Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of computer chips, has started to ship another model from its quad-core server and workstation microprocessor lineup much ahead of its expected availability time. The move will allow Intel Corp. to further solidify its positions on the market.

Intel Xeon processor E5335 has four processing cores, 2.00GHz clock-speed, 8MB L2 cache in total and is compatible with LGA771 infrastructure that supports 1333MHz processor system bus. Thermal design power of the new chip is 80W. The price of the Xeon 5335 is $690 in 1000-unit quantities, same as that of the Xeon 5320, which works at 1.86GHz and supports 1066MHz Quad Pumped Bus.

Originally Intel Corp. planned to introduce the new quad-core processor, which is neither cheap nor expensive, in the first quarter of 2007, however, the firm said it changed its plans due to customers’ requests.

“The OEMs wanted these new processors. They said if there's anything you could do so we could get the products early, it'd help,” said Jason Waxman, director of Xeon server platforms marketing for Intel, reports InfoWorld webs-site.

Intel Xeon 5335 quad-core processors for dual socket platforms will be installed into server and/or workstation machines from companies such as Dell, HP, Silicon Graphics and IBM. It is unclear when the chips become available in the channel so that smaller system integrators could use them in their computers.

Intel is expected to launch a low voltage version of its quad-core chips for ultra-dense deployments with thermal design power (TDP) of only 50W in Q1 2007.