The Future For Intel Itanium Processor Darkens

Chipmaker Intel has been producing server processors in its Itanium series for a number of years. Recently Intel has announced that it is cutting back on its plans for the next version of Itanium that has left some wondering about the future of the company's 64-bit processor. This particular processor is primarily used by HP in its high-end Integrity server line.

Intel had said that it would be moving to a more advanced process for constructing the next generation Itanium processor. That next-generation processor is code-named Kittson. Intel recently posted a notice that Kittson would be produced using the same 32 nanometer manufacturing process that Intel uses on current versions of Itanium processors.

Intel had previously promised that Kittson would use a more advanced manufacturing process. Typically, each new generation of processors uses a smaller nanometer manufacturing process allowing more transistors, faster operation, and less power consumption. Intel also changed its plans to make Kittson socket compatible with Xeon server chips, a move that would have reduced costs for Intel and HP.

Kittson will reportedly use the same socket is existing Itanium 9300 and 9500 processors. Analyst Nathan Brookwood from Insight64 believes this could be Intel's way of cutting back in giving itself an exit strategy from the line. He also said that Itanium's time may have come and gone.

[via PC World]