Intel Corp. on Tuesday said it is ready to ship its dual-core processors for multi-processor (MP) servers. The new chips are projected to offer additional performance for high-end enterprise-class machines that deal with large databases and other mission critical applications. The new chips are drop-in compatible with existing infrastructure based on Intel E8500 chipsets, but within a few months Intel promised to deliver more powerful processors for a new platform.

The dual-core Intel Xeon processor 7000 sequence, formerly codenamed Paxville MP, is shipping today with speeds of 3.0GHz (Intel Xeon MP 7040) and 2.66GHz (Intel Xeon MP 7020), 2MB and 4MB of cache respectively (1MB or 2MB of L2 cache per core) for a 667MHz dual processor system bus. The new Xeon processors naturally support 64-bit capability, execute disable (EDB) functionality, demand-based switching (DBS) power consumption regulations and other technologies found in the current Xeon MP platforms.

The new processors will fit into existing platforms using the Intel E8500 chipset that was architected for dual-core and shipped earlier this year. It is recommended that systems running the dual-core Intel Xeon processors were able to supply enough power to the microprocessors that have thermal design power (TDP) of 165W and maximum power of 173W.

Earlier Intel initiated shipments of dual-core Intel Xeon processor 2.80GHz for dual-processor (DP) applications.

In early 2006, Intel plans to ship new versions of the chipset – E8501 – and processor  Intel Xeon MP 7041 (3.00GHz, 4MB cache, 800MHz bus) and 7030 (2.80GHz, 2MB cache, 800MHz bus) that will support an 800MHz dual processor system bus.

Intel E8500 supports dual 667MHz processor system bus; PCI Express interconnections; DDR2 memory support with memory mirroring, RAID, ECC and hot-plug capabilities; as well as Intel virtualization technology.

Servers based on the dual-core Intel Xeon processors 7000-series are expected to be available from system manufacturers worldwide beginning today and into next year including Dell, Egenera, Fujitsu Siemens, Gateway, HP, HCL Infosystems, IBM, Kraftway, Lang chao, Lenovo, Maxdata, NEC, Samsung, Supermicro, Unisys and Wipro Infotech.

Intel Xeon MP processors 7040 and 7020 are priced at $3157 and $1177 respectively in 1000-unit quantities.