Intel's action on the Lynnfield release is purely a market driven decision. The interesting part of the delay in the release of the Lynfield CPU is that, if things go well with development, the Havendale CPU might be release instead of Lynnfield. It may be that Lynnfield simply becomes an insurance policy in case the development lags. Doing this would also allow Intel to leapfrog AMD's product cycle.

Hopefully, the glut of motherboards & etc will be depleted by the time Havendale is ready to go.

Perhaps Intel management could re-evaluate their restrictions on the use of Atom processors which could turn out to be a costly mistake. Some vendors are already moving to alternative systems in response to Intel's restrictions. The same is true of Microsoft's restrictions.

Wasn't it reported intel is practically forced to slow down due to market conditions? This is hardly shocking. Their Q4 report says it all. Everyone is in a market slump.

So, we appreciate it sylvie but it's not outrageous, its expected.

It's the mainstream version of i7. dual channel ddr3, socket 1156, same amount of cache and hyperthreading, codenamed Lynnfield. There will be another version codenamed Havendale, which will be the lower end part. The mobile version will be called Clarcksfield. I'm guessing they'll be calling Havendale i3, and then when they move to 32 nm, they'll be calling the 32nm versions of i7, i5 and i3 as i8, i6 and i4 respectively.

How about giving us the 1366 two core version (with SMT) with 30-50% higher core frequency and the same memory system and with 80 watts of TDP? I know some people would be pleased.

Err...

Intel has missed the boat few times already:

1. There is still shortage of Q9450 and the like even though they were launched a year ago.

2. The only Nehalem I can get here is the lowest part and it would set me back by 290 EUR + 235 EUR for a good mainboard + 175 EUR for 3x 2GB of DDR3 = total of 700 EUR for a new system not counting some behemoth case, PSU and VGA. THANKS, I'LL PASS.

This is actually good for consumers. Perhaps if Intel gets more time to work on a product they will stop rebranding that 815 chipset and create a CPU which doesn't cost 700 EUR if you want to realize its full potential.

I am glad that there is a delay. This madness has to slow down because it has stopped bringing better products to the table long time ago.

This is the first time that I have seen the term i5. I searched the inq for it, hoping there would be another article to explain the reference. Alas there was none. Would someone kindly explain just what the i5 is, or will be?

Intel is doing the smart play, business-wise, by delaying introduction of new products. It's not like there are any real alternatives for most customers, plus given the current tightness of credit, a delay will help their bottom line.

It's more important to keep the stockholders happy than the techno fanbois.

Intel should delay new products until forced to by competitors (DAMMIT). The techno marketplace won't go away, where would they go?

That and keeping the prices down are the only reason we need AMD.
So they aren't going to release westmere in 2009 then??? that's a shame. by the way, i think consumers will be OK. the current core series has more than enough power for the average consumer to last another few months. And those who want more can go for the i7 920. It's a great deal in $300. and by the time Intel launches i5, I think DDR3 prices will have gone down further, so that's a good thing since i5 is also DDR3-only.

Intel is just making a good business deal. Delay your new chips until your old have all (mostly) been sold. Why devalue your inventory on hand with newer faster and better when you don't have to. The Phenom II was a nice push by AMD but something faster then Yorkfield has to come into play to force Intel to drop Lynnfield before all the yorkies on hand are sold.

To all the Intel fanbois out there: This is why we need a strong and successful AMD, to stop Intel from delaying advances just to maximize their profits.

intel has committed to a tick-tock scheme. By waiting until the last minute in 2009, they will be forever releasing at the last minute (in 2010, 2011, etc) so they can get a full years sales out of any given tech. They are setting tehmselves up for failure, pushing a november deadline back by a couple of months will be a supremely huge embarassement.

I fail to see why a regression from socket 1366 is a desireable thing. Chipzilla should be more reasonable with their lines' pricing. Notwithstanding the ignorance of consumers, but this is akin to purchasing a 720p when there are plenty of 1080p, available. Another socket only adds complicity for overstocking, and look how late varied kit will be in for socket 1366, already. It's my impression, that there is already a full line of Nehelem, price-wise, why compete with yourself, when you know you already have a lot more in the offing? Kitty-up, Intel, between software and hardware blunders in the industry, consumers have already been burned and promises have been broken. Why not just get out and ahead? East bound and down, loaded up and truckin',
we're gonna do what they say can't be done. We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there. I'm east bound, just watch ol' "Bandit" run. Just put that hammer down and give it hell.