On Tuesday, at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), Intel presented its upcoming series of Core i7 processors, previously known as the Nehalem family. The chips are to be implemented in desktops, laptops as well as in servers. The company has high expectations from the Core i7, as it was said this new generation would amplify processing ability, provide enhanced graphics and significantly reduce power consumption.

The new chips, featuring two to eight cores, have been given this speed boost by Intel's QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) technology, which enables a much quicker communication between processors and other system components. DDR3 memory will be supported by Core i7’s architecture.

Another thing the chips will feature is the Turbo Mode technology which, by automatically disabling inactive cores, reduces power use.

During the same event, Intel also mentioned the bringing aboard of a new major customer, NASA. The Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., is currently building a very powerful supercomputer running on Itanium chips named Pleiades.

Although when the announcement was made, NASA hadn’t confirmed it would use Intel’s chips, according to Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of the Digital Enterprise group, the Nehalem will be used for building a one petaflop supercomputer. Despite the fact that the Nehalem was not especially built to handle Itanium, NASA said the soon to be finished Pleiades supercomputer is able to work with several different types of processors.

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