Intel races ahead to desktops

Intel races ahead to desktops


The first three Core i7 chips will be quad-core and have clock speeds of 2.66 GHz, 2.93 GHz and3.20 GHz, as well as integrated memory controller.
Codenamed Bloomfield and officially named Core i7, Intel’s 45-nm desktop processors are targeted at largely at gaming PCs, but Intel plans to have versions ready for business users in the next few weeks.
The 65-nm vs. 45-nm difference is important because on a macro level it is one of the factors that affects pricing, say analysts.
"When Intel can manufacture in 45-nm earlier than AMD, it can possibly have a cost advantage, which can be passed on to users," saysRau. "A 65-nm die is more expensive to cast than a 45-nm one."
For Intel, that means more than just being a generation ahead ofAMD: It means that Intel will be enjoying fatter margins while AMD is still struggling to catch up. In the end, that could translate into enough market share to cripple AMD for good.