We are still waiting for Intel to launch the E6x50 series that will introduce the new and faster processor bus at 1333MHz. A big step up from the 1066MHz bus of today, but at the same time it may not be enough, at least not in comparison to AMD. Intel is said to keep a watchful eye on AMD’s Barcelona architecture and planning either to increase the processor bus even further to 1600MHz or simply speed up the launch of its 45nm processor Hapertown. Hapertown would then be launched this year already and sport a 2x6MB L2 cache and a 1333MHz processor bus. Nothing has been decided yet, but it’s certain that Intel will not let AMD gain any performance advantages with Barcelona, at least not without putting up a fight.
