Intel Corp. introduced the very first Pentium processor on the 22^nd of March, 1993, almost seventeen years ago. Since then Intel has introduced Atom, Celeron and Core brands for desktop central processing units (CPUs); nevertheless, Pentium-branded chips are still the most popular microprocessors for desktops from Intel.

According to documents seen by X-bit labs, Intel Pentium-branded processors will account for roughly 42% - 43% of Intel’s desktop chips volume in 2010. In particular, the highest volume processors that Intel plans to sell this year will be dual-core Pentium E5000- and E6000-series microprocessors based on the Core 2 micro-architecture that will account for about 40% of total desktop volume.

The share of Intel Core i7 products, including Bloomfield, Gulftown and Lynnfield chips, will be about 6% throughout the rest of the year, whereas the share of mainstream Core i5 and Core i3 central processing units will gradually increase as they will replace Core 2 Duo processors. It is noteworthy that in the entry-level space Atom processors 400- and 500-series will account for approximately 8% by the end of the year in the fourth quarter.

Intel did not comment on the volume report.

Intel Pentium processor has come a long way and changed six micro-architectures during the years: the original Pentium processor was based on the P5; Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium M and Core chips were powered by the P6; Pentium 4 and Pentium D featured infamous Netburst micro-architecture; Pentium dual-core processors were based on the Conroe/Penryn micro-architecture and the latest Pentium G9650 features Nehalem micro-architecture.

But the era of Pentium is coming to the end. Already now Intel Core processors account for approximately 42% of Intel’s desktop volume. Next year Core will become Intel’s best-selling CPU brand.

Tags: Intel, Pentium, Nehalem, Core, 45nm, 32nm, 65nm