Intel's upcoming 'Conroe'-based Extreme Edition Core 2 Duo processor will ship with the model number X6800, it has emerged, courtesy of the latest roadmap leak from the chip giant. And it will be pushing the Core 2 series at the same price as current Pentium processors.

According to slides posted on Chinese-language site HKEPC, the 2.93GHz chip will be branded the Core 2 Extreme and will be priced at $999, the standard price point for new Intel gaming-oriented CPUs.

Indeed, the whole Core 2 line-up - Duo and Extreme - will come in at prices matching what Intel already charges for its current Pentium processors. Clearly, it will be pushing hard to encourage take-up of the next-generation architecture chips.

The X6800 operates on a 1066MHz frontside bus and contains 4MB of L2 cache shared by both processing cores - much like regular Core 2 Duo parts. The Duo and the Extreme are set to ship on 23 July.

The 'Allendale' processor makes its appearance on the roadmap, as the Core 2 Duo E6300 and E6400, both with 2MB of L2 cache and clocked at 1.86GHz and 2.13GHz, respectively.

The arrival of the Conroe will be accompanied by price cuts which will be applied to members of the Pentium 4 6x1 and 5x1 series. The Celeron D 3xx family will also see its prices cut, as will a selection of Pentium D 8xx and 9xx parts.

Other 8xx and 9xx chips will experience price cuts on 4 June, the leaked slides claim. ®