It seems pretty unlikely though given what the price will likely be.
If Intel is offering everything from 6-12 cores then, I'm guessing the 12 core versions will be unreasonably expensive. I think we'd be lucky to see Apple use the 10 core variants even.
Ivy Bridge is implemented on a pretty substantial process shrink from 32nm to 22nm ( -33% )
Intel is likely splitting off the 1600 series from the 2600 so the expectation over core count range should be split.
First the 1600s will likely go from 4 to 6 cores and targeting the market for affordable "high GHz" solutions. There are still going to be 4 core offerings inside of that subset. The 2600 is the subset where "core count" is going to be the primary value offering.
Of course, we'll know more when intel releases details about the pricing across E5-2600V2s, but I'd guess at a configuration looking like:
2x 6-core high clock rate
2x 8-core low clock rate
2x 8-core high clock rate
And by high, I'm thinking 2.5-2.8 GHz, and low more like 2.0-2.3 GHz.
On the transition from Westmere to Sandy Bridge the 4 core xx20 offering disappeared (the majority of the line up got bumped up 2 cores). That was with no process shrink. Seems more likely if there is a 12 core offering that the E5 2620 v2 2640 v2 and 2665 v2 would be respectively
2x 8-core 2.1 GHz ( ~$425 processor )
2x 8-core 2.6 GHz (~$890 processor )
2x 10-core 2.5 GHz (~$1500 processor )
And closer to same ranges at the Sandy Bridge models ( a 100MHz bump on base and broader dynamic (Turbo) range; add another 200-300MHz to top end. ) The jump won't be a 400-500MHz base rate bump in speed but more so 2 core bump. With better power management, they could crank up speed only when 1-4 cores really very active.
The point would be that a two 2620 v2 set-up would just cost around $850. The 24 core set up would be "crazy" priced, but the primary objective is to make the 16 core set up far more affordable. AMD may be having problems, but they aren't stumbling that badly. Haswell is going to take a while to arrive and Intel needs some gap while AMD evolves in the mean time.
Maybe the 10-core sneaks in to the top spot, but that would come with a base GHz drop. Though turbo boost may allow similar single/low threaded speeds.
If 12 is the top spot then 10 isn't gong to be all that rare (or priced in the stratosphere). With Sandy Bridge there are eight 8 core offerings in the 2600 series. There are just five 6 core offerings in the series. There are more 8's than 6's. It is quite likely to be the same ratio with a -33% process shrink to support it. There likely will be more 10's than 8's and maybe two or three 6's ( and maybe one odd ball 4 core that does make much sense in a Mac Pro like current E5 2643 : 4 cores 3.3GHz 130W and $885 price tag. )
The fact that Intel is even trying to drop a 12 count on the series shows where the focus is.
