Recent market rumours suggest that Intel Corp. plans to release its quad-core microprocessor for mobile applications sometime in the third quarter of this year. The launch of the new chips, which destiny is to power mobile gaming machines or workstations, is likely to coincide with the launch of Intel Centrino 2 platform.

The first mobile processor with four processing engines will be Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 chip that is based on code-named Penryn (enhanced Core 2) micro-architecture and sports 12MB of level-two cache, uses 1066MHz processor system bus and has thermal envelope of 44W – 45W. The forthcoming microprocessor will be produced using 45nm process technology.

Intel’s code-named Montevina platform for notebooks is projected to be launched in the middle of the year. Intel is planning to change its brand-name for the upcoming notebook Montevina platform to Intel Centrino 2 “in order to clear up confusion for consumers”, it was reported earlier this year.

Intel Centrino 2-based laptops will feature code-named Echo Peak Wi-Fi/WiMAX controller combo or code-named Shirley Peak Wi-Fi controller. The former will allow to connect not only to wireless local area networks (WLANs), but also to wide-area networks (WANs), a valuable feature in countries and cities with WiMAX coverage.

In fact, WiMAX support may be the most important difference between “Intel Centrino” and “Intel Centrino 2” notebooks. Other changes, including performance boost of central processing units (CPUs) and the availability of quad-core mobile processors for high-performance laptops may be seen as insignificant for the vast majority consumers. Nevertheless, a number of gamers and professionals will definitely appreciate Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 central processing units.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.