Today Intel officially launched the Core 2 Duo processor for mobile platforms. Based on the Merom core, Core 2 Duo is the arguably the industry's most anticipated mobile processor launch of this year. Judging from performance comparisons of its desktop counterpart, Conroe, Core 2 Duo should deliver some very impressive performance benchmarks in notebooks, which will also be announced this week. While Intel had a launch party for Core 2 Duo earlier last month, today marks the official day when products with Core 2 Duo processors become available. Expect major manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, Sony and others to release notebooks based on the new platform.
Actual specifications for Merom and Conroe remain nearly identical with the majority of Core 2 Duo processors coming with 4MB of L2 cache and running on an 800MHz front-side bus. Even low-voltage versions of Core 2 Duo such as the L7500 model will run on an 800MHz front-side bus and come with 4MB of L2 cache. Core speed however is reduced from 2.2GHz in the T7500 model down to 1.6GHz in the L7500 model. All Core 2 Duo processors will be virtualization technology enabled and be fully prepared to run 64-bit applications. Like Conroe, the 4MB of L2 cache is shared between the two processor cores.
Intel will debut the Core 2 Duo Mobile processors in a number of flavors. All prices are for distributors:
Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile Launch
Processor Clock FSB Cache Price
- Intel C2D T7600 2.33GHz 667MHz 4MB $637
- Intel C2D T7400 2.16GHz 667MHz 4MB $423
- Intel C2D T7200 2.0GHz 667MHz 4MB $294
- Intel C2D T5600 1.83GHz 667MHz 2MB $241
- Intel C2D T5500 1.66GHz 667MHz 2MB $209
At first, Core 2 Duo notebooks will be based on Intel's highly successful Napa platform, but the company will be phasing this Centrino platform out around Q2 of 2007. At that time, Intel will be moving in its Santa Rosa platform which uses the GM965 and PM965 Express chipsets and adds the ICH8M and ICH8M Enhanced Southbridges. Santa Rosa will be replacing Intel's 945GM Exprses chipset along with ICH7M and ICH7-DH.
Intel is also releasd impressive power consumption numbers for Core 2 Duo processors. Intel claimed on the average, Core 2 Duo processors will have a higher performance-per-watt ratio than existing Core Duo (Yonah) processors. However, DailyTech previously reported that those with a concern for battery life are more than likely better off with notebooks based on Core Duo processors. The top of the line Yonah processor, the T2700, has a TDP of 31W at 2.33GHz clock frequency. AllCore 2 Duo Merom processors have a TDP of 34W, including the 1.66GHz T5500. In comparison, the 1.66GHz Yonah has a TDP of 27W.
Look forward to seeing Merom versions of the existing Core Duo notebooks available today since Merom is pin-compatible with Yonah processors. However, don't expect to buy a Merom off the shelf and stick it into your notebook -- the majority of notebooks manufactured today actually have the processor soldered onto the motherboard rather than a socket. Furthermore, when Merom gets its next speed revision at the Santa Rosa launch, any new processors based on the Merom core will have a new socket.
!
hyeah: