Intel to go four-core

News reports are hitting the wires that Intel plans to release a four-core processor for two-socket systems in late 2006 or early 2007. The quad-core chip, codenamed Clovertown, will bring lower end systems into the eight-core realm. A later quad-core chip, codenamed Tigerton, is planned for higher-end four-socket systems.

The accelerated introduction of a quad-core design will put Intel on track to match AMD in the all-important "number of cores per chip" metric that is replacing GHz as a single, consumer- and press-friendly number that can be easily used for meaningless horserace-style comparisons. You can get a taste of that in the coverage at SFGate and Reuters. The Register, on the other hand, calls it correctly in pointing out that Intel's much delayed next-generation frontside bus, called CSI, is MIA for 2007.