Intel's new desktop dual-core processors have a power consumption level of something like 130 watts. Concerns about heat, as well as noise, have surfaced naturally. However, Intel has pledged to tackle this issue - the company intends to dramatically decrease power consumption to less than half of the upcoming Pentium Extreme Edition 840. The target is now a power envelope of 60 watts.

"Intel engineers also pointed out that 60 watts would be "on the horizon" and they could not say which products will achieve this power level in which timeframe. Inkley (a senior procesor applications engineer at Intel) indicated that the Extreme Edition's power consumption would be at the high end of what desktop processors will consume in the near future but said that ultimately consumers will decide which performance they want and what power levels they are willing to accept."