CES 2007: Intel Rolls Out Quad-Core Desktop, Server Chips For Multimedia Era
The new Core 2 Quad Q6600 desktop processor, which is being demonstrated at CES 2007 in Las Vegas, accelerates the performance of high-end games, multithreaded applications, Vista Home Premium and high-definition digital content, according to Intel. The 2.4GHz processor, priced at $851 in 1,000-unit volumes, is available now in PCs and in the reseller channel, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip giant said.
Intel executives said all the pieces necessary for high-performance home entertainment PCs are in place, and VARs and system builders should explore new opportunities.
"It's a renaissance period for the PC," said Bill Davidson, consumer marketing manager at Intel. "Our resellers can sell single-core, dual-core and quad-core processor PCs. Microsoft has a new operating system. We're seeing more digital adapters. And I can't believe how much digital media is coming into the home."
Davidson also pointed to Intel's Viiv technology, which enables users to stream protected content over a home network from the PC through devices such as a Microsoft Xbox or another digital media adapter hooked up to a television. What's more, the availability of Viiv-branded LCD TVs from Acer and Viiv-enabled digital adapters from D-Link and other vendors will make it easier for white-box makers to build systems, he said.
Steve Dallman, general manager of Intel's reseller organization, said Intel predicted the marriage of the PC and TV at CES last year but noted that he's surprised at the pace that this trend has taken.
"It has happened in spades, especially over the last few months and weeks. Media is coming down from AOL.com, MSNBC and others. Consumers can take online programs and watch them over again," Dallman said. "The vision that the PC can be best entertainment vehicle in the home is coming to fruition."
At CES, Intel also announced two quad-core processors for single-socket servers. The new Quad-Core Xeon X3220 and X3210 chips, also available today, have clock speeds of 2.4GHz and 2.13GHz, respectively, with a 1066MHz front-side bus and 8 Mbytes of L2 cache, Intel said. The processors are designed for e-mail, Web, and file and print servers. The X3220 is priced at $851 and the X3210 costs $690.
That brings the total number of Intel quad-core processors available to nine. Intel launched its first quad-cores in November at the Intel Developer Forum.