Intel: Desktop dual-core processor "Conroe" due in 2006

Intel provided a few more code-names of future processors during a briefing with financial analysts in New York. President and soon-to-be CEO Paul Otellini promised the desktop processor "Conroe" for the end of 2006. Conroe will succeed "Presler", which will debut as Intel’s first 65 nm desktop dual-core in early 2006.

Otellini also outlined plans for the notebook chip "Merom" that will succeed "Yonah" (due early 2006) as well as "Woodcrest" for future workstations and entry-level servers.

Conroe is believed to bring a new processor architecture that is entirely different from the current "NetBurst"-Technology that Intel introduced with the first Pentium 4 "Willamette" in 2000. While already Presler is likely to show improvements in power consumption over the Pentium D processor, Conroe and Woodcrest are speculated to drop significantly below the power envelope of current dual-cores that can consume up to 130 watts. (THG)