A web-site has posted a screenshot from what is believed to be a roadmap of Intel Corp. The screenshot discloses specifications of Intel Pentium Extreme Edition processor 955, which is expected to be launched early next year and claims that the chip will have faster processor system bus as well as virtualization technology. Despite of similar thermal and electrical specs, the processor is not expected to work with current platforms.

According to the slide published by HKEPC web-site, Intel Pentium Extreme Edition processor 955 will operate at 3.46GHz, sport 1066MHz processor system bus, feature Intel virtualization technology and will only operate with mainboards based on Intel 975X. Each of the processor’s cores will sport Intel Hyper-Threading technology and 2MB of level-two cache (which will result in 4MB of L2 cache per central processing unit in total). The cores that power the new product are made using 65nm process technology. Earlier it was expected that the product internally called Presler also sported code-named LaGrande security capability.

Despite of the fact that the chip will operate within 130W thermal design power of today’s dual-core processors and will come in LGA775 form-factor, it will not work with current mainboards powered by Intel 955X core-logic, the slide claims, but will be supported by Intel 975X-powered platforms only.

Just like the predecessor, Intel Pentium Extreme Edition processor 955 will sport unlocked multiplier, the screenshot claims, which would allow enthusiasts to overclock the chip easier.

The code-named Presler microprocessor is expected to be released sometimes in the first half of 2006 and will be made using 65nm process technology. The die size of the chip is projected to be around 140 square millimeters, which is inline with Intel’s historical size of mainstream chips. From the architectural standpoint, the Presler may be a shrunk version of the chip code-named Smithfield, Intel’s first dual-core desktop product, however, it will contain some improvements over the current products.

Intel’s current dual-core microprocessors made using 90nm process technology function at up to 3.20GHz and using 800MHz processor system bus.

Intel Corp. did not comment on the news-story.