Intel Corporation introduced several high-performance desktop and server processors today, bringing the next level of integration and intelligence to computers. The new Intel Core i5 processor family, two new Intel Core i7 processors and the Intel Xeon processor 3400 series bring Intel's latest Nehalem microarchitecture to mainstream desktop and entry server markets.

A new mainstream platform from Intel with socket LGA1156 will be released soon, and it has been already featured in medias which increases the demand for compatible CPU Coolers. Scythe did some preliminary work and most of its on-market CPU Coolers are compatible not only to the socket LGA1366 but upcoming LGA1156 as well. This was realized by developing a flexible mounting clip (patent pending) which allows mounting the CPU Cooler on socket LGA775, LGA1366 and LGA1156 by using just one clip. Users have just to slide the Push-Pins to the corresponding hole depending on socket and then just attach the CPU Cooler.

Consequently, users can therefore choose among Zipang 2, Kabuto, Kama Angle Rev. B, Ninja 2 Rev. B, Ninja Mini Rev. B, Katana 3, BIG Shuriken, and Shuriken Rev. B CPU Cooler already available in the worldwide market. Mugen 2 CPU Cooler is schedule to be compatible to socket LGA1156 but will be as "Revision B" version with completely re-worked mounting clips by middle of November 2009.

Ahead of a formal launch, pricing of socket LGA-1156 processors, an untimely leak from Newegg.com that was updating its site, spilled pricing details of a broad range of socket LGA-1156 processors and motherboards. These prices give us an indication of what prices will finally look like, in the US market, and more or less match speculated prices doing rounds for quite some time now.

To begin with, Intel Core i5 750, Core i7 models 860 and 870 are priced at $209.99, $299.99, and $579, respectively, close to the 1000 unit prices that surfaced weeks ahead. At $209.99, the 2.66 GHz Core i5 750 will be highly competitive with AMD's Phenom II X4 BE offerings in that price range. The 2.80 GHz Core i7 860 is expected to perform on par, or better than the Core i7 920, while being priced a notch higher. The Core i7 870 2.93 GHz only holds premium value at $579, since it ends up being the fastest socket LGA-1156 processor money can buy.

PC vendors and component retailer can't wait to start selling Intel's newest performance/upper-mainstream Core i5 / Core i7 "Lynnfield" processors, and products based on the processor. This despite recent measures by Intel to curb pre-release sales of the processor, particularly in the Asian markets. A British etailer had earlier listed all three upcoming processor, with the Core i5 750 priced at ₤133.73 (excl. VAT). Now Novatech, a PC vendor started running a countdown on the product page of its Elite series gaming PC show how long it is before one can purchase its Elite Pro PC-1339 gaming desktop powered by a "New Future Intel Core I5 Processor" earlier clearly listed as Core i5 750. Showing a little over four days left to go, we can deduce that it will be around on the 8th. This confirms that consumers will be able to buy Core i5 750 and compatible motherboards on the said date. Core i5 750 is the most affordable of the three upcoming processors, and is one of the first on Intel's socket LGA-1156 platform. Intel P55 is its first supportive platform core-logic. Based on the 45 nm Lynnfield die, this monolithic quad-core processor brings about several changes to the way several components on the motherboard are located.

Intel's newest quad-core socket LGA-775 processor, the Core 2 Quad Q9505 (s-spec: SLGYY) adds to the series of upper-mainstream Core 2 Quad processors based on the Yorkfield cores. With a clock speed of 2.83 GHz and a bus speed of 1333 MHz, it matches Core 2 Quad Q9550. The difference here is the L2 cache amount. Q9505 features 2x 3 MB of L2 cache. It supports every other feature in the series, including Intel VT support. Started selling in Japan, the Core 2 Quad Q9505 is priced at JPY 22,770 there, while it's expected to be priced at around US $210.

Acer, the world's third largest vendor in the PC market, today announced the new Acer Veriton Z280G-EA271CP all-in-one PC for the U.S. commercial market. It delivers energy-efficient performance in a picture-perfect design. It's available via Acer's authorized resellers with prices beginning at just $499.

Boasting a brilliant 18.5-inch widescreen LCD monitor and measuring just 19-inches (W) by 15-inches (H) by 2.14-inches (D), this sleek all-in-one is perfect for reception areas, hotel lobbies, executive suites, cube environments and any office that requires an integrated, space-saving design.

Although a large chunk of products based on the new sockets LGA-1156 and LGA-1366 arrive in 2010, effectively pushing LGA-775 out of the extreme, performance, and upper mainstream segments, Intel will continue launching new low-end LGA-775 processors in an effort to digest inventories of motherboards and memory compatible to that socket. The company's grassroot processor brand Celeron will be updated with the E3000 series, consisting of dual-core processors based on the Wolfdale-1M core. The 45 nm based core offers the essential features for basic computing, while running cool and priced low.

