The world’s second largest maker of x86 microprocessors Advanced Micro Devices is reported to accelerate the introduction of the dual-core microprocessors and formally launch the products earlier than originally anticipated. The claim may mean that not only AMD, but also Intel Corp. speed up the dual-core roadmap.

Taiwanese web-site DigiTimes reported citing sources among Taiwan-based server makers that AMD, which originally was scheduled to launch its dual-core AMD Opteron processors for 2-way and 4/8-way machines in the third quarter of 2005, may advance the launch to the middle of the second quarter. The same information was published at HKEPC web-site earlier this week.

AMD declined to confirm the news but indicated that the release date should be some time in the middle of this year as originally planned, according to the report. It is still unclear when exactly AMD plans to launch its desktop dual-core chips.

The probable prospective plan of Advanced Micro Devices suggests that AMD will launch AMD Opteron 200- and 800-series dual-core processors at 1.80GHz, 2.0GHz and 2.20GHz already in the second quarter of 2005. Some sources suggest that introduction may be scheduled for late April, 2005. In the third quarter of the year AMD is projected to release dual-core AMD Opteron 100-series chips at the clock-speeds mentioned above as well as low-power dual-core AMD Opteron products at 1.60GHz and 1.80GHz with TDP of 55W. In the fourth quarter AMD will throw in a dual-core Opteron chip at 2.0GHz with TDP of 55W and 1.60GHz dual-core processor with TDP of 30W.

It is unclear whether Intel Corp. also plans to move the introduction forward.

AMD usually does not comment on the leaked roadmap details.