Motherboard makers have hinted that Intel plan to release NINE 45nm-based (Penryn) CPUs for the desktop market.

Digitimes report that the lineup comprises five dual-core variants (Wolfdale), with the remaining four to be quad-core offerings (Yorkfield).

Four frequencies are known for the Wolfdale processors, these being 3.16GHz, 3.0GHz, 2.83GHz and 2.66GHz, with the fifth chip's frequency not yet disclosed. All of these will each feature 6MB of L2 cache.

The quad-core Yorkfield chips will come in frequencies of 2.83GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.5GHz, again with one chip's frequency not yet known.

Another positive for the Penryn processors is the option for 0.5 clock multipliers, allowing Intel to increase their model choices whilst giving us overclockers more breathing space.