High-end Alpha spreads like Wildfire

Further confirmation that Compaq is pushing ahead using Alpha as a high end system is likely to provoke fear and loathing at Intel. According to our mole deep down in Compaq's skunkworks, the company is set to demonstrate Win64 running on Alpha in the very near future. Further, Compaq has successfully booted a Wildfire system, the same source said. Wildfire is likely to be announced before Christmas in a 16 CPU version, with a 32-way system available next year. The CPU will be the EV67. And Compaq is also benchmarking 667MHz EV6 TurboLasers, with initial benchmarks showing blazing speeds. Intel marketeers in Santa Clara are now likely to be anxiously scratching their heads and wondering about Compaq's dual 64-bit strategy. ® Intel Developer Forum coverage on Alpha and Merced