Two quarters ahead of its expected launch, sources in the Chinese media unearthed Celeron E3900, perhaps the last SKU in the E3000 series. Slated for Q1 2010, the Celeron E3900 runs at 3.40 GHz (200 MHz x 17), with an FSB speed of 800 MHz. It has a shared L2 cache size of 1 MB, and supports the most common instruction sets including SSE3, SSSE3, and x86-64, although SSE4.1 and Intel-VT isn't part of it. The latest company roadmap of the essential and value segments show that the company looks as far as Q3 2010 with its Celeron and Core 2 Duo brand products, with existing number schemes. In essence, retailers in Q3 2010 shouldn't have stock problems selling you these processors.

Mobile phone major Nokia introduced its big step into the world of conventional computing, with the Booklet 3G. The company seems to be a tad reluctant in calling it a netbook, and instead calls it a 'mini-laptop'. Perhaps this notion revolves around Nokia's devices to be more focussed on mobile internet (provided by cellular carriers, hence the "3G" in the name), rather than other forms of wireless internet connectivity (such as WiFi service providers, although it isn't missed out as a connectivity option).

In either case, the Nokia Booklet 3G is a 10.1 inch sub-notebook, powered by an Intel Atom processor (and hence x86 based). It sports an integrated GSM connection with support for 3G/HSDPA internet. The SIM card is hot-swappable. On the software front, it seems to be running Windows 7. Its biggest USP is its connectivity, that includes 3G/HSDPA, WiFi, built-in A-GPS, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, audio and importantly, HDMI for display output. The company rates the battery to last for 12 hours. With the 2 cm thick aluminum chassis, the unit tips the scales at 1.22 kg (2.7 lbs). Nokia may further detail the Booklet 3G at the upcoming Nokia World 09 event on September 2. A promotional video published on YouTube can be viewed here.

The newest entry into ASUS' already huge lineup of socket LGA-1156 motherboards based on the Intel P55 chipset, is the new Republic of Gamers Maximus III Gene. Unlike the Maximus III Formula, this one is based on the micro-ATX form-factor, with four expansion slots in all, to spare. The LGA-1156 socket is powered by a high-grade 10-phase digital PWM circuit. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory. With two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (electically dual x8 when both populated) wired to the CPU, the board utilizes the feature-set of the P55 PCH completely. An open-ended PCI-E x4 is located between the two x16 slots, and a legacy PCI slot below. Connectivity includes gigabit Ethernet, Firewire, USB, eSATA, and 8-channel ASUS SupremeFX X-Fi, implemented in the same way as on Rampage II Gene and Maximus II Gene. The ASUS Maximus III Gene motherboard is expected to start selling by the end of this month, its pricing is yet to be known.

Intel's upcoming "Clarkdale" is special for two reasons: it is the first 32 nm based processor from Intel, and that it's the first processor that comes with a graphics processor built in, something AMD conceptualized a long time ago. Under the hood (read: integrated heat-spreader), Clarkdale is a busy package, that holds a CPU complex die (that houses the main processing cores, cache, a dual-channel DDR3 integrated memory controller, and a Quickpath interconnect controller, that connects the die to its neighbor, a northbridge-iGraphics die that houses most northbridge components including a PCI-Express 2.0 root complex, the star-attraction IGP and a DMI connection to the "platform controller hub (PCH)".

Intel's so codenamed "Braidwood" technology, which was touted to be a successor for Intel Turbo Memory, in which a supplementary high-speed, low-latency NVRAM module is used to speed up booting, application startup, and enhance system responsiveness in general, is shelved for now, and will not be part of Intel 5-series chipsets' feature-set, according to industry sources. As a result, Intel P57, a variant of P55 that officially supports it, will not be implemented, as Braidwood is the principal difference between it and P55. Several motherboard manufacturers already have the hardware-side of the technology ready, as several high-end LGA-1156 motherboards have been spotted with Braidwood NVRAM slots, or at least placeholders of the same. The software-side of it, however, seems to be the problem child, sources explained.

Yet another speed record has been set for the Pentium Dual-Core E6500K processor, past a recently achieved record of 5 GHz. An overclocker with the Expreview forum name DFORDOG achieved 6 GHz using a LN2 cooled setup. Details of the feat include 6.004 GHz (17.0 x 353.2 MHz), vCore of 1.8V, and a resulting FSB speed of 1412 MHz. To seat the E6500K was a Biostar TP45 HP motherboard and 2x 1 GB of GeIL DDR2 memory. The CPU was cooled by a K|ngp|n F1 liquid nitrogen evaporator. Its validation can be found here. Pentium E6500K is a limited-edition SKU based on the Wolfdale-2M core, with an unlocked bus multiplier. For now it's nowhere to be found outside China, and shows no clear signs of doing so either.

