Core 2 Duo powers Xeon 3000 series

Intel plans to launch versions of its Core 2 Duo desktop parts, branded under the Xeon banner and aimed at the server market. The higher-end Core 2 Duo chips will form the basis of the new 'Xeon 3000' series. An official announcement from Intel is expected in September at Intel's Fall Developer Conference.

The 3000 series is expected to be coupled with the Mukilteo-2 chipset, which was officially launched yesterday by Intel and now rebranded as the 3000/3010 depending on configuration.

Supermicro, a maker of server-based motherboards, confirmed that the company has already designed product to work with the Xeon 3000 and Core 2 Duo processors.

This news comes shortly after Intel had begun shipping the Xeon 5000 range. The Xeon 5000, code-named 'Dempsey', is based on older Netburst tech, and the Xeon 5100, code-named 'Woodcrest' is based on the new core architecture similar to the soon-to-be-announced 3000 range.

More here. µ