Intel launched their new Pentium D-series processors yesterday, starting with the model 820 (2.8Ghz) expected to offer affordable dual-core performance for about $300, maybe even closer to $250 and going up to the 840 Extreme Edition with Hyperthreading support for closer to $500. If you're not familiar with Dual Core- now is a good time to get up to speed, prior to the upcoming holiday season.  Dual Core processors are the wave of the future for both Intel and AMD, and while the benchmarks are decidedly mixed (see ExtremeTech), the idea of effectively 2 processors in one is a winning combination. If you're heavy into encoding or media conversion, or a multitasking junkie with 20 apps open and running at a given time, this may be right for you.

More news: News.com
Read More: ExtremeTech
Dual Core Defined: Wikipedia