Intel on their latest Microcode Revision Guidance Guide has apparently stopped development of mitigations for some of its processor families that still haven't been updated to combat the threat of Spectre. The odyssey for the return to form of security on Intel products has been a steep, and a slow one, as the company has struggled to deploy mitigations for speculative code execution on its processor families that run it. Updates for some families of products, however - such as Penryn, Wolfdale, Bloomfield and Yorkfield, among others - are apparently not going to get an update at all.

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore's claim that transistor counts in microprocessors can be doubled with 2 years, by means of miniaturizing silicon lithography is beginning to buckle. In its latest earnings release, CEO Brian Krzanich said that the company's recent product cycles marked a slowing down of its "tick-tock" product development from 2 years to close to 2.5 years. With the company approaching sub-10 nm scales, it's bound to stay that way.

To keep Moore's Law alive, Intel adopted a product development strategy it calls tick-tock. Think of it as a metronome that give rhythm to the company. Each "tock" marks the arrival of a new micro-architecture, and each "tick" marks its miniaturization to a smaller silicon fab process. Normally, each year is bound to see one of the two in alternation.

Last week, Intel sketched out its strategy in dealing with its client processor brand Core, and placing its different kinds of processors in series of markers (such as "i3", "i5", and "i7"), on the merit of performance and features they offer, and not necessarily a segregation based on core type and socket type. This raised a big debate in our forums, on who is really going to benefit from this kind of branding.

Chinese website INPAI.com.cn sourced information which explains what factors go into determining which brand marker a processor gets. The table elaborates on how different kinds of Intel processors (determined by core and socket types) cross different lines, with a few features toggled or enhanced. It is sure to throw up some surprises.

MSI today announces a new model to its line of notebook, the MSI VR602 Not only provides top Operation Performance, but also provides multimedia functions, MSI VR602 is ideal for any environment, whether home, office, or school. With MSI exclusive ECO Engine, the outstanding and unique power saving management function, VR602 could extends the battery running time while performing different tasks. VR602 applied the exterior with an Aerodynamic and Elementary design, also concealing all the openings at the connecting edges. There are no unnecessary gadgets for a Simplistic and Practical Styling, elevating our swift and practical feature. Just like a hard-cover book added with the seal of approval, and perfect work of art on display.

With1280x800 High-Resolution, perfect length and width ratio for the screen,15.4 inch LCD monitor,VR602 enables you to open many windows applets at once. Furthermore, the high accuracy board materials to go along with 1280 × 800 High-Resolution can perfectly portraying a picture's detail, letting you pleasantly enjoy at all times. Besides, built-in with a 1.3 mega pixel webcam and an internal mic, the VR602 enables you to engage in real-time sharing and live-video. Additionally, VR602 has a 4-in-1 card reader, and 4 well distributed USB 2.0 ports, facilitating connection with various types of computer peripherals. VR602 is the best choice for value and performance, and your best notebook choice.

On September 15th Intel plans to fabricate the Intel Xeon 7400 Dunnington series processor, the company's last Penryn generation processor to be released. Xeon 7400 will mark the end of a previous server era, and after it the new Nehalem Core i7 processor family will start to appear in the fourth quarter. The Xeon 7400 will be Intel's first 6-core server chip. It will be produced using 45nm high-k process technology and will boast 16MB of L3 cache. The Xeon 7400 Dunnington series is also one of the first Intel chips to have a monolithic design, like Nehalem. In other words, all six cores will be on one piece of silicon. To date, for any processor having more than two cores, Intel has put two separate pieces of silicon - referred to as die - inside of one chip package. Server vendors announcing Xeon 7400 powered products will include Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, IBM and Unisys, according to Intel senior vice president Pat Gelsinger.

A desktop-replacement laptop using the Centrino 2 Platform, Intel's highest dual-core mobile CPU, the Penryn-based Core 2 Extreme X9100 to be precise, was overclocked to 4.00 GHz with help from aggressive cooling made by CoolIT and Intel's Extreme Tuning Utility. Seen in the first picture is the laptop seated on an unreleased notebook component cooler made by CoolIT. The cooler uses external thermoelectric couple (TEC) and air cooling to draw heat away from the laptop. Despite using overclocked settings using this cooler, the CPU reaches a scorching 50° C.

The cooler releases in January 2008 and will be priced around US $120. This feat was also helped by Intel's new Extreme Tuning Utility (Iron City). Intel's Dan Ragland used the software to overclock the laptop's CPU to over 4GHz, stably. He commented that the notebook-cooler added around 500MHz over and above what's achievable by using the laptop's cooling alone.

