Intel will bring out a new Core-architecture processor for lower-cost ultra-thin laptops later this year, according to Intel sources at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
22-millimeter packaging used in the MacBook Air
(Credit: Intel)The processors will distinguish themselves by targeting a price segment below pricey ultra-portables, which typically start at around $1,500 and range all the way up to $3,000--and higher in some cases. The processors will not compete with the Atom processor that powers Netbooks, which usually top out at $500.
In this sense, the new chips will be comparable to Advanced Micro Devices' recently announced Athlon Neo processor for ultra-thin laptops priced between $700 and $900.
The processor is "going to enable notebooks that are less than one inch (25mm)," according to the sources. The architecture will be a "tweak" of Intel's existing ULV (Ultra-Low-Voltage) processors, said the sources.
Current ULV Core 2 Duo mobile processors, such as the SU9300 and SU9400, have a power envelope (Thermal Design Power or TDP) of 10 watts, much lower than standard Intel mobile Core 2 Duo processors that have a TDP of between 25W and 35W.
ULV processors are used, for example, in ultraportables such as the Toshiba Portege R600 and Sony Vaio TT. Both are ultrathin high-priced boutique ultra-portables, starting at about $2,000.
Intel also offers SL series low-power mobile Core processors with a TDP of 17 watts.
The package size of the new processors will be 22 millimeters by 22 millimeters, according to the sources.
Intel has listed new low-power processors for upcoming ultra-portables from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Lenovo, among others.
The ThinkPad X301 uses a new ultralow voltage processor from Intel.
(Credit: CNET Networks)The chipmaker also listed its first mobile quad-core processor, the QX9300, which runs at 2.53GHz and comes with 12MB of level-2 cache. The processor is priced at $1,038.
The 45-nanometer low-power processors will go into ultra-portable notebooks like the new ThinkPad X301 announced this week, and HP 2530p also rolled out on Monday. The next version of the MacBook Air is also rumored to be using one of these chips.
The SL9400 and SL9300 processors have a thermal envelope of 17 watts, about one half the power envelope of mainstream Intel mobile processors rated at 35 watts. The SL9400 runs at 1.86GHz and is priced at $316. The SL9300 is clocked at 1.6GHz and priced at $284. Both chips have 6MB of cache memory.
Further down the power scale, the SU9400 and SU9300 are rated at only 10 watts and have clock speeds of 1.4GHz and 1.2GHz, respectively. The SU9400 is set at $289, while the SU9300 goes for $262. Both have 3MB of cache memory.
Intel also announced new mobile Celeron models. The mobile Celeron 585 has a core clock speed of 2.66GHz and is priced at $107. The 575 model runs at 2GHz and sells for $86.
- prev
- 1
- next
