Intel's dual-core desktop processor plans will indeed stretch to the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition line, the chip maker has revealed.

It also confirmed that 'Smithfield', the dual-core P4 for mainstream applications, will launch in Q2 this year, though volume shipments are not expected to take place until Q3.

The announcement clears up a question mark over the company's roadmap, which while highlighting upcoming mainstream dual-core P4s, appeared to ignore the P4EE family.

Intel also said would launch chipsets to support the new dual-core processors: the 'Lakeport' and 'Glenwood' products that have been on the roadmap for some time. Intel confirmed the chipsets' official names: 945 and 955, respectively. The 955 family will initially comprise the 955X, shipping alongside the discrete 945P and the integrated 945G.

All three chipsets are also styled 'Express' to signify their use of PCI Express technology, following the trend set by the 915PM and 915GM mobile chipsets the company launched last month. ®

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