Back in May 2005, Intel rolled out its first consumer-level processor featuring two independent Prescott-based cores housed in one package, with each core, in the case of the Pentium Extreme Edition 840, having access to its own 1MB of super-fast L2 cache and carrying Intel's Hyper-Threading functionality, although both cores in the package shared system bandwidth supplied by the MCH (Memory Controller Hub). Cheaper derivatives of dual-core CPUs, differentiated by clock speed and a lack of Hyper-Threading, gave Intel a top-to-bottom range that complemented its single-core models. The pick of the bunch, as far as the enthusiast on a budget was concerned, was the £200 Pentium 820D, running at 2.8GHz but bereft of H-T tech. Dual-core for the masses!



Link: Hexus