Report: Nehalem to be named Core i7

Leaked logos: Intel's upcoming processors based on the Nehalem platform will reportedly be dubbed Core i7.

(Credit: Expreview.com)

Intel has revealed some details about its next-generation processor platform, which it has developed under the code name Nehalem.

According to an article on Expreview.com, the processors based on Nehalem architecture will be called Core i7, and Intel will introduce the Core i7 name next Monday. The significance of the i7 moniker is lost on me. Care to posit any theories, Crave readers?

Let's quickly recap Intel's tick-tock cadence model of shrinking the size of its chips with one release followed by the introduction of new chip architecture with the next release.

Tick: The latest Core 2 Duo processors are based on the 45-nanomater Penryn core, which was a die shrink (but using the same architecture) of previous-generation 65-namometer Core 2 Duo chips. Tock: Core i7 processors will introduce new chip architecture based on the same 45nm die and are expected to be released in Q4 of this year. The next tick is expected in 2009, when Intel shrink 45nm Nehalem chips to 32nm, which is currently being developed under the code name Westmere.

[Mr. Dee]

Maybe the i7 indicates the amount of cores integrated on the processor die. So you will probably have i2, i4, i7, i8. Just guessing, but the branding is rather strange though. I personally wouldn't mind it being called Pentium 7.

[Spartan_458]

They've been hanging around Apple too much.....

[iamwho]

It doesn't make sense, IMO, to do odd-numbered cores (unless you are AMD and are trying to hide an imperfect fabrication process). However, if the "Pentium" was Intel's "586", then the first Core CPU was the "686" and the new chip is the "786"... in this ADHD-world, that's been shortened to "7". The "i" of course is Apple's unfortunately ubiquitous addition to the modern-day lexicon.

[solomon568]

the "i" has been around for a very long time. Intel has had it ever since the i8086 and the i8088. Apple has only recently picked up on its use.

It seems that the "7" represents the 7th generation or family of processors. It seems to fit. Can anyone make a solid argument for or against this? I'd be interested to hear it.

[housast8]

i could be for intel... 7 as its seventh gen? Pentium, Celeron, Xeon, Core, Core2... one other I can't come up with maybe? The branding does seem strange though, just stick with something and ride it out instead of jumping around.

[ejeon1989]

Pentium, Celeron, Xeon, Core, Core 2, Itanium. I think you are right in that i7 is just representative of the 7th generation Intel microprocessor.

[pithenumber]

iThe Apple "i" iPrefix iIs iOverused. iIntel iHas iJoined iThe iCraze.

[thE_iyE]

iWhy iwould iyou ithink ithat? ic'mon ithe ipod ihad iit ifirst, ithen iphone, inow ithey ihave ithe irack (shelving), iran (a tennis shoe), iand ithe i7.

[Ndpndnt777]

i think you mean iipod and iiphone...