Intel does not expect quad-core processors to make any major impact on the desktop PC market through to the end of Q3 2007 if a presentation slide allegedly leaked from the chip giant is to be believed.

The slide, posted by Chinese-language website HKEPC, shows Intel's forecast sales percentages for each of its desktop processor lines. In Q3 2007, quad-core CPUs will account for approximately six per cent of the mix. Intel's four-core processors include the current Core 2 Extreme QX6700 and the upcoming Core 2 Quad Q6600.

By contrast, Core 2 Duo will account for more than half of Intel's desktop CPU sales in Q3 2007, having grown steadily through the year from around 22 per cent in Q4 2006. During Q3 2007, the Celeron D family - both 90nm and 65nm chips - will account for ten per cent of desktop sales, while the 65nm Celeron 400 series will take a further 12 per cent of sales.

Ten per cent of desktop sales will be 65nm dual-core Pentium E2000 series parts. By this time, Pentium 4 500 series, Pentium 4 600 series, Pentium D 800 series will have vanished from the mix, but the 65nm Pentium D 900 line will continue to find buyers, accounting for around five per cent of Intel's desktop sales, according to the slide.

The low percentage of quad-core sales comes despite the anticipated roll-out of the Core 2 Quad Q6600 in Q1 2007 and the Q6400 in Q3 2007. AMD's own quad-core desktops aren't due to ship until mid-2007. Intel's figures suggest the market really isn't going to start adopting quad-core until that timeframe, implicitly implying AMD's own launch schedule is the correct one. ®