That's what I've heard: that Intel decided to launch the high-volume Core i7 series before the workstation Xeon series.
No, it is the lower volume Core i7 series that just launched (those are the same design base as the Xeon; more cores, bigger cache, no integrated graphics). The higher volume Core i7 is the same baseline design as the i3 and i5 (e.g., an integrated graphics , smaller cache, less than or equal to 4 cores ).
The only question I have is why is the delay so long in releasing Xeon Sandy Bridge.
Several reasons.
1. The high volume chips are smaller. ( fewer transistors and smaller dies ). In Intel's Tick-Tock model every "Tick" is a die shrink on a new process. It is easier to get better yields on smaller dies. By placing the smaller chips first, Intel reduces the risks with the launch.
Launch biggest first is would be a better approach to do chest pumping, but it won't reduce risk.
Smaller also means less complexity. Fewer memory channels, less complicated internal bus , fewer PCI-e lanes , less complicated SATA controllers, etc.
2. There is very little market pressure to do so. First, AMD isn't hitting on all cylinders in the server space. Second, server customers tend to be a bit more conservative. They want CPUs and chip sets that have rigorous testing done before deployment.
3. The "plan" was for late Q3 / early Q4 . The plan got screwed by multiple bugs. First the Sandy Bridge chipset had a SATA III bug. (the launch was screwed and probably hiccuped into the Xeon chipset. ). Intel made the dubious move of trying to jam an extra SATA III lanes into the chipset when DMI couldn't handle the bandwidth. The hack they came up with didn't work... again probably negatively impacted schedule. There have been other bugs VT-d along the way too.
PCI-e v3.0 probably hiccuped the schedule also. The "plan" over a year ago was that those certification tests would be finalized by now (10 months after the standard going final seems like a reasonable timeframe). That is running a bit behind also.
Once this all slide into mid November it doesn't make sense to launch Xeon in Dec... so slides to post holidays.
IIRC, Ivy Bridge chips will be released soon after the launch of Xeon Sandy Bridge.
Not really. Xeon Sandy bridge will like come in Jan (maybe Feb). Ivy Bridge won't be around till March April. What Ivy bridge that will be released will be capped at 4 cores and lower memory bandwidth. Except for those myopically focused on single core, in cache performance... they aren't going to be broad spectrum competitive with the Sandy Bridge Xeon line up.
In other words, Xeon is so far behind the initial Sandy Bridge launch, it is about to get leapfrogged.
To a large extent it is Apples and Oranges. As long as the Ivy Bridge Xeon comes out 10-12 months after they are in decent shape.
Intel will likely keep the 4 core Xeon with Ivy Bridge and just clock it high so that the single core , clock chasers have roughly same parity or better than the high volume Ivy Bridge.