Intel's counter to sub-$150 quad-core and triple-core processors from AMD, the Core 2 Quad Q7000 series is close to being formally announced. First surfaced in January, the Q7000 series quad-core processors differ from the Q8000 series with regards to cache size. It features a 1+1 MB (2 MB) L2 cache, and an 800 MHz front-side bus speed. The first in the series that is surfacing now, is the Core 2 Quad Q7600. This entry-level quad-core processor from Intel is clocked at 2.70 GHz (13.5 x 200 MHz). The processor further has a skimpy instruction set, with lack of support for SSE4.1, which most 45 nm Core series processors from Intel feature. Targeted mostly at home and office users, and tentatively priced within the $150 mark, the Core 2 Quad Q7600 will hit stores soon.

NVIDIA enjoys its share of the pie with the existing socket LGA-775 platform, with a broad range of performance nForce, and value-oriented GeForce MGPU chipsets. With Intel's implementation of the FSB-replacement QuickPath Interconnect system interface with LGA-1366, a conflict ensued with regards to Intel licensing NVIDIA making chipset. Intel's contention stood that its older licenses did not cover the latest processors that implement integrated memory controllers and QPI. As a result, NVIDIA was forced to license its SLI technology to motherboard manufacturers for products based on Intel X58 chipset, and now Intel P55 chipset for the LGA-1156 series processor, and the future of NVIDIA Intel-series chipsets looked bleak at worst.

Fresh reports suggest that NVIDIA indeed has a chipset product lineup planned for Q1 2010, that supports socket LGA-1156 processors, codenamed MCP99. In addition to this, NVIDIA will also serve up two new LGA-775 chipsets, codenamed MCP85 and MCP89. What's common to all these chipsets is that they embed an integrated graphics processor (IGP). Some of these chipsets feature a 64-bit wide memory channel dedicated to the IGP's memory needs, apart from the 128-bit wide (dual-channel) system memory controller, on the LGA-775 platform. The dedicated memory channel allows the IGP to match entry-level graphics cards in terms of performance, without eating into the system memory. We predict this will be implemented in the same way AMD 780G, 785G and 790GX does, with dedicated memory chips present onboard. The LGA-775 compatible ones will further feature dual-channel DDR3-1333 standard supportive memory controllers for system memory. The MGPU will be named inside the GeForce 200M series.

A little over a fortnight away from launch, one of Intel's first socket LGA-1156 processors, the Core i5 750 has started being listed on popular American online (and ground) retailer Fry's. Not for pre-order or expected stock, but accepting orders for same-day shipping! The processor ended up being priced just where we expected it to be: around the $200 mark (listed on roadmaps so far as $196).

Based on the Nehalem architecture, the Core i5 750 "Lynnfield" is a monolithic quad-core processor with a clock speed of 2.66 GHz, with a QuickPath Interconnect connection to the northbridge it shares the chip package with. It features 256 KB L2 caches per core, and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. Its integrated DDR3 memory controller addresses dual-channel memory. The listing can be found here.

Intel has already set foot on the 32 nm lithography, with first 32 nm based prcoessors expected to arrive in Q1 2010. These processors have already been extensively sampled, and tested by sections of the media. More importantly, 32 nm marks Intel's introduction of the Westmere architecture, which is a 32 nm optical shrink of Nehalem, with a slightly expanded feature-set making use of the possibly higher transistor loads. Starting with dual-core "Clarkale" processor, Intel plans to work out high-end six-core processors codenamed "Gulftown" within the first half of 2010. In addition to this, Intel is readying Westmere's successor, codenamed "Sandy Bridge".

While a vague die-shot of a supposedly mainstream quad-core processor based on Sandy Bridge surfaced last month, more information about it is coming to light from industry sources, according to DigiTimes. Intel will introduce the Sandy Bridge architecture in the fourth quarter of 2010. Considering the first Westmere CPUs are commercially launched ten months after its formal introduction (Westmere was unveiled in February,) the commercial launch of the first Sandy Bridge processors can't be too far away from Q4 2010. This in essence shows that Intel can afford to come up with a new flavour of CPUs every year. Nehalem will have served as a 1.25 year "tock" for the 45 nm process, while Westmere may serve as a "tick" of nearly the same length. For those of you unfamiliar with Intel's "tick-tock" model of product development cycle, The company uses a "tick-tock" model of process development, where each processor architecture gets to be made in two manufacturing processes, while each process gets to build two succeeding architectures.

