The web is buzzing with rumors that Intel may be planning to drop its debut 64 bit processor, Merced and go straight onto the next in the P7 series, McKinley. The Merced, which was slated for launch in 1999, is already delayed and now seems unlikely to appear until at least the second quarter of 2000. With McKinley, scheduled for a 2001 release, and no guarantee that Merced will be released in the second quarter 1999, Intel may be tempted to go straight upstream with McKinley. The second generation IA-64 chip is expected to be produced on the 0.13 micron process with copper interconnects. The Face Intel site suggests that this is because of internal friction on the Merced development project, the McKinley project has not suffered because much of the design work was done by Hewlett-Packard Co. However, an Intel spokesperson said that Intel remained strongly committed to the IA-64 program, beginning with Merced and that the company was targeting production for mid 2000.
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