Earlier this week Intel launched Romley platform, which is positioned as a replacement of 3-year old Tylersburg platform. The latter platform was introduced in 2009, and utilized Nehalem-based Xeon 5500 microprocessors, eventually superseded by Xeon 5600 CPUs.

Nevertheless, the Xeon 5500 series is still in production, and only this week Intel announced upcoming discontinuation of Xeon 5500 series. According to Product Change Notification (PCN) documents, published by Intel, the following Xeon models will be retired:

• High-performance versions: W5590, W5580, X5570, X5560 and X5550
• Mainstream versions: E5540, E5530, E5520, E5507, E5506, E5504, E5503 and E5502
• Low-power versions: L5530, L5520 and L5506

The last order date for these CPUs is September 28, 2012. Embedded versions of Xeon E5504 and E5540 will still be available for order after that date. Other OEM chips will be shipped until March 27, 2015. All boxed aforementioned Xeons will be shipped until supplies last.