Getting a little Entangled with Intel's Products

Ok, so I'm getting confused with what Intel is coming out next etc. So I'm just gonna spew out what I think I know, and let you guys correct me.

In chronological order:

Santa Rosa Chipset:
-Core 2 Architecture (new architecture, same die size as whatever preceeded it):
--Merom 2-core processors (T series)

Montevina Chipset:
-Penryn Architecture (45 nm die shrink of Core Architecture, same architecture):
--Penryn 2-core processors (P series and refreshed T-series)
--Penryn 4-core processors (Q series)

Calpella Chipset
-Nehalem Architecture (new architecture, same die size as Penryn):
--Auburndale 2-core processors
--Clarksfield 4-core processors
--TBA 6-core processors
--TBA 8-core processors

TBA Chipset
-Westmere Architecture (32 nm die shrink of Nehalem Architecture, same architecture):
--TBA processors

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Additional questions:
1) Did I get it right? Is the chipset the super set of the architecture, which in turn, is the superset of processors? Or is there no correlation at all?
2) Do chipsets, architectures and processors always come out as a set? Or can 1 come out before the other?

 

Napa Platform used Yonah and Merom.

Santa Rosa Platform used Merom, Merom-2M, Penryn and Penryn-3M.

Montevina Platform: Penryn-Refresh. T and reduced TDP P-series.
QCs have a difference pinout. What doesn't sound right ?

Not bothered about nehalem and west.. since they aren't even released yet.

 

"Quad" didn't sound right because I thought there would be a code name for it.

Still waiting for answers to questions, thanks!

 

Code-name as in ? QCs are Penryns....a part of the Penryn-Refresh series.

 

Oh ok, I meant how Nehalem has two distinct names for their DCs and QCs, I thought there was a name for Penryn QCs.

 

BTW, chipsets and processors are released as a set --> normally termed as a Platform, which also includes a new wireless technology from Intel, and a couple of more features.

Architecture depends. If there is a new CPU design developed, it normally comes out with the next platform release, or sometimes released on the spot if there is no (scheduled) future platform release for half a year or so.

 

Napa is the generation before Santa Rosa.

It's right. For example, the Q9100 has 4 cores each clocked at 2.26 GHz.

The architecture is design of the processor. Both Santa Rosa and Montevina used the Core 2 architecture (as did later Napa processors, earlier ones used Core). Nehalem is a fairly different architecture. That said, the architecture typically dictates quite a few properties of the chipset.

They can sometimes be independent, but it doesn't always work. For example, for Nehalem, you need a brand new chipset because unlike the previous processors, it doesn't have a front side bus.

 

Heh, while you typed that I kinda switch the order around.

So I assume the following relationship holds more correctly than before:
Platform(chipset)>Architecture>Processor

(Note that I am continually changing my first topic to organize my thoughts, please don't mind that!)

 

Platform and chipset are different. Intel Platform -> Chipset+CPU+Wireless.

When a platform is released, then obviously there is a new Chipset and CPU.

CPU Architecture/Design releases are upto Intel.

 

The Core 2 Meroms were on 65 nm, the same as their predecessors the Core Duo Yonahs.

 

Well good luck trying to figure out Intel. It can get confusing. One reason is Intel uses branding (platform). What does that mean? Well it means they want you connect several components as one product, Napa/Santa Rosa/Montevina. All are Centrino (that is the brand). Intel does this for obvious reasons (profit/market visibility).

That said the market/public does not always abide by what Intel wants to dictate. At the end of the day what is correct is what the majority understands not what Intel dictates.

What do I mean? Those "platforms" are all code names for Centrino's. As Andy said they include components. Chipset/CPU/WiFi and sometimes more. The common knowledge (not Intel) is components belong to one of those platforms. It is effective and makes sense. If I have a DeLL with a T7300 and PM965 with a DeLL WiFi technically that is not Santa Rosa as it lacks the required WiFi as per Intel naming convention. Real world it is described as Santa Rosa based. And it is correct to describe that way as common perception overrules Intel naming conventions.

In the above quote the bold. While it makes sense I take issue if you are trying to have a more complete conception. Architecture is a term used mostly with the design of the CPU so the Architecture>CPU is well, I guess at least to me vague and incorrect. Platform (chipset)? While I understand I do not see the need to put those two together. Yes the platform will dictate one of several chipsets it is no more special than say the Platform dictates one of many CPU's?

The simple is Platform=Chipset/CPU/WiFi, in common usage other than Intel no one cares about the WiFi when discussing platforms, oh unless you want a Centrino sticker.

And Platforms also dictate a graphics solution but like all the rest that just gets too confusing Intel vs real world.