As Intel is preparing to launch its counter-offensive with its Core 2 Duo processors, it appears that the company may be tripping itself up as it has announced that it is pushing its quad-core architecture for a 2006 launch.
Just as PC enthusiasts were recovering from the overwhelming response that Intel's Core 2 Duo processor range has received from the press in its entirety, the company has announced that it plans to cram two chips onto one and make them available in Q4, 2006.
AMD was the first company to mention a quad-core possibility with its 4x4 initiative, an attempt to use two FX-62s on one motherboard and Intel's response has been swift. Initially planned for a Q2 2007 launch, the quad-core Intel offering, for both desktops and servers, has been pushed forward to Q4 2006. During the Intel conference call, company CEO, Paul Otellini said: We notified customers we're pulling in both the desktop and server (launch) of the first quad-core processors into the fourth quarter of this year from the first half of 2007.
What this means for the gamer is that although rushing and getting an Intel Core 2 Duo processor may be extremely tempting, waiting until holiday season 2006 may be a wiser path to follow as 4 cores are better than 2 while the Core 2 Duo range will almost definitely receive some price reduction. It is not clear yet if Core 2 Duo motherboards will support the quad-core chips but if that is the case we expect eBay to do a lot of Core 2 Duo business over the holiday 2006 period.
