Intel is scheduled to introduce its 32nm 'Sandy Bridge' microarchitecture, which will succeed Nehalem and Westmere, in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to sources at PC makers.
Intel is set to volume produce new Westmere chips based on 32nm manufacturing in the fourth quarter of 2009, and is on track to ship Clarkdale for desktops and Arrandale for notebooks in first-quarter 2010 followed by the launch of its six-core Gulftown CPUs in the second quarter.
Pricing of the six-core Gulftown CPUs is expected to reach as high as US$1,499 in thousand-unit tray quantities.
Intel plans to let 45nm Nehalem-based CPUs co-exist with 32nm Westmere-based CPUs before Sandy Bridge appears, indicating that Intel has no plans to launch quad-core Westmere CPUs for desktops or notebooks.
Intel declined the opportunity to respond to this report saying it cannot comment on unannounced products.
Source: DIGITIMES