Intel Steps Up Dual-Core Processor EffortsIntel Steps Up Dual-Core Processor Efforts

The computer industry's transition to dual-core processors looks ready to move into full-scale mode later this year as Intel rolls out offerings across its product portfolio for PCs and servers. Intel anticipates about three-quarters of all its shipments by the end of 2006 will be dual-core versions, or chips with two CPUs.

Intel has more than 15 dual-core and multicore projects under way, Stephen Smith, VP of Intel's digital enterprise group, said at the Intel Developer Forum last week. Single-core and dual-core offerings will coexist over the next couple of years, Smith said, with the dual-core offerings representing the high end of Intel's price-performance curve.

Intel plans to begin shipping dual-core Pentium Extreme Edition and dual-core Pentium D processors in the second quarter. The Pentium Extreme Edition will include the use of two hyperthreads on each core, for a total of four hyperthreads in the processor. Hyperthreads allow for running multiple instructions simultaneously. The Pentium D won't have hyperthreading initially.

Intel will ship its first dual-core Itanium, code-named Montecito, in the fourth quarter, as well as dual-core Xeon processors. Smith said the company's dual-core mobile processor, code-named Yonah, will be available in the first quarter of 2006.