According to new data released by market research firm iSuppli, by the end of 2009 today's high-end quad-core processors currently hampered by high costs and limited availability will eventually appear in close to half of all mainstream desktop systems. Currently, these chips are all in the performance desktop PC segment of the industry, which represents only 6% of total PC unit shipments. That is expected to dramatically change over the next two years as quad-core microprocessor technology gradually begins to penetrate the mainstream desktop PC segment. iSuppli estimates that while no mainstream desktop PCs will ship with quad-core microprocessors in the first half of 2007, quad-core penetration in mainstream desktop PCs will rise to 5% by the third quarter of 2007, and then to 7% by the fourth quarter. In the following months, it will hit 18% in the fourth quarter of 2008 and then rocket to 49% in the fourth quarter of 2009. iSuppli says it defines mainstream desktop PCs as "those having the most common specification and functionality available, and that are priced between $500 and $1000."
The research firm also noted that the notebook segment is not expected to move at the same pace: penetration of quad-core microprocessors in mainstream notebooks is expected to being in the first quarter of 2009, and will only account for 4% of systems. By the fourth quarter of that year, iSuppli believes quad-core processors will be in 11% of all mainstream notebook PCs shipped.
News source: ExtremeTech
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