Las Vegas (NV) - Intel is enjoying its lead in the current microprocessor market and today announced more CPUs with four cores. There are three new quad-cores altogether, one desktop processor and two chips for entry-level servers.

The Core 2 Quad Q6600, a processor which we discussed in one of our recent roadmap previews, is now officially available as the new flagship of Intel's mainstream processor portfolio. It replaces the Core 2 Duo E6700 (2.66 GHz) on the top of the performance an price charts: The Q6600 checks in with 2.4 GHz and a tray price of $851 (The E6700 is currently priced at $530).

While Intel has not provided any details about possible future quad-core processor, sources told TG Daily that the company may introduce faster quad-cores in the third and fourth quarter of this year. A Q6700 (2.66 GHz) as well as a Core 2 Extreme Q6800 (2.93 GHz) are likely, we hear.

On the server side, Intel introduced 2.13 GHz and 2.4 GHz quad-core CPUs in the Xeon 3200 series, which aims a 1P volume and entry-level servers and workstations. As the Core 2 Quad, the 3200 uses the "Kentsfield" core with 8 MB L2 cache and a 1066 MHz FSB.

The X3220 (2.4 GHz) is priced at $851, while the X3210 (2.13 GHz) is available for $690 (in 1000-unit trays).

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