Intel`s Developer Forum (IDF) has started with the usual slew of announcements, including the expected Xeon processor running on top of the Netburst microarchitecture, as well as the use of its XScale architecture in its enterprise product line-ups.
The new Xeon line of processors, based on the Netburst architecture that Intel first introduced with the Pentium 4 processor, also includes a new technology called hyper-threading. By including these technologies in its 32-bit enterprise processor, Intel expects up to 80% increase in performance.
The enterprise will also be privy to technology from Intel`s X-Scale processors, which has been primarily designed for and used in handheld devices. The low-power processor technology will drive network devices, and will also be used as high-speed I/O chips in network storage devices.
Intel also used the San Francisco event to announce the Montecito, its 64-bit processor due in 2004. Montecito will be compatible with McKinley (due mid-year) and Madison (coming 2003) boards and software, although the company was cautious to release no more than the name of the upcoming 90nm processor.
The 64-bit processors are being targeted at the high-end enterprise space, an area currently dominated by RISC processors. Intel estimates that the high-end market is worth $26 billion a year.
Other highlights of the conference include a heavy focus on Infiniband, 3GIO, 1394, USB 2 and 802.11a and b. According to Craig Barrett, Intel CEO, the market is going to have to release innovative products if it wants to reverse its failing fortunes, and he waxed lyrical about the potential of the Internet.
"The relentless advance of technology doesn`t wait for economic recovery," says Barrett. "By moving forward with our aggressive technology and manufacturing programmes, we are not far from seeing the day when we can put two billion transistors on a chip that operates at speeds of up to 30GHz. These are the kinds of technologies that will help our customers build great new products."
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