Intel has this week announced the launch of its server-line of quad-core processors, forming the Xeon 7300 series.
The announcement comes in the same month that AMD is expected to begin shipping Barcelona - the first of its K10 processors and a retaliation against the blow Intel's Core micro-architecture swiftly dealt against it.
But AMD's remaining tight lipped on the new CPUs, giving Intel to chance to be the first to make a September CPU splash.
Intel says the Xeon 7300s complete the company's move to Core, making the transition time "only" 15 months.
At the top end of the GHz scale is the 130-watt 2.93GHz model. 80-watt models sit in the middle, while 50-watt 1.86GHz variants are designed for blades and other high density environments.
The company reckons the new chips will give multi-processor servers a big boost in virtualization scenarios, along with improvements in power efficiency.
Some 50 companies are expected to announce products based around the new Xeon, with software vendors supporting the CPUs too.
Pricing will range from $856 up to $2301 in orders of 1000.
Intel's laid down the gauntlet. It's time for AMD to respond.
