Intel Nehalem - Performance
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Typically CPUs don't get worse performance with each generation. Sure there have been some questionable CPUs like the Prescott, but most of the time each next gen CPU is better than the old one. This is true for the Nehalem as well.
Intel has continued to tweak Nehalem, so any benchmarks so far aren't necessarily what you will see when you buy your retail version of Nehalem. As far as performance, Nehalem looks to be 1.1x -1.25x for the single-threaded applications and 1.2x - 2x in multithreaded applications at similar clocks. It doesn't look all that great, but remember the Core 2 Duo already kicks AMD's butt. One big change is the performance-per-watt; Nehalem will cut the power requirements down by 30 percent.
Some Googling around turns up some early benchmarks. In 3DMark Vantage, a 2.66 GHz Nehalem scored ~16,000 points; compare that to a Core 2 Duo E6600 scoring only 4,300 points! This looks like a huge increase. This also takes into account the memory controller and the massive increase the integrated controller gives the memory bandwidth.
Versions
Nehalem is only the code name of the core; there are different tweaked versions of the core for different purposes. Nehalem will stretch from mobile to desktop to server.
Let's start at the bottom, with the mobile versions. Code named Auburndale, it will have integrated GPU, and a TDP of 35w to 45w. It will sport a new socket, the mPGA989. Don't look for this to hit the market until at least January 2010.
Your desktop versions are code named Bloomfield. They will be clocked between 2.66 GHz to 3.2 GHz. They will have dual and triple channel memory controllers, and a new LGA 1366 socket. These began to hit the market in Q3 2008.
The final core I will talk about will the cream of the crop, the Westmere. It will use the same socket as Bloomfield and have triple and quad memory controller. This won't be out until the first half of 2010, by then this should be the first 32nm CPU made by Intel. It is the "second batch" of Nehalem, similar to the relationship of the current Core 2 Duos as compared to the original. Westmere also may have some upgraded graphics integrated into the CPU. Intel will continue with the Extreme Edition CPUs by offering unlocked multipliers, but for a premium.
As I'm sure you noticed, these are new sockets as well, meaning once again you will be upgrading your motherboard to support the latest and greatest CPU. It seems like this is the new way Intel likes to do things; every new line of CPUs means a new motherboard. With the on-board memory controller, I hope to see this platform last until DDR3 becomes outdated.
Next: AMD's Answer >>
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