Sources extremely close to Intel's plans at Compaq said that engineers have until May 27th to tape out the piece. Said the insider: "Many a false deadline has come and gone but a May 27 Merced tapeout has been chiselled in stone or etched in silicon at Intel." The Compaq insider, who does not wish to be named, said: "If this date is not met, heads will roll." Intel, he said, has faithfully promised its partner Microsoft it will deliver real Merced boxes before the end of June. First samples will be within two to three weeks after tapeout and that will be followed by power-on a week later and Win64 boot a week after that. He added: "Hope springs eternal this deadline will be reached. Rolling heads are not a happy sight." ®