Intel's upcoming dual-core Pentium D chip has started to appear in Japan's computer stores ahead of its formal introduction.

According to Japanese-language site Akiba PC Hotline, at least one shop has a Pentium D demo based on a Gigabyte 945 chipset-based motherboard. The display claims two CPU models, the 2.8GHz 820 and the 3GHz 830, are on their way, though we were expecting a 3.2GHz 840 to ship too.

Alas, the store does not provide prices, the report (http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20050521/etc_pentiumd823.html) claims.

The Pentium D - aka 'Smithfield' - comprises two 'Prescott' cores, each with HyperThreading turned off. If you want HT, you'll need the recently released dual-core Pentium Extreme Edition 840, clocked at 3.2GHz.

The Gigabyte mobos on display are the GA-81945G Pro, the GA-81956P Pro and the GA-81945G-MF. The 'G-class' boards contain Intel's GMA 950 graphics core, which was first mentioned in public briefly during Spring IDF last February. The 'P-class' mobo is based on Intel's discrete chipset. ®

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Intel confirms chipset graphics update (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/03/02/intel_gma_950_graphics/)
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Intel details twin 'desktrino' platforms (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/03/01/intel_desktrino/)
Intel dual-core Smithfield to ship as Pentium D (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/03/01/intel_pentium_d/)
Intel confirms 64-bit Celeron scheme (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/03/01/intel_64bit_celeron/)

Related review

Intel Pentium Extreme Edition dual-core CPU (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/05/review_intel_pentium_dual-core/)