Intel quad-core Kentsfield to be named Core 2 Quadro

Citing sources at leading Taiwan motherboard makers, DigiTimes claims the first model will be an Extreme version, the Core 2 Extreme QX6700, which will be available starting in mid-November.

"The QX6700, which will be clocked at 2.66 GHz, will target the high-end gaming market as well as to counter AMD's fourth quarter introduction of its Socket-AM2 Athlon 64 FX-64 CPU (3.0 GHz core speed, 2x1MB L2 cache)," according to the report.

In a bid to trump AMD's planned launch of its quad-core Deerhound server chip in 2007 and quad-core Greyhound desktop varient in 2008, Intel in the first quarter of 2007 is also expected to launch a new 65nm quad-core CPU called the Core 2 Quadro Q6600.

"The Socket-775 Q6600 CPU will have a core speed of 2.4 GHz, a built-in 2x4MB L2 cache and support a 1066 MHz FSB (front side bus), plus Enhanced Intel Speedstep technology, Intel Virtualization and Execute Disable Bit functionalities," DigiTimes sources said.

Those sources added that the quad-core CPUs can be paired with either Intel's high-end 975X or mainstream P965 chipsets, although a minor change in the design of the power-supply module on P965-based motherboards is required.

Intel reportedly declined to comment on the report.