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 introduced two new dual-core processors, the high-end Core i5 680, and the value-segment Pentium Dual-Core E5500. The former is an LGA1156 chip that runs on Intel P55, H55, H57, Q55, Q57 chipsets, while the latter is an LGA775 chip that works on most recent LGA775 motherboards. The Core i5 680 uses the 32 nm based Clarkdale core. At 3.60 GHz (27 x 133 MHz) with a Turbo Boost speed of 3.86 GHz, the i5 680 is expected to be the fastest dual-core processor ever made. Its embedded Intel HD Graphics controller is clocked at 733 MHz. It has L2 caches of 256 KB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 4 MB. It supports two channels of DDR3 memory. With HyperThreading enabled, the chip gives the OS four logical CPUs to deal with. It has a TDP of 73W.

The Pentium Dual-Core E5500 is based on the 45 nm Wolfdale-2M core, it has a clock speed of 2.80 GHz (14 x 200 MHz), and FSB speed of 800 MHz. It has a shared L2 cache of 2 MB, and TDP of 65W. While the Core i5 680 is priced at US $294, the E5500 goes for $75. All prices are per-piece in 1000 unit tray quantities.

Intel is poised to release new performance and high-end processors across its various Core family brands, within Q1 2010 and later. OCWorkbench, citing sources in Japan, released tentative release dates and information of new Core family processors. Among a few known names such as the six-core Core i7 980X, there are a few new ones. Details and dates are as follows:

• Core i7 980X "Gulftown": six-core, LGA-1366, 3.33 GHz (turbo: 3.60 GHz), March 16
• Core i7 970 "Bloomfield": quad-core, LGA-1366, 3.33 GHz (turbo: 3.46 GHz), Q3, 2010
• Core i7 930 "Bloomfield": quad-core, LGA-1366, 2.80 GHz (turbo: 3.06 GHz), February 28
• Core i7 880 "Lynnfield": quad-core, LGA-1156, 3.06 GHz (turbo: 3.73 GHz), Q2, 2010
• Core i5 680 "Clarkdale": dual-core, LGA-1156, 3.60 GHz (turbo: 3.80 GHz), Mid-May
• Core i3 550 "Clarkdale": dual-core, LGA-1156, 3.20 GHz, Q2, 2010
• Pentium E6700 "Wolfdale-2M": dual-core, LGA-775, 3.43 GHz, Q2, 2010

Although the Core i7 960 is available in its OEM form, the company doesn't plan to retail it with its retail packaging.

Intel has yet another high-value dual-core processor in the making, this one probably specific to the Chinese market again (following Pentium E6500K). While the new Pentium Dual Core E6700 does not come with an unlocked bus multiplier, it does come with its bus multiplier two notches higher, at 13.0x. With its bus speed of 266 MHz, it manages a stock clock speed of 3.46 GHz. Based on the 45 nm Wolfdale-2M core, the chip has an L2 cache of 2 MB and FSB of 1066 MHz. Coolaler used an engineering sample achieve an overclocking feat of 5.93 GHz (456.4 MHz x 13 @ 2.016 V) on a fairly mainstream Gigabyte GA-EP45 UD3L motherboard with 4.00 GB DDR2 memory (validation here). There is no information on its availability or pricing. Details on the various tests performed on the chip can be viewed at the Coolaler thread linked below.

Barely a week since its availability in the Chinese markets, Intel's Pentium Dual-Core E6500K processor that aims to be overclocker-friendly at a low-cost, set its first speed milestone, becoming one of the fastest Wolfdale-2M processors. Overclockers from IT168 community achieved 5.068 GHz on the processor. Details include a FSB multiplier of 24.0x (24 x 211.2 MHz), and a high vCore of 1.736V. The feat was conducted on an ASUS P5E3 Premium motherboard with 2x 1 GB of Corsair DDR3-1333 memory. The validation can be viewed here. This should give you a good idea of what to (or what not to) expect from this $89 chip.

