Intel's Next Generation Itanium 'Kittson' IA64 Processor Detailed - 32nm Process, 9300/9500 Socket Compatible

Intel'due south Itanium serial of processors is the somewhat neglected lineup of IA64 fries. While x86 reigns supreme in the tech earth (mostly), some target niches are still occupied heavily by IA64. The concluding chip was "Poulson" and was revealed in 2022. Intel however has stated that the chip giant remains dedicated to the IA64 ecosystem for atleast one more revision. This argument comes in conjunction with the revelation that it volition exist launching the next generation 'Kittson' processor on the 32nm node.

Intel Itanium Processor 9500 Die shot of Intel'due south Itanium 9500 Processor. @Intel Public Domain

IA64 eco arrangement to get its (probably) final update - Intel's Kittson processor on the 32nm node

Itanium Architecture is very interesting. It is the fourth most widely deployed branding backside x86_64, POWER and SPARC. It has besides faced quite a lot of fail at the hands of Intel. While Intel has been relentlessly polishing its 'Xeon' series every year, the original IA64 (which originated at IBM labs btw) remains on the shelf catching dust. The last processor released was Poulson, a 12-wide issue that was pretty advanced for its time. The Itanium 9500 series processors were designed for scalability in listen and targeted expressionless heart at the HPC market place.

"Intel remains committed to the Intel Itanium product line and to the delivery of the next-generation Intel Itanium processor, lawmaking named 'Kittson'. [Information technology] will be manufactured on Intel's 32nm procedure technology and will be socket uniform with the existing Itanium 9300/9500 platforms, providing customers with functioning improvements, investment protection, and a seamless upgrade path for existing systems." Source: Kitguru

Here's the thing however. While in its heyday, IA64 had promise, information technology was abandoned by most of the key players for the x86-64 ecosystem. Every bit of now, petty enough demand remains for Intel to consider one final product admitting ane that has been downgraded. Kittson was originally supposed to be on the 22nm procedure, so the downgrade to 32nm speaks volumes. Currently, the last player in the Itanium ecosystem is HP. However, HP is in process of transitioning to the x86-64 ecosystem besides, and in one case it does that, there volition be virtually no demand. Intel has as well made it very clear that they accept not announced any product subsequently Kittson - which leads me to believe that Kittson volition exist the last remnant of a soon-expressionless platform. IA64 was e'er one of the more interesting products from Intel, but it looks similar its the end of the road for them.