Intel unleashes Dual Core Xeon Processor

Intel Corp. has launched its first dual core chips Monday, for running high end servers. The move comes almost six months after AMD announced its Opteron range of dual core processors.

The company said the dual core architecture can provide a 50 per cent performance boost, but only when running software optimised for the chip.

The release is part of a major push by Intel to accelerate its development of dual-core and multi-core processors in an effort to catch up with AMD’s lead in the technology.

"We are here to deliver on the multi-core promise. Today is just the beginning," said Kirk Skaugen, general manager of Intel’s server platforms group, at a news conference on Monday. "The world’s proven technology leader is now delivering dual-core processors to the server market."

Skaugen announced the immediate availability of a 2.8-gigahertz dual-core Xeon processor for the dual-processor server market. The processor is priced at $1,043 each in quantities of 1,000. The new processor will provide up to 50% performance gain over existing single-core systems, he said.

A 3-gigahertz dual-core Xeon processor for multi-processor servers is expected within 60 days. The processor will provide up to 60% performance gain over existing processors, Skaugen said.

Intel believes that 85% of all Xeons shipped for servers will be dual-core by the end of next year, and 100% by the end of 2007. For the desktop and mobile markets, 70% of all processors shipped will be dual-core by the end of next year, and 90% by end the end of 2007.