With the 45 nm Phenom II AM3 architecture, AMD is able to offer two highly competitive mainstream dual-core processors: the Phenom II X2 (Callisto), and Athlon II X2 (Regor). The Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition chips not only serves as a notable sub-$100 choice for mainstream consumers, but also offers good value to overclockers with an unlocked bus multiplier, and with the right tools, the potential to unlock disabled physical cores. With its prime competitor from the blue camp being Pentium Dual-Core E5000 and E6000 series, Intel decided to up the stakes with a low-cost overclocker-friendly dual-core processor labeled Pentium Dual-Core E6500K, the company's first FSB multiplier-unlocked 45 nm dual-core chip.

Based on the 45 nm Wolfdale-2M core, the E6500K boasts of a default clock speed of 2.93 GHz (11.0 x 266 MHz). The bus multiplier is unlocked, leaving room to play with it. Placed in the Pentium E6000 series, the chip has a FSB frequency of 1066 MHz, compared to its E5000 cousins that sport 800 MHz FSB. Aided with a 2 MB L2 cache, the E6500K is expected to go head-on against competing AMD chips. Currently available in China for RMB 1299 (converts to $190) as part of bundle with Biostar T-Series TP45E motherboard, the E6500K is expected to retail soon for US $89. Incidentally, the "K" in E6500K refers to "black" in digital imaging jargon.

In the run-up for a new generation of processors, Intel is looking to boost sales of its existing Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors by introducing a round of price-cuts. According to the source, this round covers most mainstream-thru-value processors, rather than those chips based on Yorkfield-12M and Wolfdale-6M cores. It includes Core 2 Quad Q9x00 (Yorkfield-6M), Core 2 Quad Q8000 (Yorkfield-4M), Core 2 Duo E7000 (Wolfdale-3M), Pentium Dual-Core E6000, E5000 (Wolfdale-2M) and Celeron E1500 (Conroe). The cuts range between 10 and 20 percent. Notable changes include Core 2 Quad Q9400 pushed down to US $183 (on par with Q9300), from its price of $213, and Core 2 Duo E7500 down to $113 from $133 (influenced by its successor E7600). The existing prices were implemented in April, when Intel introduced a similar round of price-cuts for the market segments. The new prices will be implemented within this month. All prices in USD.

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.

Intel continues to use the Pentium brand name for its series of downscaled Core 2 series processors between the Core 2 Duo and Celeron lines. Japanese website ASCII.jp spotted a new model under the series, the E6300, originally slated for end of May. A retail box was spotted at a ground store. The most peculiar part of the name is its model number "E6300", which that has been used by one of the earliest Core 2 Duo models. The Pentium E6300 however, is the faster chip. While the Core 2 Duo E6300 is clocked at 1.86 GHz, with 2 MB of L2 cache and 1066 MHz FSB, the Pentium E6300 is clocked at 2.80 GHz with the same FSB speed and L2 cache size.

The Pentium E6300 achieves its 2.80 GHz speed with a bus multiplier of 10.5 (x 266 MHz). It is based on the 45 nm Wolfdale-2M core. The model follows the Pentium E5400 (2.70 GHz, 13.5 x 200 MHz) and falls into the E6000 series for having the 1066 MHz FSB. So in essence, it falls between the E5000 series' use of the Wolfdale-2M core, and the E7000 series' use of the 1066 MHz FSB. ASCII.jp notes its price to be at ￥8,880 (around US $90).

Intel's Pentium Dual-Core E5200 processor is getting on course for a specifications update. The chip will feature in a new, improved Wolfdale-2M core, spec'd out as the R0 stepping, from its current M0 stepping. The new stepping is intended to add new instructions, power-management features, and bring about changes in the chip-package. A short list of known changes is as follows:

• CPUID changed from 10677 to 1067A
• Power State Indicator (PSI) support with Intel 4 series chipsets
• New instructions - XSAVE and XRSTOR
• New S-spec and MM numbers
• New halide-free chip package

Due to the changed CPUID, users may require BIOS updates to detect the CPU. According to the company, E5200 R0 should be out by April 13.

