Intel Ships High-End Quad Core Chips

Intel began the multi-core era by beating AMD to the punch by releasing its first quad-core chips for high-end workstations and servers. Two families would sport the architecture: the Intel Xeon 5300 series processors, and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700.

The new Xeons are 50 percent faster than the 5100 series Xeons released earlier this year, and would be available in speeds run at speeds from 1.6GHz to 2.66GHz. The new Core 2 Extreme quad-core processors are up to 80 percent faster than the current model, the X6800, and available at 2.66GHz.

Neither processor will come cheap. The quad-core Xeons would range from $455 USD for the 1.6GHz model to $1,172 USD for the 2.66GHz version. The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor would be available for $999. However, their release comes as somewhat of a surprise.

Only the Core 2 Extreme was scheduled to appear this year, according to comments by CEO Paul Otellini in September. Both the server and mainstream quad core chips were not to appear until early next year. However, it appears as if the server chips will come early.

"Today's announcement ushers in another new era in computing," said Paul Otellini, Intel's president and CEO. "The capabilities of quad-core microprocessors will bring new possibilities for science, entertainment and business.

AMD is now at least a half-year behind Intel in quad-core technology, as the company does not have plans for a server chip until mid-year 2007.

Computers with the new high-end consumer processors should begin to appear during the holiday shopping season from companies like Dell and Gateway. Similarly, servers from Dell, IBM and HP using the new Xeons should appear shortly.