Intel has begun sending P31 and G31 entry-level desktop chipsets out to motherboard makers, it has been claimed.

As yet, the chip giant has posted no details on the chipsets on its website, but Taiwanese sources told DigiTimes the parts formally started leaving Intel's warehouses on 4 July.

The G31 supports up to 8GB of DDR 2 memory clocked at 533MHz, 667MHz or 800MHz. It supports a 1066MHz frontside bus. It contains a GMA 3100 graphics core with Intel's Clear Video picture enhancement technology.

The P31 is essentially the same offering, but minus the on-board GPU.

Intel documentation pitches the G31 as the basis for "affordable dual-core" system and small form-factor machines. It suggests partnering the chips with its new Core architecture-based dual-core Pentium processors, the 1.6GHz E2140 and the 1.8GHz E2160.