Intel cancels 2-GHz Xeon, opts for 2.2-GHz

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By Douglas F. Gray

(IDG) -- Intel Corp. has decided not to launch the expected 2-GHz version of its Xeon processor for dual-processor servers this year, opting instead to launch a 2.2-GHz version early in next year's first quarter, the company said today.

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Intel originally expected to launch the next Xeon for dual-processor servers in the fourth quarter of this year. The 2-GHz processors were to be built using 0.18-micron technology, with 256KB of on-die cache, Intel spokesman Otto Pipjker said.

However, when Intel realized it could accelerate the delivery of the 2.2-GHz Xeon, it decided to skip the 2-GHz version.

"We'll deliver a triple shot of performance boosts," Pipjker said. Indeed, in addition to the 2.2-GHz speed, the new dual-processor chips and chip sets, code-named Prestonia and Plumas respectively, will feature 512KB of on-die cache and will be manufactured using the smaller 0.13-micron process, he said.

"We decided to forgo the introduction of Foster Xeon for dual-processor servers this year because we saw it running into late [fourth quarter]," Pipjker said. "We knew Prestonia was doing well, and we didn't think it made much sense to ask our customers to validate two [processors] that quickly."

Customers, including Compaq Computer Corp., Dell Computer Corp., IBM, and Hewlett-Packard Co., agreed with Intel's decision. "The customers were all behind us," Pipjker said.

Additionally, vendors will now be shipping dual-processor Xeon systems in the first quarter of next year as well, Pipjker said.

None of Intel's other offerings will be affected by the change, Pipjker said. The Foster Xeon for workstations, which is currently available in speeds up to 1.7-GHz, will continue to ship, with an additional frequency to be released this quarter, he said. The four-way and eight-way Foster Xeons are also on track to be released in the first half of next year.