It has been said that Intel is preparing to launch its latest Core 2 Quad processor, the Q8200 on August 31st. The forthcoming processor features four 45nm Penryn cores, 2.33GHz core clock, 4MB of shared L2 cache, a 1333MHz front-side bus, and a suggested price tag of just $203. Specs may be right, but consider the other information a rumor, at least until further info is available.

Intel launches the Centrino 2 mobile plaform this Monday, the 14th. Centrino 2, codenamed Montevina is behind launch-schedule owing to issues detected in the integrated graphics controller. The chipset released will be that which supports discrete graphics controllers from ATI or NVIDIA.

Intel Centrino 2 for now is targeted towards the business-class and enterprise segments. The chipset supports DDR3 memory which brings in a certain level of energy efficiency with added performance. At the heart of it would be a 45nm processor based on the Penryn architecture. Initially dual-core processors, with quad-core based notebooks later. The wireless network controller supports the newer 802.11n and WiMAX standards. Security and management features come in through the vPro technology.

These 45nm dual-core processors are said to run at 25W, an efficiency increment over previous generation running at 35W.

The updated Dell Inspiron and XPS notebooks, refreshed with the new Intel Core 2 Duo "Penryn" 45-nanometer processors, are now available for customers in Hong Kong. Dell's laptop series that feature "Penryn" CPUs are the Inspiron 1420, 1520, and 1720, as well as the XPS M1330 and XPS M1730. You can now equip these models with the 45nm Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800 FSB/3MB Cache), T8300 (2.4GHz/800 FSB/3MB Cache), T9300 (2.5GHz/800 FSB/6MB Cache), or T9500 (2.6GHz/800 FSB/6MB Cache) processors. Currently, it is unknown when the Penryn-powered Dell consumer notebooks will hit the U.S. market.

Dell Bets on Intel Penryn for its High-End Laptops

Dell will begin offering Intel's Penryn processor as an option on several notebooks within a week or so, according to sources close to the computer giant. Although the 45-nanometer generation of Penryn processors targeted at laptops was announced back in early January, the chips haven't exactly leaped into laptop lineups. So far, Hewlett-Packard is the biggest taker of one Penryn chip: the Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz, 6MB L2 cache). Dell has not specified yet which models will get the processors, but the company's high-performance notebooks, such as the XPS, are likely candidates. Intel's 45-nanometer mobile processors integrate 6MB of cache versus 4MB for the older 65-nanometer Merom generation, and the lower-end chips integrate 3MB versus 2MB for the Merom-class processors.

Sager has refreshed their 17-inch desktop replacement model NP5792 with beefed up cooling system to handle the NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX and the latest Intel 45nm processors. The NP5792 is a powerful machine with all the latest features such as Intel Wireless-N technology, fingerprint reader, and 1GB Intel Turbo Memory. It can be customized with Core 2 Duo models including Penryn T8100/T8300/T9300 /T9500, 4GB RAM, Blu-ray drive, 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) widescreen display, 200GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX with 512MB or GeForce 8700M GT (512MB), built-in 8ch Azalia Sound System, 8 cell Lithium-Ion battery, Bluetooth 2.0, Intel 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN, 2.0 mega pixel webcamera, built-in TV-Tuner with remote, and Windows Vista OS. The NP5792 starts at $1,679, but the high-end specs will charge you about $3624. Visit Sager NP5792 product page to get more facts.

We all know the Inquirer isn't always right. However this story seems solid. The Inq is reporting of a new Asus s771 board. Of course nothing special, though next to Skulltrail this would be the only board with overclocking options in the BIOS.

Motherboard manufacturers ASUS and DFI are both working on BIOSes which will allow users to install quad-core Intel Penryn processors on motherboards equipped with an nForce 680i chipset - a feature which was labelled as being a major advantage of the new nForce 780i chipset. The enabling factor for these two companies is that they both use their own motherboard layouts, rather than NVIDIA's reference designs. Therefore, they have managed to create beta BIOSes capable of working with quad-core Penryn chips on 680i systems - the ASUS Striker Exteme and the DFI LanParty UT NF680i SLI-T2R. These BIOSes are not yet available to the public, but assuming there are no legal issues that would prevent them from doing so, it shouldn't be long before ASUS and DFI release them.

Laptop manufacturers Toshiba, Lenovo and HP Compaq are joining Sony's updated Penryn VAIOs. Up first is a pair from Toshiba (13-inch Satellite U300 / 17-inch Satellite X200), followed by a refreshed ThinkPad T61 and R61 from Lenovo and a trio of HP Compaq 6820, 6720 and 6520 laptops.

