Since modern operating system Microsoft Windows Vista as well as other recently released software require as much processing power as possible, a lot of customers demand high-performance microprocessors, but not all can afford contemporary high-end offerings. Specially for them, Intel Corp. plans to unveil its second dual-core Intel Celeron microprocessor with boosted clock-speed.

Market rumours state that dual-core Intel Celeron E1400 central processing unit (CPU) will operate at 2.0GHz, contain 512MB of unified secondary-level cache, will use 800MHz processor system bus and will be available in the second quarter of 2008. Later during the year Intel may add more chips into the Intel Celeron E1000 dual-core lineup, creating a comprehensive family of affordable chips with two processing engines. The E1400 will be the second dual-core Intel Celeron processor after the model E1200 released earlier this month.

The new dual-core processor for low-end computers is based on code-named Conroe design and is made using 65nm process technology. The chip is expected to be drop-in compatible with existing LGA775 infrastructure, hence, computer makers may start adopting it right after the launch, which will increase pressure on the lineup of entry-level dual-core and single-core chips from Advanced Micro Devices.

It is expected that dual-core Intel Celeron E1000-series is set to account for around 3% of Intel’s total desktop CPU sales, but the ratio is not projected to exceed 10% in 2008. Still, the new dual-core Celerons are expected to completely replace single-core Celeron microprocessors by the second quarter of 2009, reports DigiTimes web-site.

The end of single-core Intel Celeron processors and inevitable end of single-core AMD Athlon 64 processors along with their mobile versions will mark the end of single-core x86 microprocessors as a class by the year 2010.

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