Launch dates of Intel processors in Q1

VR-Zone and Fudzilla recently revealed launch dates of several desktop Intel processors, as well as introduction date of "Romley" platform and Sandy Bridge-EP server chips.

Core i5-2550K, i5-2450P and i5-2380P socket 1155 parts will be launched on February 8. A novel "feature" on these CPUs is the lack of integrated graphics. Intel i5-2550K, clocked at 3.4 GHz, and up to 3.8 GHz when Turbo Boost is active, is a bit faster than currently available Core i5-2500K, and also has unlocked clock multiplier. Core i5-2450P operates at 3.1 GHz, and has 3.4 GHz maximum turbo frequency. Core i5-2380P is 100 MHz slower than the 2450P. All microprocessors have 4 Hyper-threaded cores, 6 MB L3 cache, and they support all SB technologies with the exception of Vpro. Prices of these models are not known.

On February 13, Intel will release third desktop CPU for socket 2011. Core i7-3820 is a 3.6 GHz chip with 4 CPUs cores, 10 MB of last level cache, Hyper-Threading, and Turbo boost up to 3.9 GHz. The processor has pretty high for Sandy Bridge CPUs 130 Watt TDP. Core i7-3820 was supposed to launch in the fourth quarter of last year, but was delayed by a quarter. Official 1K tray price for this SKU will be $285.

Romley platform will be introduced on March 6, on the first day of CeBIT show. We suspect that the launch will include large number of "Sandy Bridge-EP" Xeon microprocessors from E5-2600, and perhaps from E5-1600 families. We reported on specifications of these Xeons last fall. Prices will range from $294 to $1080 for E5-1600 series chips, and from $202 to $2057 for E5-2600 CPUs.