Intel Corp. may be planning to once again speed-up its quad-core offering next quarter and introduce a chip with four processing engines with 1333MHz processor system bus (PSB), a rather unexpected, but a very logical move of the world’s largest maker of x86 microprocessors.

Earlier it was reported that Intel plans to introduce dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessors with 1333MHz processor system bus in the third quarter of 2007, whereas the quad-core chips would still have to use 1066MHz PSB for some time. But according to a news-story at HKEPC web-site, the company now intends to release Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 microprocessor in Q3 2007. The new chip is projected to use code-named Clovertown design – two pieces of silicon on a single slice of substrate – operate at 3.0GHz and use 1333MHz processor system bus. The new chip is expected to cost $999.

The release of quad-core chip with 1333MHz bus will allow Intel to promote its new-generation enthusiast-class 3-series chipsets among users of high-end components. Current quad-core chips may function even on mainboards based on the Intel 975X chipset released more than a year ago, meaning that end-users do not need to upgrade their platforms when installing a brand-new processor. If Intel launches a new enthusiast-class chip with high-speed PSB, a platform upgrade will be needed, which will help Intel not only to increase high-end chipset sales, but to also popularize DDR3 memory, which will be supported by P3- and X38-series core-logic sets.

In the third quarter of the year Intel will also reduce pricing of its currently shipping Core 2 Quad Q6600 chip to $266 and will introduce Core 2 Quad Q6700 at $530 price-point.

Intel’s officials did not comment on the news-story.