Any idea when the Nehalem chips are coming out?

[NoodleTech]

I'm thinking about building a new rig and was wondering if anyone knew approximately when Intel's new Nehalem chips were coming out? Also, is it worth the wait to buy one of these chips or should I just go with one of the core 2's out there now?

Thanks

 

[exar333]

4Q 2008 or 1Q 2009

There are a lot of great C2D cpus right now, I guess upgrading might depend on what your currently running and how that currently fits your needs.

 

[Ika]

Reports are saying Q3/Q4 of 2008, but that will probably be delayed (wasn't Yorkfield supposed to come out Q3/Q4 of 2007?), especially considering AMD's woes. I personally wouldn't expect Nehalem until middle of 2009.

 

[NoodleTech]

I see. Well, I don't plan on doing anything too CPU intensive but I have the cash and I want a higher end PC for once haha. I'll probably be playing counter-strike 1.6, source, battlefield 2, and playing around with photoshop. Probably not worth it to wait and get a nehalem chip huh?

 

[quadomatic]

Originally posted by: NoodleTech
I see. Well, I don't plan on doing anything too CPU intensive but I have the cash and I want a higher end PC for once haha. I'll probably be playing counter-strike 1.6, source, battlefield 2, and playing around with photoshop. Probably not worth it to wait and get a nehalem chip huh?

Nehalem is supposed to be pretty awesome though isn't it? Plus, you could possibly get an Octo-Core once Nehalem is released...

 

[PolymerTim]

I can't find it anywhere, but I heard that octo-core Nehalems won't be released right away. It makes sense that they won't release every version at once. My guess is that they may start with the quad-cores in early 2009, and then throw in the octo-cores in mid-late 2009. But that's only if you trust my crystal ball, which is a bit cloudy.

 

[exar333]

Throw maybe $1000 bucks to a good quad-core now and then save your pennies for a sweet Nehalem when it is released. You will have a near top-of-the-line system without a huge cost:

P35 Board $100
Q6600 or Q9450 $300
4GB RAM $100
8800GT or GTS $300
PSU $200

 

[boomhower]

Keep in mind the even if the schedule holds true to a fall release it is just going to be the uber high end extreme chips/motherboards. Then in the winter(probably late january to febuary) the normal extreme. Finally around spring time we will hopefully see the mainstream stuff that most of us use.

 

[Duvie]

I think if the economy starts tanking a bit more, I think worldwide cpu sales will be done....so AMD's woes aside, i think we will not see nehalem by the end of 08. I say first 1/2 of 2009.

I just want a nice priced 45nm quadcore I can get in the 3.6-4ghz range...

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: quadomatic
Nehalem is supposed to be pretty awesome though isn't it? Plus, you could possibly get an Octo-Core once Nehalem is released...

They won't be making any octo-cores until a year after Nehalem is released, when it makes the transition to 32nm. At least, that's my best hypothesis. I don't see them having either the room, or the ability to cool eight cores with only an Intel OEM heatsink, while they're on the 45nm process.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Makes sense considering the idle temps of the Wolfdales and thats with just 2 cores. That's when I'm doing my major system upgrade, when octo-cores are released and proven to not be a complete waste of money.

 

[Cogman]

summer of '09 is a pretty safe bet for when they will be out. Hopefully DDR3 prices have dropped to DDR2 levels by then as Nehelam will have an IMC

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I think if the economy starts tanking a bit more, I think worldwide cpu sales will be done....so AMD's woes aside, i think we will not see nehalem by the end of 08. I say first 1/2 of 2009.

I just want a nice priced 45nm quadcore I can get in the 3.6-4ghz range...

Hey Duvie, this is a good point, more of a "marketing" engineered slow-down than a technology driven slow-down.

Given that Nehalem is more likely to be used by Intel marketing as a product to dig more market share away from AMD in the 2+ socket server board world do you think the economic slowdown would need to be more in the industry upgrade cycle than the consumer portion of the economy?

We could see Nehalem play out just as Penryn has, where there is a full product ramp in the server SKU's (harpertown is available at all speedbins for some time now) but the desktop market will get just a $1500 extreme chip for 6 months or so before the mainstream Nehalems hit Newegg for sales.

This would be my expectation, but I am curious what your take would be.

 

[Nemesis 1]

No reason not to exspect Intel to stay with the guidelines. Duvie gave a pretty good reason to exspect latter.

At the same time however. For those vary reasons that Duvie pointed out. Intel needs Nehalem in the 4+ socket server market. So for that reason I think intel will stick to its roadmaps.

 

[taltamir]

i am pretty sure the octa cores will indeed wait for the 32nm process... so the 45nm nehalems will come in Q1 or so of 09... the octa cores probably late 09 or early 10 with 32nm...
The octa cores are also gonna be useless for the first year or so after their release... Software takes time to catch up.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: taltamir
i am pretty sure the octa cores will indeed wait for the 32nm process... so the 45nm nehalems will come in Q1 or so of 09... the octa cores probably late 09 or early 10 with 32nm...
The octa cores are also gonna be useless for the first year or so after their release... Software takes time to catch up.

I am thinking you are thinking Nehalem = Desktop.

If you consider Nehalem = Server, then you could see where Intel would be motivated to get these things into as many 2+ socket server systems as soon as possible because AMD makes sick margins on their 8xxx series opterons.

Yes Intel wants Nehalem to be Desktop as well so they can keep their product lineup streamlined and have all the volume manufacturing they can to drive down costs and keep up margins, but its all part of the same equation of printing money and they won't delay server Nehalem for same reasons they would delay Desktop Nehalem.

Just look at current skew in release timelines between Yorkfield (desktop quad 45nm) and Harpertown (server 45nm quad). This timeline gap could be as much as 6 months whenever Intel finally releases their desktop mainstream Yorkfields.

 

[Mayor McCheese]

If you are going to get nehalem when it comes out, you'll have to buy a new motherboard. You could consider getting an e21xx and overclocking it to 3.0 ghz or more

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
and proven to not be a complete waste of money.

lol.... that statement has a HUGH YMMV tag to it.

Originally posted by: Mayor McCheese
If you are going to get nehalem when it comes out, you'll have to buy a new motherboard. You could consider getting an e21xx and overclocking it to 3.0 ghz or more

welcome to AT! and yes your correct. Or if you need a cheap quadcore to hold you out, the X3210 can usually be bought @ 180-215 dollars. That can easily do 8x400 @ 3.2ghz with a decient aftermarket sink. And it would most definitely handle anything you could throw at it until neha rolls around.

 

[Shortass]

Why will a new motherboard be required for Bloomfield? I was under the impression that it wasn't going to have an IMC... will it require ddr3 or something? New socket?