Intel Readies Dual-Core Desktop Processors

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Intel Corp. announced Monday that it has begun production of its dual-core desktop processors, and that the first will appear on the market next quarter with the first dual-core Pentium chips and dual-core-enabled chip sets.

One of the processors that the Santa Clara, Calif., company will roll out will be a dual-core Pentium Extreme Edition. The Pentium Extreme Edition—aimed at users such as game players who demand a lot of computing power—also will be equipped with Intels HyperThreading technology, which allows applications to view a single processor as two logical processors.

Combining HyperThreading and dual-core capabilities—where two cores are housed on a single die—enables the machines to run four threads of instructions simultaneously, Intel officials said.

/zimages/6/28571.gifRead more here about Intels dual-core chips.

The Extreme Edition will be coupled with Intels new 955X Express chip set, code-named “Glenwood,” which offers such features as High Definition Audio, the PCI-Express interface and faster DDR2 memory.

The other dual-core Pentium processor will be combined with the 945G Express and 945P chip sets, both of which were code-named “Lakeport.”

“In addition to our products, we are investing heavily to further prepare the industry for the shift to multicore computing platforms,” Robert Crooke, vice president of Intels Desktop Platforms Group and general manager of desktop marketing and strategic planning, said in a statement.

/zimages/6/28571.gifClick here to read about analysts outlook on the transition to dual-core processors.

Intel said it has more than 10 ongoing multicore projects, with plans to increase its investment.

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