Intel Corp, the world's largest microprocessor maker, yesterday said it is moving up the launch of its first dual-core chips in a race with rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) to introduce the technical-milestone chips.
"Shipment already began and an official public announcement is imminent," said John Antone, vice president of Intel's Asia Pacific division, at the chipmaker's biannual technology forum in Taipei, which started yesterday.
The new chips with two brains will enable computers to handle more information at the same time.
"It's more about getting current applications going much better," Antone said.
In the next 12 months to 18 months, Intel will see a significant jump from very high-end applications to mainstream and even in high-volume production, Antone said.
Later this quarter, Intel will launch its first dual-core chip for desktop computers, dubbed the Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition, Antone said. The high-end chip will run at 3.2 gigahertz (GHz) -- slower than the 3.8 GHz of today's top-of-the-line Pentium 4.
By the end of next year, the dual-core product line will be broadened to servers and laptop computers, he said.
Last week, Intel president Paul Otellini announced in Washington that the dual-core chips would be available in May.
Rival AMD aimed to launch its dual-core chips for servers in the middle of the year, but hinted that the product may hit the market sooner, according to a news report. The company has told reporters to expect important news at a New York event on April 21 to mark the second anniversary of its Opteron chips for servers, the report said.
Intel plans to use dual-core technology across its processor lines by the end of next year, from those powering mobile computers to the brains of high-end servers.
"Most computer vendors are ready [with their products], but the launch time will depend on individual companies," said Stanley Huang (
Siding with Intel, Acer Inc, the best-known Taiwanese computer brand, is scheduled to launch its first desktop computers equipped with Intel's new dual-core chips late next month.
The world's No. 5 computer vendor showcased the new model during the two-day technological forum organized by Intel.
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