Intel is to update its desktop Core 2 Duo-friendly P965 chipset, the chip giant informed its customers this week. The change, which will take the part from version C-1 to C-2, also affects the 946GZ and 946PL chipsets too, Reg Hardware has learned.

Intel didn't state what the changes involve, but it noted all the updated parts are compatible with existing motherboards, and neither the C-2 P965 nor the C-2 946PL contain "design changes" that warrant re-qualification of the systems they'll sit in. No so the C-2 946GZ, which will necessitate re-qualification, Intel said.

The updated 946GZ chips are set to ship on 29 July, but the new-stepping P965 and 946PL chipsets will not be made available until 9 September, Intel documentation reveals.

The P965 was unveiled in June as Intel's mainstream chipset of choice for the 'Conroe' Core 2 Duo. The 946GZ and 946PL are also compatible with the Core 2 Duo, but feature a frontside bus clockable to no more than 800MHz, compared to the P965's 1066MHz FSB. The 946GZ has an integrated GMA 3000 graphics core. ®

Read our Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme review here