Intel Corp. disclosed certain specifications of its code-named Merom processors, which is slated to come in the second half of 2006 and utilize fully new architecture. An important point is that Merom will be compatible with mobile platforms designed for Intel Pentium M processor based on the Yonah core.
The code-named Merom processor will feature 14-stages pipeline, down from 31 or more stages found in current Intel Pentium (Prescott) designs, 4-issue out-of-order execution engine as well as improved performance of the floating-point unit (FPU). This greatly showcases the substantial difference from the current NetBurst chips that have very deep pipeline and cannot boast with really high-performance FPUs. Furthermore, 14-stages pipeline is deeper compared to AMD Athlon 64"s 12-stages pipeline, which, on the one hand, allows slightly higher clock-speeds compared to the AMD64 architecture, but, on the other hand, may mean a bit lower efficiency.
"With our products, which are developed under the code names Conroe, Woodcrest and Merom [we will say goodbye to NetBurst]," said Patrick Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager, digital enterprise group at Intel Corp in an interview earlier this year.