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Intel and AMD plan to start marketing their dual core processors at the end of the second quarter, and the launch of the new chips are both expected later this month, the mobos makers said.

However, AMD's new dual-core Athlon64 X2 CPUs will be Socket 939 solutions, and can be supported by current K8 motherboards, which will only need to have their BIOS upgraded, the makers said. In addition, although Intel's Pentium D processor will require the support of a new platform based on 945-series chipsets, the high-cost of migrating to the platform may deter users from buying new motherboards, the mobo makers said.

The motherboard makers did state that when Intel debuts its Pentium D-supporting 945-series chipsets later this month, they will also be launching new motherboards supporting Intel's dual-core platform.