Intel has launched a new flagship dual-core processor under its Core 2 Duo series: the E8700. As the number suggests, the new chip will have its FSB multiplier value increased by 0.5x. Based on the Wolfdale core, the new model has already made it to Intel's ARK information system on its official webpage (found here).

The new chip comes with a clock-speed of 3.50 GHz, with an FSB of 1,333 MHz. The FSB multiplier value on this chip is 10.5, which gives it a 167 MHz increment over the E8600. Despite the high clock speed, it continues to hold a rated TDP of 65W. It features 6 MB of L2 cache and supports all features listed for the Core 2 Duo E8000 series processors. Intel claims that the chip will be available from its end for at least the next two years. It is yet to be listed by popular computer hardware stores, so we could know its availability and pricing. In most likelihood, it could displace the E8600 from its price-point, looking at the way Intel has been dealing with its lineup lately.

Intel made additions of three new chips to its mainstream thru value lineup of desktop processors. They include Core 2 Quad Q8300, Pentium Dual Core E5300 and Celeron Dual Core E1500.

The Core 2 Quad is based on the 45nm Yorkfield-4M core. It has an operating frequency of 2.50 GHz and a FSB configuration of (7.5 * 333 MHz) with an effective FSB of 1333 MHz. It has a total L2 cache of 4 MB. This chip will be priced at US $224 (1000 unit tray). Pentium Dual Core E5300, based on Wolfdale-2M sports 2 MB of L2 cache and a clock speed of 2.60 GHz (13.0 * 200 MHz) with an FSB of 800 MHz. It will be priced at $86, displacing the E5200. The Celeron series is now lead by E1500, clocked at 2.20 GHz and an L2 cache of 512 KB. This chip is based on the older 65nm Allendale core, and is priced at $53.

Intel made an addition to its desktop processor lineup, by making Core 2 Duo E7400 official. The E7000 series dual-core processors mark the company's attempt to offer the benefits of the 45nm Penryn architecture with great value. Intel on its part, has respected the US $133 mark, with the new chip displacing the older E7300 chip to $113.

The Core 2 Duo E7400 is based on the 45nm Wolfdale-3M core. It features a clock speed of 2.80 GHz, and FSB speed of 1066 MHz. What it also means, is that it comes with a relatively high 10.5x FSB multiplier value. The processor features 3 MB of L2 cache.

The Intel Core 2 Duo E7000 series has brought in great performance at a low price point. They are basically current 45nm Wolfdale core based processors with 3 MB of L2 cache and 1066 MHz FSB. What it also means that it comes with higher FSB multiplier values to achieve the designated clock speeds. For applications that aren't cache intensive, and for users with appropriate tweaking skills, the E7000 series is a boon. Sources claim that on October 19th, Intel will release the Core 2 Duo E7400 processor, a successor to the current E7300. The release also affects prices across its segment.

The E7400 comes with a 2.80 GHz clock speed. It comes with a FSB multiplier of 10.5x for and 3 MB of L2 cache. Coming to its price, it displaces the E7300 from its current price of US $133 and pushes it down to $113, the E7400 will be priced at $133. In its segment, the E7400 will compete with AMD's Phenom X3 8750 and Phenom X4 9550, though it is expected to perform better than AMD's offerings in that price-range given today's applications.

Over the years, market trends show entry-level discrete graphics on the decline. People would rather choose a motherboard with onboard graphics. Industry heavy-weights such as AMD and NVIDIA sought to cash in on that trend by introducing desktop chipsets with nearly the same amounts of graphics processing power as those of discrete graphics at the grass-root level. For companies like Galaxy, a partner of NVIDIA, it meant moving from selling high-end nForce 680i motherboards to some inexpensive ones while continuing to sell graphics cards. Earlier, they had come up with an Intel Atom embedded ATX motherboard. This time around its their micro-ATX motherboard called iG31MX, based on the Intel G31 desktop chipset that's making news for an impressive performance with its overclocking capabilities.