Corsair Labs recently conducted testing to determine whether the use of high-performance DDR3 memory for Core i7 platforms also requires the use of more effective CPU cooling products.

The results clearly show that using high-performance memory results in increased CPU temperatures, due to the higher CPU VTT voltages and Uncore clock speeds required by the IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) in the Core i7 processor. The average load temperature of a Core i7-920 processor cooled by the Intel HSF (heatsink and fan) was 11 degrees C higher when utilizing 2000MHz C8 Dominator GT memory compared to 1333MHz DDR3 memory. The same PC cooled using the Corsair H50 CPU Cooler maintained average CPU core temperatures up to 24 degrees C lower than the stock Intel HSF, and was able to stably cool an overclocked CPU while also maintaining a 2000MHz DDR3 memory frequency.

Shortly after its launch, Intel's trophy 34 nm X25-M G2 solid-state drive was found to carry a critical bug that potentially renders it useless if the BIOS HDD password was set or changed. Intel is ready with a firmware update that corrects the issue. Users of X25-M G2 series SSDs can avail the firmware update, and relevant information here.

Following this, Intel will resume shipping the 34 nm, second generation SSDs with the correct firmware in place.

Intel Corporation and Micron Technology Inc. today announced the development of a new 3-bit-per-cell (3bpc) multi-level cell (MLC) NAND technology, leveraging their award-winning 34-nanometer (nm) NAND process. The chips are typically used in consumer storage devices such as flash cards and USB drives, where high density and cost-efficiency are paramount.

Designed and manufactured by IM Flash Technologies (IMFT), their NAND flash joint venture, the new 3bpc NAND technology produces the industry's smallest and most cost-effective 32-gigabit (Gb) chip that is currently available on the market. The 32Gb 3bpc NAND chip is 126 sq.mm. Micron is currently sampling and will be in mass production in the fourth quarter 2009. With the companies' continuing to focus on the next process shrink, 3bpc NAND technology is an important piece of their product strategy and is an effective approach in serving key market segments.

Intel is weeks away from letting loose its first socket LGA-1156 processors, starting with a series of quad-core models, namely Core i5 750, Core i7 860, and Core i7 870. According to the latest roadmaps, dual-core derivatives of the Westmere architecture, will arrive in early 2010. IT168 sourced details of the model numbers Intel chalked out, based on roadmap excepts. An older report detailed all six models based on the "Clarkdale" core, including three in the Core i5 series, two in the Core i3 series, and one in the Pentium Dual-Core series. Let's try to make sense of this branding structure.

NVIDIA Corporation today announced that Intel Corporation, and the world's other leading motherboard manufacturers, including ASUS, EVGA, Gigabyte, and MSI, have all licensed NVIDIA SLI technology for inclusion on their Intel P55 Express Chipset-based motherboards designed for the upcoming Intel Core i7 and i5 processor in the LGA1156 socket. As a result, customers who purchase a validated P55-based motherboard and Core i7 or Core i5 processor when available can equip their PCs with any combination of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, including Quad SLI, for the ultimate visual computing experience.

"NVIDIA SLI technology is a perfect complement to the processing prowess of our new Core i7 and Intel DP55KG desktop board," said Clem Russo, VP and General Manager of Intel Client Board Division at Intel Corporation. "NVIDIA and Intel share a combined passion for furthering the PC as the definitive platform for gaming, and this combination will surely be attractive to anyone building or purchasing a brand new PC this fall."

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.

After implementing the new processor logo design scheme that consists of a rounded-rectangle that convey's which brand, brand-expander, and micro-architecture (using a portion of the die-shot) the processor belongs to, Intel has also come up with a new box-art that carries out the same purpose. Fresh stocks of Intel processors across all its brands have new box designs and case-badges.

The strategy for Intel's Core brand the company detailed in June sparked of strong reactions from the community, many believing that the inclusion of some socket LGA-1156 and mobile processors in the Core i7 series will only end up confusing buyers as it also affects decision making on the rest of the platform and its upgrade path. Intel for now seems to have come up with a solution. Boxes of Core series processors will have a badge on the lower right corner that tells exactly which socket the processor works on, and which model the processor is. Its implementation can be seen on the recently pictured boxes of Core i5 750, and the new box of Core i7 920, pictured by AKIBA PC Hotline.

Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. announced the 4Gb (Gigabits) mobile DDR SDRAM is now supported on Intel's 'Moorestown' platform for MID (Mobile Internet Device) applications.

This high density memory device packs twice the storage capacity over current 2Gb mobile memory solutions and is offered in small form factor packages such as MCP (Multi Chip Package) and PoP(Package on Package). It boasts maximum operating speed of 400Mbps (Megabits per second), processing up to 1.6GB (Gigabytes) of data per second with a 32-bit I/O.

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.