Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/27/intel_santa_rosa_sff_pc_boost/
Think Centrino technology is only for notebooks? Think again. An Intel presentation partially leaked onto the web this week makes clear the next generation of the platform, codenamed 'Santa Rosa', will also be pitched at desktops when it's introduced "mid-Q1 to mid-Q2 2007".
'Desktop' is not quite the right word, of course, as we're talking living room systems. Crucially, the slides - posted (http://www.hkepc.com?www.reghardware.co.uk) by Chinese-language site HKEPC - claim Santa Rosa will "enable form-factor innovation", allowing manufacturers to offer Viiv-style entertainment PCs and ultra-sleek and mini systems for the home.
According to Intel's slides, Santa Rosa will deliver better acoustics - good for silent or near-silent systems - and enable thinner form-factors. The company admits the motherboard costs will be higher - approximately $95.88 to the $77.76 a board based on current Centrino technology costs - but with passive cooling and a superior integrated graphics core (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/27/intel_g965_graphics_core_details/), overall system costs will be lower.
But why is form-factor so important? The slides say Intel-commissioned market research from September 2005 suggests that, after price, box size is the second most important factor in consumers' buying criteria. Branding comes third, with - surprise, surprise - the processor top of the list of component brands buyers look for. ®
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/17/intel_pushes_santa_rosa_dt/
Intel to follow 'Santa Rosa' Centrino with 'Montevina' (11 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/11/intel_centrino_roadmap/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/03/intel_plans_merom_refresh/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/07/gigabyte_merom_mini_media_pc/
Intel talks up 'Centrino 4' for SFF PC makers (11 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/11/intel_santa_rosa_sff_pc_push/
Intel takes axe to Pentium D prices (5 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/05/intel_price_cuts/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/01/intel_dual-core_ramp/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/28/intel_architecture_roadmap/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/28/intel_preps_restructure/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/27/chipset_market_q1_06/
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/27/intel_pentium_ee_965_5ghz/
Intel backs Z-Wave (25 April 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04/25/intel_zwave_battle/
Intel launches pro PC brand (25 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/25/intel_vpro_launch/
Apple's MacBook gets bigger and bigger (24 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/24/apple_macbook_17/
Japan offered micro Mac Mini rival (21 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/21/third_wave_sff_pc/
Intel to push BIOS replacement with 'Centrino 4' (20 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/20/intel_efi_push_santa_rosa/