Intel issued a confidential roadmap for CPU product releases that looks as far as Q3 2010, leaked to sections of the Chinese media. The roadmap covers prominent Intel processors in their designated market segments drawn out by Intel, covering three grades of mainstream, one each of performance and extreme. The roadmap marks a definite transition of architectures from Intel's Core (penryn) to next-generation Nehalem, and the advent of Intel's first 32 nm based Westmere CPUs.
To begin with, there three models of Intel's first LGA-1156 processors scheduled for Q3 2009, the quad-core "Lynnfield" based Core i7 870 (2.93 GHz, HTT) in Performance, Core i7 860 (2.80 GHz, HTT) in MS3/upper-mainstream, and Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz, no HTT) in MS2/middle-mainstream. The HTT-enabled Core i7 800 processors were earlier believed to have been scheduled for Q1 2010, but are combined with the Core i5 750 for a grand platform launch. The Core i7 800 models will remain seated in their segments for the better part of 2010.
Next up, are Intel's "Clarkdale" dual-core processors scheduled for early Q1 2010. These are Intel's first 32 nm technology-based processors, and mark the introduction of Intel's Westmere architecture. Three models, clocked at 3.20 GHz, 3.33 GHz, and 3.46 GHz, will be placed in MS1, MS2, and MS3 segments respectively.
The Core i7 960 (3.20 GHz, non-XE) succeeds the i7 950 model in Q4 2009, in the Performance segment.
Finally, there's the king of the hill, the 6-core Gulftown processor. Until now believed to have been slated for Q1 2010, it is pushed back to Q2, where it will succeed the Core i7 975 Extreme Edition. So the i7 975 XE will rule the roost for at least another 7 months.
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