Argued as the next big thing since, well, the last big thing, Intel’s  Core i5 and new i7 processors along with the P55 chipset could be hitting store shelves as early as this time next week!

Reports from gossip mill publication DigiTimes claim that the big unveiling for this next big step in hardware will happen on September 8th 2009, coinciding with the first day of classes. At this time, Intel will be releasing the all new Core i5 750 along with Core i7-860 and Core i7-870. The P55 chipset, which has received extensive coverage from many motherboard manufacturer’s, will also be released to the public, and can be paired with all three of the LGA-1156 CPU’s being launched.

Intel has done an absolutely excellent job using their “Core” naming scheme to distinguish the processors and product lines (note the sarcasm). The newly released Core i7  860 (2.8GHz) & 870 (2.93GHz) will operate on the LGA-1156 socket, utilizing the P55 chipset, and will be limited to dual channel memory. These processors will be quad cores, with HyperThreading technology and therefore have 8 threads. The Core i5 750 (2.66GHz) will use the same socket type and also be a quad core, but without HyperThreading.

The new Core i7′s should not be confused as similar to the widely available Core i7 9xx series, which is different platform altogether; utilizing the LGA-1366 socket and x58 chipset, supporting triple channel memory, all including HyperThreading and completely incompatible with any P55 based products.

All sources, including our own staff, refused to comment on any release speculations…  instead providing us with cheshire grins when questioned.