Intel's new 'high performance CPU project' tempts Nehalem's lead architect out of retirement

(Image credit: Intel)

Another Intel lifer is returning to the fold following the announcement of Pat Gelsinger's appointment as CEO from February. Glenn Hinton, lead architecture of the Intel Nehalem architecture, is stepping out of retirement to return to the company for an "exciting high-performance CPU project."

Hinton announced his return on LinkedIn (via CRN reporter Dylan Martin, Tom's Hardware), citing Pat Gelsinger's return as Intel CEO in February as the final push to return to Intel after three years in retirement and having been considering the new role since November. Oh, and the promise of an upcoming CPU project from the chip company that appeals to Hinton's sensibilities.

"If it wasn't a fun project I wouldn't have come back," Hinton goes on to reply to a comment.

As lead architect for the Nehalem CPUs during a 35-year stint at Intel, Hinton previously oversaw Intel's most significant and lasting architectural overhaul. That architecture formed the basis for the Core processor line-up still in operation today, and marked a major shift from Intel's previous escapades attempting to reach high clock speeds with Pentium 4.

Glenn Hinton LinkedIn post — (Image credit: Glenn Hinton)

The architecture proved successful back when it launched in 2008, and continued success allowed Intel to maintain a steady lead in the CPU industry for most of the decade.

That is, until now. Facing fresh new AMD Ryzen shaped challenges, Intel is looking for ways to push the boat out once again with its CPU designs, and while Alder Lake intends to do that to some degree, perhaps it's what's planned far in advance of that which Intel deems most exciting.

Jacob earned his first byline writing for his own tech blog, before graduating into breaking things professionally at PCGamesN. Now he's managing editor of the hardware team at PC Gamer, and you'll usually find him testing the latest components or building a gaming PC.