Intel introduces 16 new 45nm processors

Intel Corporation on Monday unveiled 16 new microprocessors based on the company's state-of-the-art 45-nanometer (nm) manufacturing process at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), of which five models are targeted at mobile spaces, seven at low to high-end desktops, including a 45nm Centrino model, and four targeted specifically at server processors.

Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, built all the newly introduced processors using the same manufacturing process. The company made all the latest chips lead and halogen free, making them more environmental friendly.

"The new products we're announcing today provide consumers and businesses with the benefit of sleeker and higher-performing laptops and more powerful and fashionable PCs that deliver for the most hard-core gamer, high-definition enthusiast and just about every other consumer demand," said Mooly Eden, Vice President and General Manager, mobile platforms group, Intel. "And later this year, Intel will begin delivering the mobile Internet with much smaller, lighter and powerful Internet-enabled devices that ultimately will fit right into your pocket."

Intel boasts its latest 45-nanometer technology gives users a new experience by boosting the capabilities of their PCs in terms of faster speed and low power consumption.

The newly released 16 microprocessors compliments Intel’s 2008 product portfolio of sixteen other 45-nm products. Including the new chips, the number of 45-nm based products now raises to 32, including desktop, notebook and server chips.

The Silicon Valley company officially entered the 45-nanometer era last year in November with its newest generation of computer chips, code-named Penryn. Churned out at the company's new $3 billion fabrication facility in Chandler, the Penryn family of 45-nanometer processors is made with new techniques that can cut circuitry nearly 200 times smaller than a red blood cell.

The Santa Clara, California-based Intel, which according to the market analysts has already taken a big leap in the computer industry and has marched way ahead of its rivals, touted ‘Penryn’ chips, at the time of release, as the greatest step forward for the company and claimed that the chip will put Intel a year ahead of the competition.

Intel's five latest mobile processors deliver breakthrough performance and improved battery life, and are available on the company's dual-core Centrino platform for notebooks, which include the Intel 965 Express chipset. The chips enable users to be more productive or just enjoy their digital entertainment while on the go.

The seven latest chips for the mainstream desktop will include three Core 2 quad-core processors, which are likely to ship later in the quarter, and four Core 2 dual-core products, which are expected to begin shipping this month. The processors will feature a range of clock speeds, and up to 6 Mbytes of Level 2 cache. The chips also come equipped with Intel HD Boost (SSE4 instructions).
Intel also introduced four Intel Xeon processors for servers and workstations, which are expected to ship this quarter.

The advancement of technology has added fuel to the ongoing war between Intel and its arch-rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc., which also plans to roll out 45 nanometer technology in 2008.

Sunnyvale-based AMD has set up itself along with its partner International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) for aggrandized competition with Intel in the chip market.