Intel
has set the launch date for its Penryn based quad-core Xeon processor
family. The company intends to launch seven new Harpertown based models ranging
from 2.0-to-3.16 GHz on November 11, according to a posting on Intel's
reseller webpage. Standard "E" (80-watt TDP) bin and performance "X"
(120-watt TDP) bin processors launch on November 11.
Pricing for Penryn-based Intel Xeon processors begin at $209 for the
entry-level E5405 to $1,172 for the top-end X5460. Although Intel set the launch
dates for quad-core Xeon based Penryn processors, the company remains silent on
the launch date of the desktop and mobile counterparts. Intel's Penryn
architecture is the next evolution of the Core 2 micro architecture that made
its debut with Woodcrest and Conroe processors. Penryn introduces a 45nm
fabrication process with a few additional performance enhancements. Most
notably, Penryn introduces new SSE4 instructions for enhanced multimedia
performance.
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