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Quad-core processors, which are fairly commonplace in desktop PCs, will be in almost half of all notebooks sold within the next four years, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli.

In a report July 12, IHS iSuppli analysts said that by 2015, 49 percent of all notebooks will ship with quad-core processors. That will be up from about 9 percent this year, according to the analysts. In total, 160 million notebooks powered by quad-core chips will ship in 2015, up from 21.1 million this year.

Six-core chips also will make inroads, the analysts said. Currently there are no notebooks with six-core processors, they said. That will change by 2015, when 18 percent of notebooks will ship with six-core chips.

In 2015, 58.9 million notebooks will boast six-core chips, according to IHS iSuppli.

The numbers represent a natural progression, as chip makers like Intel and Advanced Micro Devices look to improve chip performance through the use of more cores rather than upping the chip’s frequency, according to Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst of compute platforms for IHS iSuppli.

To read the original eWeek article, click here: Quad-Core Chips Will Be in Half of Notebooks in 2015: IHS iSuppli