Using a Wolfdale E5200 CPU that has a stock speed of 2.50 GHz, this board allowed overlocking up to 3.25 GHz at reference vCore value of 1.2 V. With the voltage stepped up to 1.36 V, the board took that limit further up to 3.68 GHz. An impressive feat given the market position of this motherboard and a price tag of US $43. The board powers the CPU using a 3 phase circuit, provides two memory slots and integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics. Galaxy made sure this board was fat-free so it could be delivered at a low price-point. It features the older ICH7 southbridge, only one PCI slot apart from a PCI-Express x16, 6-channel audio and 10/100 ethernet interface. The PCB is cut to size with just enough area to seat all the components. The essentials are taken care of sans the bells and whistles.

Intel will release four mid-thru-high range desktop processors tomorrow. These CPUs will be based on the 45nm Yorkfield and Wolfdale cores. Two new Core 2 Quad models, the performance segment Q9650 and the mainstream segment Q9400 are dressed up. The Q9650 has identical parameters to the Core 2 Extreme QX9650 barring the locked FSB multiplier of 9x. The Q9400 is an improvement over the current Q9300. It has a 2.66 GHz core clock speed with a total of 6 MB L2 cache and an FSB multiplier of 8x.

With the Core 2 Duo, there is a top of the line dual core chip, the E8600 which comes with 3.33 GHz core speed, 6 MB of L2 cache and an FSB multiplier of 10x. There's also a mid-range offering, the E7300 that comes with 2.66 GHz core speed, 1066 MHz FSB and an FSB multiplier of 10x. It has 3 MB of L2 cache.

Another good story from the Chinese website Coolaler.com has come to my attention. It brings along some good news for the Intel followers. Intel's highest-clocked 45nm Wolfdale processor, the yet unreleased Core 2 Duo E8600 appears to have some great overclocking potential. Coupled with a DFI LP UT P35 motherboard, 4GB of DDR2 memory, single Radeon HD 4870 card, and liquid nitrogen (LN) cooling the E8600 CPU was able to reach 6146.9MHz (614x10). That compared to its default speed of 3.33GHz (333x10), and we might have a new dual core overclocking winner. According to the information available on the Net, when released the E8600 will cost somewhere between $266 and $299.

Chinese website Coolaler.com has access to an engineering sample of the upcoming Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5200 processor. This processor is based on the 45nm Wolfdale core and features a total of 2 MB L2 cache. It has a default 200 MHz FSB and 12.5 x FSB multiplier and clock-speed of 2.50 GHz. Owing to this high multiplier and the Wolfdale design, this chip facilitates high overclocks, Coolaler.com has been able to take this chip to 4.00 GHz core with a FSB of 320 MHz and Vcore of 1.384 V. More than impressive for a budget processor.

The new 45nm Wolfdale Core 2 Duo E8000 CPUs have a new cooler bundled with the BOX package. As you can see below, the cooler is similar than the one found in Intel's 65nm Conroes. This move probably helps Intel trim down the manufacturing costs, but mostly comes to show one big plus of the 45nm process and that's the lower heat output.

Intel is set to release its first dual-core desktop Celeron CPUs, known as the E1000 series, on January 20th next year. First to be released will be the 1.6GHz E1200, which will have a 512KB L2 cache and a price tag of $53 US when bought in bulk quantities of 1,000 units. Intel is also expected to release four new dual-core CPUs based on the Wolfdale core that day, and three new quad-core Yorkfields were planned, although those may now have been delayed due to a FSB issue. Full product details and pricing for the new processors is below, remember that those prices are not retail.

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.