Annex Distribution is to support Intel Corporation South Africa in its ongoing campaign to extend the Intel Core 2 Duo processor technology into the market. Product is now available and aimed at the broader consumer market including gaming and corporate/professional segments.
The significance of this technology is that it represents the new brand for Intel Corporation`s up and coming powerful and more energy-efficient processor families for desktop and laptop computers.
Shaun Welgemoed, Intel product manager at Annex Distribution, says Core 2 Duo products will be built on Intel`s advanced 65-nanometer design and manufacturing process technology.
"This essentially shrinks a processor`s circuitry and transistors. This combination delivers higher-performing and more energy-efficient processors that will help to form smaller, more silent but better performing mobile and desktop PCs, while saving on electricity usage," says Welgemoed.
According to Welgemoed, the focus of Intel Corporation is not on changes to the processor architecture but rather on complete redesign.
"The engineers took elements from the current Pentium D NetBurst architecture and added ingredients that made the Pentium M and Core Duo mobile processors successful, and voila: The Core2 micro-architecture was born. Key design goals were an ideal relation between processing performance and power consumption, which was a direct result of AMD`s processors delivering better performance per Watt of energy, and the public complaining about unreasonably high power consumption and cooling requirements for Intel platforms," he adds.
The other significant aspect of Core 2 Duo Processor technology is that it lays the foundation for the transition to multi-core computing, says Welgemoed.
"Dual-core processors are the first step in the transition to multi-core computing. Intel dual-core technology enhances Hyper-Threading Technology by providing two physical core units which significantly improve multi-tasking work environments and multi-threaded applications," he continues.
Intel multi-core architecture has a single Intel processor package that contains two or more processor "execution cores" and delivers with appropriate software fully parallel execution of multiple software threads. The operating system (OS) perceives each of its execution cores as a discrete processor, with all the associated execution resources.
Multi-core capability can enhance user experiences in multitasking environments, namely, where a number of foreground applications run concurrently with a number of background applications such as virus protection and security, wireless, management, compression, encryption and synchronisation.
"For example, you can be downloading a music file while editing your digital photos and your virus protection software can continue running more seamlessly in the background.
"The obvious user benefit is this: by multiplying the number of cores in the processor, Intel dramatically increases the PC`s capabilities and computing resources, which reflects a shift to better responsiveness, higher multithreaded throughput and the benefits of parallel computing in mainstream applications. Intel has more than 15 multi-core related projects underway and plans to increase our software and solutions," Welgemoed continues.
Intel forecasts that more than 85% of our server processors and more than 70% of our mobile and desktop Pentium family processor shipments will be multi-core-based by the end of 2006.
Ravi Perumal, assistant general manager at Annex, believes the company is well positioned to add value to this process.
"Annex is a young and dynamic distributor that`s totally focused on our customers by offering quality services and support and we endeavour to strengthen our relationships with the channel together with our vendor partnerships," says Perumal.
And where does this leave consumers? Welgemoed suggests that it bodes will for those wanting to leverage off a period of intense competition and technology development.
"The market is aware of the product, enthusiast are head over heals with the product. There has been press releases and benchmark testing released all over the Net. Furthermore, Intel looks to ship one million units in the first seven weeks worldwide. And while the competition between AMD and Intel will be heating up over the next months, consumers will benefit from a time of true innovation," he says.
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Gauteng-based Annex Distribution is a leading distributor of building block solutions to sub-Saharan Africa.
The company features a line card of recognised brand names, including 3Com, AMD, BenQ, Creative Technologies, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Hynix, IBM, Intel, LG, Matrox, MSI, Samsung and Tyan Computer Corporation.
Through established partnerships with international specialist suppliers, Annex is positioned to provide value-add service and support for clients to ensure they remain in the forefront of ICT requirements and e-commerce.
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