Intel to launch 3.2GHz Core i7 in fall

New rumors from the mainboard industry today hint that Intel is poised to update its top-end desktop processor once more this year while also updating its Celerons earlier in the year. Currently topping out with the 3.06GHz Core i7 950, the fall should see that model replaced by the 3.2GHz Core i7 960. Its amount of cache and other features aren't expected byDigiTimes to change, but it should represent the first time a home, non-Extreme desktop processor from Intel has reached 3.2GHz and should be much faster than the similarly-clocked Core 2 Extreme.
Pricing hasn't been revealed for the new class leader and isn't likely to be revealed until closer to the launch, though previously non-Extreme parts cost between $500 and $700.

The Celerons will involve two new models, the 2.4GHz E3200 and 2.5GHz E3300, that will each have 1MB of Level 2 cache, an 800MHz bus and hardware virtualization support. Both should arrive in the summer.

Intel's first Pine Trail Atom for nettops, the dual-core D510, isn't due until the fall and will be followed by the single-core D410 in winter 2010.