Serves you right, AMD

New Intel processor could have a sporting chance against AMD’s finest, reports Veronica Beccabunga

Tired of always losing to AMD, Intel has taken the radical step of consulting tennis star Tim Henman on how to improve its winning streak. The result is McEnroe, a processor which diverges significantly from the current NetBurst architecture. The CPU is already posting benchmarks so far ahead of AMD’s, pundits are saying it could be game, set and match.

Part of the Wimbledon platform, the McEnroe is a radical departure. Instead of Intel’s recent desktop strategy of flogging a dead horse, the McEnroe is based on Nearly New Technology. This combines Pipeline Extension Technology with the Pentium Pro core using the US Open architecture. The latter allows Intel to add or remove pipeline stages according to market pressure.

These aren’t the McEnroe’s only enhancements. Williams Sisters Deuce-Core Technology shares the Level 2 cache as required, whilst BusPass Technology intercepts calls to main memory. The McEnroe will also be the first processor to use the RetroBus, which cycles through classic Intel front side buses of the past until the on-board memory controller is ready.

But AMD is hotly contesting Intel’s test results. ‘Intel cannot be serious! That benchmark was on the line!’ complained AMD’s processing executive Thumbelina Nexgen. AMD will be releasing its own competing range of CPUs, running on its brand new Socket ME2. This flexible approach allows AMD to copy Intel’s memory support dynamically, although it takes about a year to switch over.

The McEnroe is expected to ship in Q1 2007, and will be marketed under the slogan Yesterday’s Technology Tomorrow.