Chicago (IL) - Intel will introduce a new dual-core Extreme Edition processor early next year: The current Pentium EE 840 will be succeeded by the Pentium EE 955, a 65 nm chip based on the Presler core. The dual-core processor will support Hyper-Threading and come with a clock speed of 3.46 GHz.

The move from a 90 nm to a 65 nm production processor will enable Intel to slightly increase the clock speed of its desktop processors.

While the current Pentium D 8xx (Smithfield core) tops out at 3.2 GHz, the upcoming Pentium D 900 will go beyond the 3.4 GHz mark: The Pentium EE 955 will be introduced as the new flagship with a clock speed of 3.46 GHz. The chip will support Hyper-Threading and Intel's virtualization technology, sources told Tom's Hardware Guide.

The new CPU will be combined with an upgraded 955X chipset, which will be launched under the name "975X." Compared to its predecessor, the 975X will work with a 1066 front side bus (FSB) and offer a PCIe x16 interface that can be separated into two x8 ports for dual-graphics capability.

The "regular" Pentium D 900 family - consisting of models 920 (2.8 GHz), 930 (3.0 GHz), 940 (3.2 GHz) and 950 (3.4 GHz) - will continue to be offered in conjunction with FSB800 945/955 chipsets, which were introduced with the Pentium D 800 earlier this year.

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