In January we can expect the somewhat more affordable Core 2 Quad Q6600 quad-core processor from Intel. This CPU runs at 2.4GHz, has a 1066MHz FSB and features 8MB L2 cache memory. The Q6600 costs $851, still pretty expensive but slightly cheaper than the $999 Intel charges for its Extreme quad-core processor.
Still, the popularization of quad-core chips does not mean that Intel will cease to improve its dual-core microprocessors. Intel is projected to release Intel Core 2 Duo processors with E6850, E6750 and E6650 model numbers with 3.0GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.33GHz clock-speeds respectively and 1333MHz processor system bus in Q3 2007, when appropriate code-named Bearlake-series chipsets become available. The new chips will support TXT technology.
