Intel's internal codenames for its products have been the source of much mirth for Sneak in the past, but the latest one to adorn its processor roadmap seems particularly apt. "Smithfield", due in mid 2005, is to be the company's first dual-core desktop chip. As many readers will no doubt be aware, the 4GHz Pentium 4 and its planned successor, Tejas, were unceremoniously given the chop last year in order to bring this product forward.
It seems only fitting, then, that the chip should share a name with Smithfield Market, home to London's meat trade for the past 800 years or so, and therefore the cause of an untimely demise for an uncountable number of unfortunate beasts.
Sneak, for one, is looking forward to demanding "Where's the beef?" from Intel executives if Smithfield is delayed for any reason. Sneak also fancies that Intel will have to work hard to avoid the chip being labelled 'dead meat' in comparison with AMD's Opteron family.

15 Dec 2004