Intel decided to announce the name brand of the upcoming new Nehalem architecture processors to spice up your Sunday.  The answer: Intel Core Processor.  No, that isn’t a typo – we are going FROM “Core 2” brand to “Intel Core”.  The first parts released under this brand will be known as the “Intel Core i7 processor“; there will continue to be “Extreme Edition” versions.  Here are the pretty logos…

Intel Nehalem now officially named Intel Core i7 - Processors 2

The darker version is going to be used on “high performance desktop PCs”.

Nothing else was disclosed so don’t expect part numbers or speeds.  The press release does say that the Core i7 CPUs are “expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of this year.”

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 11, 2008 – Intel Corporation announced today that desktop processors based on the company’s upcoming new microarchitecture (codenamed “Nehalem”) will be formally branded “Intel® Core™ processor.” The first products in this new family of processors, including an “Extreme Edition” version, will carry an “i7” identifier and will be formally branded as “Intel® Core™ i7 processor.” This is the first of several new identifiers to come as different products launch over the next year.

Products based on the new microarchitecture will deliver high performance and energy efficiency. This “best of both worlds” approach is expected to extend Intel’s processor leadership in future mobile, desktop and server market segments.

“The Core name is and will be our flagship PC processor brand going forward,” said Sean Maloney, Intel Corporation executive vice president and general manager, Sales and Marketing Group. “Expect Intel to focus even more marketing resources around that name and the Core i7 products starting now.”

The Intel Core processor brand name has gained broad awareness, preference, and market momentum over the past several years. The Intel Core name remains the logical choice for Intel’s latest family of processors. The Intel Core i7 processor brand logo will be available for high-performance desktop PCs with a separate black logo for Intel’s highest-end “Extreme Edition.” Intel will include processor model numbers to differentiate each chip.

Initial products based on this microarchitecture are expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of this year. These processors will feature Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, also known as simultaneous multi-threading, and are capable of handling eight software “threads” on four processor cores.

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