The size of the Itanium 2 is the result of a number of factors. The chip, which is made on the 180-nanometre manufacturing process, contains a substantial amount of cache -- data reservoirs near the processor for rapid access. Intel is integrating a 3MB Level 3 cache, a 256KB Level 2 cache and a 32KB Level 1 cache. The original Itanium features a 4MB Level 3 cache, although it's located on separate chips, and a 96KB Level 2 cache. Itanium 2 also contains more internal subsystems than its predecessor. In all, the chip contains 221 million transistors. The chip will run at 1GHz when it debuts. Although it is only coming to market now, successors are already in the works. In 2003, the company will unveil Madison, a "shrink" of the Itanium 2 made on the more advanced 130-nanometre manufacturing process. Though smaller, Madison will be based on the same design as the Itanium 2. Deerfield, a low-power, cheaper Itanium chip, is also on the horizon. In 2004, Intel expects to come out with Montecito, the successor to Madison, and follow it in the 2005 to 2006 time frame with Chivano, Montecito's successor, according to sources.
See Chips Central for the latest headlines on processors and semiconductors.
Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the Chips Central Forum.
Let the Chips Central editor know what you think by email. And sign up for the weekly Chips Central newsletter.
