Dual-core desktops hit the market

PC makers rolled out their first dual-core processor desktop PCs on Monday as expected--and they aren't cheap.

Alienware, Dell and lesser-known maker Velocity Micro are among the first to begin taking orders on dual-core desktops. Their machines are based on Intel's Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 840 processor, the first dual-core PC processor to hit the market. The chip contains twin 3.2GHz processor cores; its companion Intel 955X Express chipset fosters faster memory and other improvements.
Dell dual core PC

The desktops, which start at about $2,300 to $3,000, are aimed at home multimedia and gaming enthusiasts who want the latest technology, as well as professionals in areas such as video editing. The chips represent Intel's latest thinking on advancing PC processors. Instead of driving rapid increases in speed, the chipmaker is now focusing on adding performance by stuffing additional processor cores into each of its chips, as well as building in new features such as virtualization, which helps carve a PC into different partitions to simultaneously tackle different jobs.

For now, dual-core chips will sit at the top of the PC pyramid, where hot-rod desktops, which cost thousands of dollars, are used for gaming, multimedia or professional applications. The dual-core machines represent a rather large jump over the sub-$1,000 desktops most consumers purchase. However, less expensive desktops will be fitted with dual-core chips over time.

While it shipped the Extreme Edition chip this month, Intel isn't the only chipmaker with dual-core plans. Rival Advanced Micro Devices is expected to unfurl its first dual-core processor, an Opteron chip for servers, later this week. Thus AMD, which will make the announcement ahead of schedule, can claim a first in offering a dual-core x86 server chip. (The term x86 refers to the architectural underpinnings of Intel and AMD PC processors.) The new dual-core Opteron is expected to spawn multiple new servers.

AMD is also expected to reveal plans to put dual-core Athlon chips for PCs on sale in June.