"We're shipping 100,000 this quarter, and we're going to ship millions by the end of the year," said Gerald Holzhammer, vice president of Intel's Digital Home Group. "This is a big deal for us. It's the first time dual core will make a real impact on the marketplace."

The new platforms introduced for home and office PCs, combine hardware and software technologies that are designed to provide consumers with enhanced PC security, system management and collaboration capabilities.

The 945 chip set contains Intel's Active Management Technology (AMT) that will allow IT managers to remotely manage workstations even when they are shut down. With AMT one will be able to download software updates onto a PC and even take inventory of their network through a protected part of the technology that is transparent to the user reports Earth Times.

Pentium D prices range from $241 to $530 with speeds from 2.8 gigahertz to 3.2 GHz. Supporting chipsets range from $38 to $42. The new processor and chip set will be outfitted in business desktops produced by HP, Dell and Lenovo. Dell's new Dimension 9100 supports either the dual-core 800 series chips or the 600 series Pentium 4 chips. Hewlett-Packard is making the dual-core 800 processors available on several existing models in its Pavilion lineup. Lenovo Group's ThinkCentre A52 and M52 desktops will be available later this year with the dual-core processors and the new chip sets reports PC World.