Intel Releases the Penryn - The Worlds first 45nm Processor
The Penryn, which is officially the world's first 45nm processor creates an increase in speed while simultaneously achieving a 20nm decrease in size and a significant increase in power efficiency. It shares most of its core design with its predecessor, the Conroe while increasing the number of transistors due to the smaller size and a significant increase in processor cache (6MB of L2 as opposed to the Conroe’s maximum of 4MB).
Intel has also added to the Penryn SSE4 compatibility which will provide substantially improved operation times for rendering and encoding type applications as well as many other CPU intensive processes. This is certainly exciting because the dream of a quad-core, server grade processor coming to a laptop is soon to be a reality.
The new 45nm process will also allow a larger number of processors to be manufactured on the same amount of silicon wafer, allowing lower cost for a greater efficiency processor. The significantly reduced heat output will allow for use in smaller areas rapidly decreasing the size of the electronics that can now house server grade chips.
The Intel Corporation’s partnership with Apple Computer will most certainly result in this chip being available in new Mac designs, including the rumored Apple Multi-Touch Tablet. I can’t wait.