Stan Beer
Tuesday, 14 November 2006 15:44
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In one of the busiest years in its long history of innovation, Intel has launched its much anticipated quad-core processors, code named Kentsfield and Clovertown, aimed at the gamer and server markets. The launched has thrown out the challenge to upstart rival AMD which has yet to reply.
The Clovertown Xeon 5300 series is aimed at the
server market, while the Kentsfield Core 2 Extreme is aimed at the
gamer sector and high-end graphics user.
The early release of its quad-core range has thrown down the gauntlet
to AMD, which has taken significant market share off Intel over the
past two years, getting into markets that Intel once held exclusively.
AMD has tried to pour scorn on Intel's new quad-core architecture,
describing it as nothing more than two dual-core processors
sticky-taped together because the chips are comprised of two dual-core
processors.
However, Intel's new quad-core processor range display significant
performance and power consumption advantages over their dual-core
brethren and, as Intel CEO Paul Otellini has indicated, consumers don't
care what's under the hood. All they care about is the results.
AMD which plans to release a quad-core processor on a single die in mid
2007, is planning to release its own "sticky-taped" quad-core solution
called the 4x4 which, like the new Intel quad-core range will require
two sockets, lending credence to Paul Otellini's sentiments.
Then thing that is still not clear, however, is whether Intel's latest
efforts in releasing a veritable smorgasbord of new technology has
managed to arrest the slide in market share to the benefit of AMD. If
the success of the Core 2 Duo chip is anything to go by, the next
quarter's results of both companies should be interesting.