PC Maker Takes Preorders for Quad-Core Intel Laptop Chip

Australian PC maker Pioneer Computers is taking preorders for laptops based on an unreleased quad-core mobile processor from Intel, saying the chips are very close to being available.

Intel's 2.53GHz quad-core Core 2 Extreme QX9300 processor is advertised as a A$1,449 (US$1,390) upgrade to Pioneer Computers' DreamBook Style 9008 laptop. Reflecting the chip's expected position at the top end of Intel's mobile product line, the cost of the upgrade is more than the laptop's A$1,399 basic price.

The quad-core chip, which is not listed on Intel's most recent price list and will be the company's first quad-core mobile chip, packs 12M bytes of on-chip cache, according to Pioneer.

Laptops based on the quad-core laptop chip are not currently available, but can be shipped to customers within one to two weeks, a Pioneer sales representative said.

Intel declined to comment on the quad-core laptop chip, with a spokesman saying the company doesn't comment on "unannounced products."

While Intel has yet to release the QX9300, the chip is listed on a product roadmap prepared by Intel India and available on the company's Web site.

The QX9300 is the only quad-core laptop chip listed on the roadmap, which includes other unannounced chips, such as the 3.06GHz dual-core Core 2 Extreme X9100 laptop chip and 3GHz quad-core Core 2 Duo Q9650 desktop chip. The roadmap does not list dates for when these chips will be made available.

This isn't the first time that Pioneer Computers has offered a peek at Intel's upcoming products. In April, the company leaked details of processors that are part of Intel's upcoming Centrino 2 chip package for laptops.