a CPU can sustain, by 11 degrees Celsius. All three G-0 CPUs require BIOS updates. Samples of the processors are expected to be available on May 11. General availability of the units is scheduled for July 16.

Intel will be releasing new Xeon models in Q3 this year. The quad core 5300 series will get a 3.0GHz part to take the lead from the current 2.66GHz model. The single processor line up will get a 2.66GHz part as well. Besides higher clocks the new models will remain identical to the current parts.

Additionally Prices for most Xeon models will be lowered in a very aggressive way, obviously to battle AMD's Barcelona chip. A quad core Xeon could be yours for just over $200 (1.6GHz model) in July. For a full list of new prices check out DailyTech.

Chipmaker Intel is set to launch two new processors for its quad-core range on March 12th - the Xeon L5320 and the Xeon L5310. The new CPUs require much less energy than previous quad-core models, running on just 50 watts of power, a 38% drop from the 80 watt models available now. Both will feature an 8MB L2 cache using a 1066MHz FSB. The L5320 will run at 1.86GHz, whilst the L5310 is just behind on 1.6GHz, with the processors priced at $519 and $455 respectively. The new Xeons are compatible with existing dual and quad-core Xeon processors and are designed to work in Intel's Bensley server platform, taking the company total to 11 quad-core processors.

Update: this information is now available in an Intel Press Release

In a presentation Intel reveals a 3GHz 1600MHz FSB quad core Xeon. New features aren't mentioned. If Intel doesn't stay ahead of AMD with this chip they have yet another weapon nearing completion, the 45nm Xeon parts which should offer even higher clock speeds and more cache are over 3 months ahead of schedule. Intel will also launch Tigerton for quad socket configurations in Q3 this year, with Tigerton Intel should reclaim the crown on the multi socket market as well. If this will actually be enough to beat Barcelona (K10, former K8L) is yet to be seen, it looks promising though.

For the full presentation follow the source.

Intel has quietly begun shipping its latest Clovertown Xeon quad-core processor-the Xeon E5335. The latest Xeon E5335 arrives at 2.0GHz which slots it between the E5345(2.33GHz) and the E5320(1.86GHz). While the Xeon E5320 and lower models operate on 1066MHz front-side buses, the new E5335 features a 1333MHz FSB. As with the other models in the Xeon lineup the E5335 features 8MB of L2 cache. Expect Xeon E5335 processors to arrive soon with a price of $690 per processor in 1000 unit quantities.