Intel Corp., the world’s largest x86 chipmaker, may have canned its next speed bin of Core 2 Extreme dual-core processor in favour of lower clock-speed quad-core central processing unit.
Intel’s first quad-core microprocessor for desktops is projected to emerge in Q4 2006, a quarter earlier than expected originally, operate at 2.66GHz, use 1066MHz processor system bus and be positioned as Intel’s top-of-the-range offering for gamers and enthusiasts, reports HKEPC web-site, which claims that it had seen the latest roadmaps from Intel Corp.
The new processor will cost $999 in 1000-unit quantities and is likely to substitute the already announced officially 3.20GHz Core 2 Extreme chip with two processing engines. Even though the reasons behind such move are unclear, the transition of “extreme” processor to a multi-core design should emphasize the company’s plan to shift the attention of end-users to the number of cores, not clock-speed.
Given that not all applications can benefit from more than two threads processed at once, the 2.66GHz quad-core microprocessor may offer lower performance in certain applications compared to the 2.93GHz dual-core Intel Core 2 Extreme product.
Earlier it was reported that Kentsfield is a code-name for next-generation “extreme” desktop processor from Intel, will have four processing engines, in contrast to two cores sported by the Core 2 Extreme chips. It is highly likely that Kentsfield features two
Intel Kentsfield is expected to be drop-in compatible with some of the Intel 975X-based infrastructure that supports Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors.
Intel did not comment on the new-story.




