Intel this week is expected to demonstrate its future x86 64-bit chip line at its Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. Code-named CT, the technology will be the Santa Clara, Calif., company's first public response to the growing popularity of AMD's 64-bit Opteron chip, according to industry observers.

A spokesman for Intel said executives will discuss the CT technology—formerly known as Yamhill—during the three-day conference.

Intel's CT chips, which could appear on the market as early as next year, would address a key criticism of the company's high-end 64-bit Itanium chip: that because its architecture differs from that of the IA-32 processors, such as Xeons and Pentiums, it cannot run 32-bit applications as well as it can 64-bit software, despite emulation software. By comparison, the Opteron can run both.

AMD, of Sunnyvale, Calif., this week will roll out two low-power Opterons, with one model consuming 30 watts and the other 55 watts. Current models consume an average of 89 watts, officials said. The chips, which will ship within a month, will target high-density systems, such as blade servers.

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