Even though Advanced Micro Devices first launched Dual Core processors, now Dell and Velocity Micro are among the first to begin taking orders on dual-core desktops based on Intel’s Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 840 processor.

For now, dual-core chips will sit at the top of the PC pyramid . The desktops, priced around USD$2,300 to USD$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. I suppose only hardcore gamers or heavy multimedia users willing to get one of this highly priced babies. :p

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While Toshiba is going to put 4Gig into 0.85-inch harddisk, Seagate announced that it will soon begin shipping a 120GB laptop hard drive, which would be the largest available on the market today. This 120Gig harddisk drive will be operating at 5400rpm.

According to Seagate, this drive is also very resistant to shock. The company claims the drives can withstand 900 Gs of non-operating shock and 250 Gs of operating shock without damage to hard drive data. The new drives also sport better power efficiency and near-silent operation.

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Toshiba is working towards doubling their current 2-Gig of its 0.85-inch harddisk.

This 4-Gig 0.85-inch harddisk is planned to go into mass production in mid-2005.

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Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) leaded the desktop processors to 64-bit technology last year and now they are going to lead the laptop processors industry to 64-bit with their new Turion64 mobile processor.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) will take a headstart and a chance for the lead in the 64-bit mobile CPU market with its forthcoming Turion 64, as Intel will not launch its 64-bit mobile CPU until the second quarter of 2006……

In addition, Microsoft will release its Windows XP 64-bit edition this quarter (due in April) AMD Turion 64 should be the only standard to support the version before the availability of Intel’s 64-bit mobile CPU.

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Just a few days after AMD announced the shipment of their Dual Core processor, Intel is up to the challenge by announcing they are going to ship their first Dual Core processor, Pentium Extreme Edition 840 processor, ahead of an official launch, which is expected to take place soon.

“The launch will be in the immediate future,” said Abhi Talwalkar, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group, speaking with reporters at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Taipei. He said Intel’s dual-core announcement was “imminent.”

AMD is likely to be the first with the launch of its dual-core Opteron processors expected on April 21. However, Talwalkar declined to comment on when exactly Intel plans to officially launch the Pentium Extreme Edition 840.

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The long await AMD dual core processor, named Opteron, is finally going to be released on April 21, 2005. This launching date is months ahead of their original summer launch schedule.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based chipmaker also is expected to announce its dual-core chips for personal computers will go on sale in June.

In an attempt to encourage rapid adoption, AMD will sell some of the new chips at the same prices as the corresponding single-core models they’ll replace, a source familiar with the products said. So, hopefully we can still enjoy low price dual core processors from AMD. Kodus to AMD !!

For more information, please read the sourse.

So, will AMD win the Dual-Core race? You judge. :)