Intel is all set to launch its quad-core processors later this year, while AMD is not likely to ship its first quad-core chip until late 2007.

Intel’s president and chief executive Paul Otellini said the company will ship the first lot of its quad-core processors for the server and desktop later this year instead of the planned first quarter 2007 launch.

Intel will combine two of the recently released 64-bit Woodcrest Xeon processors to create the quad-core processor for servers and two of the dual-core Conroe processors, which is expected to be marketed next week, to create a quad-core processor for desktop PCs.

AMD, on the other hand, has maintained that it will use what it describes as a monolithic design to make its quad-core processor, which is scheduled to hit the markets mid-2007.

Intel to launch its quad-core processor by year-end

Intel plans to raise the proportion of Core 2 Duo Mobile (Merom) CPU to over 50% of its laptop processor shipments of in the first quarter of 2007, making 64-bit dual-core models the mainstream in the notebook market, Digi Times writes according to industry sources.

While Intel is expected to officially unveil its Merom processors by the end of July, volume production may only begin in mid-August, and the first Intel-based 64-bit dual-core notebooks may not hit shelves until the end of August, the sources pointed out.

Intel’s initial shipment goal for Merom after its launch is 15% of its laptop processor shipments, and the proportion will increase to 30% in the fourth quarter, the sources said.

In the first quarter of 2007, Intel expects the launch of Microsoft’s Vista to drive up demand for 64-bit dual-core laptop PCs, and Merom’s proportion in its notebook processor shipments will top 50% in the first quarter, the sources added.

Merom to top 50% of Intel notebook processors in 1Q 2007

Hewlett-Packard announced the HP xw8400 workstation, featuring the latest dual-core Intel Xeon 5100 64-bit processor. “The HP xw8400 workstation is our highest-performing Intel Xeon processor-based workstation and provides the hard disk and I/O expandability and performance needed to power demanding design and engineering applications.”, says HP.

The HP xw8400 delivers Intel’s 5000X high-end performance chipset for Intel Xeon processors that supports 1333 MHz dual system bus, and a 4 channel 667 MHz Fully Buffered DIMM (FBDIMM) memory subsystem. The HP xw8400 can achieve configurations supporting 64-bit applications.

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Hewlett-Packard announced the HP xw6400 workstation, featuring the latest dual-core Intel Xeon 5100 64-bit processor. “HP xw6400 workstation is our mid-range workstation offering high performance and expandability in a space-saving, power-efficient package. As one of the smallest dual-socket form factors in the industry, it fits neatly into cramped work areas, like a financial trader’s desk”, says HP.

The HP xw6400 supports up to 8 monitors, allowing visualization of huge amounts of data from multiple sources with less need to toggle between different applications displayed on multiple screens.

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Dell unveiled Dell Precision 690 and Dell Precision 490, desktop workstations featuring the latest Intel Xeon 5100 dual-core 64-bit processors.

“Featuring the Intel Xeon processor 5100 series, these workstations deliver performance gains over previous models of up to 45 percent on single-threaded applications and up to 155 percent on multithreaded applications”, says press release.

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Intel introduced its dual-core Intel Xeon 5100 Processor series, previously codenamed “Woodcrest,” for the high-volume server, workstation, communications, storage and embedded market segments. Intel Xeon 5100 processors are based on the new Intel Core Microarchitecture. More than 200 server and workstation models are planned from more than 150 manufacturers with initial orders starting today.

“Simply put, the Core microarchitecture is a technical marvel that is driving a new era of power efficiency without compromising on what can only be described as eye-popping dual-core 64-bit performance,” said Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group.

Intel Unleashes New Server Processors That Deliver World-Class Performance And Power Efficiency