Intel's Core-based architecture will be updated on January 6, 2008 with the introduction of the new mobile 45nm Penryn-based Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme dual core processors, according to DailyTech. It's highly possible that the chips could make their first appearance at CES 2008 (January 7, 2008) with further unveils at MacWorld 2008.

[H]ard|OCP has prepared a complete pricing list of all new 45nm Intel processors announced today.

Built using an entirely new transistor formula that alleviates the wasteful electricity leaks that threaten the pace of future computer innovation, Intel Corporation today unveiled 16 server and high-end PC processors. In addition to increasing computer performance and saving energy use, these processors also eliminate eco-unfriendly lead and, in 2008, halogen materials.

The NVIDIA nForce 780i chipset has been reported for having issues with Intel's Penryn processors. The exact issues remain unknown but the chipset will be delayed an additional two months and will not expected until December. NordicHardware also reports that the nForce 780i might possibly be the same as the nForce 680i with an additional PCIe bridge chipset and identical performance. However, we all hope the 780i will be much more than its predecessor.

Intel's Paul Otellini today confirmed the launch for Penryn-based Xeon processors is set for November 12, during the Intel Developer Forum, or IDF. Penryn will be Intel's first 45nm architecture, designed for mobile, desktop, server and workstation use. Intel confirmed Penryn has a 410 million transistor die. Kentsfield has 582 million transistors while Conroe has 291 million transistors.

Intel plans to lower power consumption of standard chips for laptops and introduce quad-core microprocessors for mobile computers next year. Along with the new mobile platform codenamed Montevina, Intel will also introduce a dual-core Penryn processor with a 25W and 35W TDP, which will add performance to thin-and-light notebooks without increasing their complexity or pricing. The new chips will be made using 45nm process technology and will emerge in Q2 2008.

After hearing nothing about the 1600MHz FSB Xeons for several months VR-Zone tells us they will appear in Q4 this year. There will be 2 quad core Harpertown models at 2.8 and 3 GHz and a single dual core Wolfdale at 3.4 GHz. Additionally the cache is increased by 50% to 3MB per core. The faster FSB and increased cache will raise the bar even higher for Barcelona, however since both CPU's aren't available it is yet to be seen if this will be enough.

To support these new processors Intel will release the Seaburg chipset, it is not mentioned if the current chipsets will officially support the faster bus.
For a full list of new Wolfdales and Harpertowns visit VR-Zone.

With Intel's Penryn set to launch next quarter, Intel has decided to shed some light on improvements it has made to the architecture, and prove that Penryn is not just a shrunk Conroe.

Intel has decided to improve existing Wide Dynamic Execution, Advanced Smart Cache, Advanced Digital Media Boost and Intelligent Power Capability, technologies that previously made their debut with Conroe and Merom.

Below is Intel's Tick-Tock long term roadmap, as well as "Penryn" plans (source: HKEPC)

The Quad Core 2 Extreme processor will run at a frequency of 3.33 GHz have a 1333MHz FSB, 12MB L2 Cache and will retail for about 999$ when it gets released in Q4 2007. In addition to the Quad-Core 2 Extreme processor intel also plans to release two performance level 45nm quad-core processors which will also have a 1333 MHz FSB and 12MB L2 Cache. Another four 45nm dual-core processors (Wolfdale) will be launched in the first half of 2008. The first three processors will have a 1333MHz FSB and 6MB L2 Cache, while fourth will have a 1066MHz FSB and 3MB L2 Cache.

With the desktop PC market heading toward SFF (small form factor), Intel makes plans to shrink its newest Penryn processors.
Penryn will have two versions for its BGA packaging, LV and ULV, which will see die sizes shrink from the 35mm squared of previous Merom processors to 22mm squared. This will assist SFF products in becoming even smaller. Penryn will launch first as a 35mm square SV version in the second quarter of 2008 while the LV and ULV are scheduled for the second half.

Intel's latest roadmap reveals pricing for its upcoming Penryn-based Xeon DP processors. The costs for Penryn-based Xeon DP processors start at $177 and top out at $1,172.
Intel has two Penryn-based quad-core Xeon DP processors under $300. The quad-core Xeon DP E5405 starts out at $209. The $209 price tag yields a quad-core Xeon DP processor clocked in the 2.0 GHz range, but below 2.33 GHz, with 12MB of L2 cache. Putting forth an extra $47 gets you the quad-core Xeon DP E5410 with its 2.33 GHz clock speed.