Chicago (IL) - AMD and Intel are getting close to the launch dates of their first dual-core processors. While AMD is likely to be first to announce its dual-core, Intel has begun briefing system manufacturers on its next generation dual-core Pentium D, Tom's Hardware Guide has learned. "Presler" will be manufactured in 65 nm, run at up to 3.4 GHz and come with 4 MByte L2 cache.
Intel leaves no doubt that it follow through on the bold dual-core processor promises it made at its Spring developer forum in San Francisco. The switch from a 90 to a 65 nm manufacturing process will bring a new desktop and notebook processor generation that will succeed the current Pentium M, Celeron M, Pentium 4 5xx, Pentium 4 6xx and Pentium D/EE 8xx early in 2006.
According to sources, Intel has no plans to increase the clock speed of the 800 series through the second quarter of next year. The 840 chip with 3.2 GHz will remain the fastest chip of the family. The 900 series will debut as 92x, 93x, 94x and 95x with clock speeds of 2.8, 3.0, 3.2 and 3.4 GHz, respectively. The 900 will be based on LGA775 packaging and offer twice the cache of the 800 series. Instead of 1 MByte L2 per core, Presler will integrate 2 MByte for a total of 4 MByte per processor.
The mobile dual-core processor "Yonah" appears to be on track for a Q1 2006 introduction with low-voltage versions of the 65 nm chip also appearing on the roadmap. Yonah will debut as x20, x30, x40, and x50 models with clock speeds of 1.67, 1.83, 2.0 and 2.17 GHz. The low-voltage x38 and x48 are clocked at 1.5 and 1.67 GHz.
For the first time Intel also talks about a single-core Yonah chip, which will be released by Intel as the Celeron D 400 series. The single-core offering however is limited to a 1.67 GHz chip and two low-voltage models with unspecified speeds.
