It is a known fact that multi core processors will begin to enter the entry level markets and go mainstream. Therefore, Intel has announced that in the third quarter of 2006 multi core processors shipments will outsell the single core CPUs (Central Processing Unit).

Researchers say that in 2007, most of the processors will feature two processing engines, and the single core CPUs will become a rarity. In the same period, Intel and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) announced their roadmap, saying that they will launch the quad core processors in 2007. Then a new transition process will begin.

Intel's Vice president, Patrick Gelsinger, claims that the shipments of performance dual core processors will exceed the shipments of single core ones, a few quarters from now, more exactly in the third quarter of 2006.

This can mean that more than half of Intel's Pentium and Xeon chips will adopt dual core designs, having also a more affordable price. This can also be deducted from Intel's rebranding plans, not yet confirmed by the company. Moreover, the new fabrication technologies, the 65 nm and 32 nm processes will help the prices to go down.

Martin Reynold, analyst at Gartner Research, said that "by 2007, dual-core processors will represent the majority of units shipped. Dual-core processors will deliver the greatest advance in performance since the introduction of the 386, but developers and users must test and tune their software to receive the full benefit of this performance boost."