Ever wonder how Intel achieved their impressive 45-nm manufacturing process behind Penryn? Twas kid's play according to a new video posted on Intel's YouTube channel. Take a bit of Core45, Hi-K, and Metal Gate. Stir it up with a pinch of Hafnium and silicon flakes and you've reinvented Intel transistors. Gordy you did it! Good Job. Video for true geeks only after the break.

Don't get us wrong, we're happy and all to see those 45nm Penryn-based desktop processors on the loose. But our jones will only be slaked when the mobile versions of those high-powered (yet low-power consuming) beasts start hitting sockets. If DailyTech has it right, then our wait ends on January 6th. That's the date when Intel will supposedly release their 2.8GHz X9000 ($851), 2.6GHz T9500 ($530), and 2.5GHz T9300 ($316) CPUs with 6MB of L2 cache. Additionally, DT expects a 2.4GHz T8300 ($241) and 2.1GHz T8100 ($209) to pop only with the cache rolled back to 3MB. We expect to see the first machines running these chips at CES with at least one other possible public release coming on January 15th. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Right on schedule, we've got 16 new server and high-end desktop processors based on Intel's new 45nm manufacturing and Penryn architecture. The procs all deliver more power from less juice while eliminating lead for a more eco-friendly impact over time. The QX9650 desktop proc receives the spotlight, again, as does the "world-record" setting performance of a 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon 5400 "Stoakley" proc with a 1600MHz front side bus and 12MB cache. Right, the same chip that Apple's rumored to be waiting on for their Mac Pro update. At least some of the new processors will be available today inside pre-built systems -- the rest will arrive within the next 45 days. Bulk pricing begins at $177 for the 1.86Ghz dual-core Xeon on up to $1,279 for the 3.2GHz quad-core mother.

[Via Electronista]

Intel's first 45-nm processors have just rolled off the assembly line in the form of the quad-core QX9650 desktop CPU. This 3.0GHz Yorkfield-class proc based on Intel's Penryn microarchitecture brings a 1,333MHz front side bus to Intel's Core 2 Extreme family of processors. Sounds a lot like Intel's 65-nm 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Kentsfield-class processor launched in July, eh? Not so. According to benchmarks already announced by Bit-tech, Hot Hardware, PC Perspective, and more, the new processors are smokin' fast while consuming "much less" power in the process. With final thoughts like, "the new Core 2 Extreme QX9650 is simply the fastest processor for gaming, media encoding and just about anything else you could do on your PC," really, what else does the average consumer need to know? Overclockers, silencers, and enthusiasts: these links are for you:

[Via I4U News]

Read -- PC World review
Read -- Hot Hardware review
Read -- Bit-tech review
Read -- PC Perspective review

While some vendors are out there blowharding their 45nm processes, Panasonic is actually doing something about it. Today, Panasonic started mass production of the world's first 45nm system LSIs. More specifically, they've started manufacturing a 45nm-based UniPhier (Universal Platform for High-quality Image Enhancing Revolution) at their new semicoductor factory in Uozu, Japan. In other words, we're due to see more powerful A/V gear from Panny capable of processing a pair of 1080p displays in parallel, H.264 encoding, symmetric multi-processing, and high-performance 3D graphics from circuitry consuming about half the power and surface area of traditional 65nm-based processes. Really, what's not to love?