As well as keynote speeches and breakouts at the IDF, Intel also holds a series of tracks on different topics. The first Merced track was presented by Hemant Dhulla, IA-64 Programme Manager at Intel US. Here are the slides for his presentation. For our exclusive photographs of the Merced cartridge, go here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/3071.html). The next presentation we will post is titled Intel architecture innovations, made jointly by Intel and HP execs. Year 2000 Market segments (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc1.gif) IA-64 Roadmap (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc2.gif) Nothing startlingly new in this slide -- Merced is followed by McKinley, then Madison and Deerfield Extending the Intel Architecture (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc3.gif) Slide details the type of server apps and workstation apps Merced is aimed at Unprecedented Industry Commitment (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc4.gif) Slide contains partners committed to the Merced platform, including ISVs, IHVs, OS vendors and IA and RISC OEMs Focus on Complete Solutions (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc5.gif) Over 30 server and workstation designs have met milestones Merced Processor (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc6.gif) Block map of Merced Merced Cartridge Features (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc7.gif) Schematic of the cartridge design Merced Processor Progress (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc8.gif) According to this slide, multiprocessor OS kernels are booting on the Merced logic model Merced High Availability (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc9.gif) Block map showing I/O, OS, etc. Merced = Enterprise Scalability (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc10.gif) High Performance Computing for Workstations (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc11.gif) Intel 82460GX chipset (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc12.gif) OEM Merced Designs (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc13.gif) Intel will push the architecture to 512-way machines. With that cartridge, it's going to have to be a big case Software Program Deliverables (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc14.gif)Mentions Monterey, Bravo, Win64 etc. Merced Software Program Timeline (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc15.gif)Apps, tools and OS. Pre-Silicon Software Development Kits (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc16.gif) Merced Software Tools Progress (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc17.gif) Intel claims almost 100 per cent of functional tests passing Merced OS Progress (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc18.gif) Compaq Tru64 Unix to boot this Q Merced Application Targets (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc19.gif) Server Solution Stacks (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc20.gif) Workstation Applications (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc21.gif) IHV Program Deliverables (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc22.gif) Although Merced may be on target for release in mid-2000, it's obvious that other hardware vendors are going to take a while to release their kit. Summary (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc23.gif) Call to Action (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc24.gif) Porting Tools/Info on the Web (http://www.theregister.co.uk/images/adverts/merc25.gif)Some useful URLs. If you can't read them, please email me and I'll give you the address Full Intel Developer Forum coverage (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/3078.html)