Intel is all set to launch its new high speed Core i7 processors based on Intel new Nehalem micro architecture, the successor of the Intel Core 2 family processors.

Nehalem is a major architectural change in the Intel x86 family series. Some of the major changes are

* QuickPath interface to replace the current Front side Bus interface. This high speed point-to-point processor interconnect technology can deliver up to 12.0 to 16.0 GB/s bandwidth.

* On-processor memory controller, memory controller embedded to the processor and memory directly connected to the processor.

* Only DDR3 support in Nahalem architecture with three channel DDR3 DIMMs, so DIMMs should be installed in sets of three, not two like on old architectures.

* Each of the four cores can process two threads simultaneously, so the processor appears to the OS as eight CPUs.

* 45nm process technology with 731 transistors.

Intel is planning to ship 3 variants of Core i7 processors initially. Core i7 920, 940 and 965 Extreme, which are clocked at 2.66 GHz, 2.93 GHz and 3.2 GHz respectively.

The cost of the processors has been fixed at $284 for the i7 920, $562 for i7 940 and $999 for the i7 965.

Intel is planning to release the processor by November 18, 2008.