Ti(c)ks

This brings us to the Intel Tick Toc model, where each “tick” represents the silicon compaction beat rate, and each “tick” has a corresponding “tock” representing the design of a new microarchitecture, delivered in approximately two-year cycles. Since Penryn/Yorkfield cores are die shrinks they would be a "tick" in the cycle, which means next year we will see the introduction of a new microarchitecture! In late 2008 Intel plans to introduce its Nehalem microarchitecture that is said to introduce possibly eight cores and an integrated memory controller! It is clear that Intel has been hard at work the past year bringing Penryn to market and it looks like they made it!