Intel Quad-core Chips are Coming

If you’re still using a single core processor, this is to let you know that the quad core chips are coming soon. According to New Zealand Reseller News, Intel will ship the quad-core processors in November 2006 for servers and gaming PCs. Thirteen vendors have already committed to selling quad-core processor based PCs for the high-end market, including Dell and its Alienware division, Gateway and Voodoo.

Why do we need so many cores? Because adding extra cores to a chip allows the PC to split up heavy workloads. It’s like adding more arms, eyes and brains to our body. By having those extras, we’re able to work on computers, drink coffee, clean tables, watch TV and play games all at the same time. How good it will be! Intel has said that the new quad-core processors will deliver a 70% performance boost compared to Intel’s own current dual-core gaming processor.

The desktop chip will be called “Core 2 Quad”, following the current “Core 2 Extreme”. But be warned - it won’t be cheap when it first comes out. I’m guessing that it will cost more than NZ$2,000. Expect a mainstream four-core desktop chip to be shipped in the first quarter of 2007. Just for your info as well - the server quad-core chip will be called Xeon 5300.

Intel has been successful with its Core 2 Duo family so far and has shipped an incredible 5 million Core 2 Duo processors since they launched 2 months ago. They will also start moving from the current 65-nm core micro-architecture to 45-nm technology from the second half of 2007, and into 32-nm by 2010.

However, I think Core 2 Duo processors will still be the mainstream for the next 18 months. Click the link for the complete list and latest pricing for Intel Core 2 Duo processors.