Intel has announced plans its next-gen CPU (code-named Penryn) which will features up to four cores and 12MB of L2 cache. This new chip will be built on an ultra-small 45nm wafer that Intel claims will yield unparalleled power per watt and performance. In fact, they said this is the biggest performance leap in their CPUs since the Pentium Pro over the original Pentium.

Six Penryn family processors are currently planned in both dual-core and quad-core versions. Intel has not announced if we’ll see a brand-identity change, however, did mention that this product could certainly be deserving of a new brand.

What we do know, however, from our hour-long conference call today is that there will be Mobile, Desktop and XEON-class CPUs based on this new core technology.

High-K + Metal Gate:
High-K and Metal gate processes allow Intel to double the amount of transistors to a staggering 820 Million while having a dual-core die that is one quarter of the size of a postage stamp. An added benefit to this new process will be the CPUs ability to have the ability for its transistors to function 20-percent faster with lower leakage than today’s Core2Duo CPUs. What this means in the end is that we’ll have faster per-clock performance at speeds well above 3 Gigahertz.

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