Montevina and Nehalem confusion

This is all based on http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=10875
plus the wiki article on Intel mobile chipsets.

Basically, we are given the roadmap for Montevina and the slight processor refresh that comes with it (just like the Santa Rosa refresh we saw).

What is nagging at me is that Intel is known for wanting to push out old technology quickly as of late (phasing out the merom for penryn and santa rosa for montevina as soon as it hits), so why in the world would it launch Nehalem with Calpella chipset 6 to 8 months later? From the specs of Montevina, its obvious it won't support Nehalem's quickpath, so it pretty much mandates a new chipset only half a year later when the first mobile Nehalems roll out. The only way to get around it is if Nehalem is delayed and they aren't spilling the beans yet.

I tried to contact the dailytech authors about this, but they've not replied. In fact, we still don't know what the difference between the 2.53ghz with 25w and 25w TDPs are. Anyone else know more about this?

 

Other articles I read imply that the Capella chipset and Nehalem mobile architecture will be released around June of 2009. Most likely, the first Nehalem CPUs will be compatible with the Montevina chipset (like what happened during the transition from Core Duo to Core 2 Duo) next January or so, but all the new features won't be accessible until the Capella chipset is released in June.

 

It'll be similar is to what happened between the current Santa Rosa and previous Napa just like what djembe mentioned. The CPU technology between the 2 platforms will bridge the architecture, similarly what happened when Merom was released for both Napa and Santa Rosa.

 

Thanks guys, that helps a lot. I suppose that explanation helps because it won't be until Auburndale (second gen Nehalem) that we see the integrated GPU, which will really need quickpath for high memory bandwidth. I was hoping Calpella would hit in January-ish especially because of the wide range of purported DDR3 speeds, but as they say, the next best thing is always around the corner

I don't suppose you have some links for some of the info you know about post-Montevina releases, do you?

 

So, Intel will release a new chipset/platform, then some time after that they release a new processor family/architecture that will be a bridge from the current chipset to the next chipset?

I remember seeing an illustration that showed, the way I understood it, the release of a new chipset inspired the creation of a new processor that inspires the creation of a new chipset which inspires the creation of a new processor that inspires the creation of a new chipset etc. etc. etc.

How long has this been going on?

The way I see it, it is much wiser to purchase at the time of a newchipset release, upgrade it over time until its max potetial has been reached, then set your sights on a platform release 2-5 years out(gamers every 1-2 years), when the notebook you have will no longer satisfiy.

Does anyone not agree?

 

My question is about the comment in red. Does it really make sense to buy anything computer-related right after it's release, or is it wiser to wait a few months to make sure there are no bugs or kinks? I have usually employed this logic when new technology is introduced, but I don't know if that really applies to things like processors or not. Can you, or anybody, shed some light?

 

Just buy the damn computer when you need it. You cannot keep up. Something new will always be around the corner.

Or better yet, don't ever buy a computer.

 

What is the exact issue here? They have already said they might do such? What is there anger they release something better after you bought? What is the point? It certainly is not "they are so good".

 

Dude, are you okay? I don't know if your comment was directed at me or not, but chill out. I think everyone knows that technology has a high turnover, but there are always going to be people who want the hottest gadget when it comes out. If there are people on here willing and able to wait for Montevina, then so be it. If there are people who decide to wait for Nehalem, then so be that too. What's the problem?

 

My answer is to everyone. This question pops up whenever something new is released. With Merom, with Santa Rosa, with Penryn, with the nVidia 8 series, and now with the 9 series and Montevina.

So I stick with my answer. Buy your damn computer when you need it.

 

I'm not trying to start some sparring session over the internet, but if it pops up every time something new is released, then you should be used to it by now. It seems like you're extremely agitated and I just don't get it. Anyway, maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Good day, sir.

 

I agree--I don't want the first widget off the assembly line. Waiting a couple months allows manufacturers to fix quality control issues in the manufacturing process, and possibly also some minor design flaws. I think this applies to almost all manufactured items, not just computers.

Additionally, prices usually drop after a couple of months from first release.

 

Indeed. I think I'll wait since having a laptop right now would be more a convenience than an actual need.

 

Just to make clear, I was not (in general) referring to "Santa Rosa refresh" machines, since most are the same model as before, and merely have a Penryn instead of a Merom, and thus most manufacturering bugs should have been worked out months ago.

Rather, I was referring to new models that are introduced with the new platforms (next being Montevina).

 

But after you wait a few months for the manufacturing errors to be corrected, new technology will be around the corner

 

I know . . .

By the way, here is something I found while trying to find more information about the new Montevina platform. This may be old news to most, but I thought I'd post it anyway.


Focus on the numbers, not the language.

 

My advice, buy a few months after the Montevina chipset is released. It will come with a penryn processor and when nehylum processors are released(aka Montevina Refresh), you can upgrade with one of those whenever you want to or whenever you need to until the last nehylum processor is released for the Montevina platfrom.

Or buy one now with the Santa Rosa chipset, max it out with ugrades and wait for the capella chipset to be released.

CAUTION: This however may not be good advice for gamers.