Intel Ignites Quad-Core Era

Intel Corporation today kicked off the computer industry’s multi-core PC era by delivering four computing “brains” inside a single microprocessor with the introduction of the Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5300 and Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor families.

These products deliver immense speed and responsiveness for general purpose servers and workstations and for digital media creation, high-end gaming and other market segments that crave absolute performance.

“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. I’m incredibly proud of what Intel’s employees have achieved with these new products.”

Four Intel Xeon processors are launching today at clock speeds ranging from 1.60GHz to 2.66GHz, with front side bus (FSB) speeds ranging from 1066MHz to 1333MHz, and thermal design power (TDP) of either 80 watts or a performance-optimized 120 watt option.

In the first quarter next year, Intel will launch two more quad-core Xeon processors – a low-voltage version for ultra-dense deployments with a TDP of only 50 watts and a processor designed for single-socket workstations and servers.

Pricing and Availability
Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor X5355
2.66GHz 1333MHz 8MB 120W = $1172.
Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor E5345
2.33GHz 1333MHz 8MB 80W = $851.
Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor E5320
1.86GHz 1066MHz 8MB 80W = $690.
Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor E5310
1.60GHz 1066MHz 8MB 80W = $455.
Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6700
2.66GHz 1066MHz 8MB 130W = $999.