Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/08/laptop_makers_adopt_conroe/
Computex 2006 Asian notebook manufacturers are wondering why they should wait for Intel's 'Merom' next-generation notebook processor in future laptops when they can use 'Conroe' instead and gain not only better performance - higher clock speeds, at least - but also pay less for it.
So claims (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20060607A1001.html?www.reghardware.co.uk) DigiTimes, citing sources from among Taiwan's laptop manufacturing community, adding that a 2.67MHz Conroe will cost $107 less than a 2.33GHz Merom.
They're not talking about using Conroe in thin'n'light machines, of course, but its 65W power consumption should be fine for desktop replacement machines, just as desktop Pentium 4 chips increasingly found their way into large-size laptops several years ago.
And since Intel is planning to brand both Conroe and Merom as Core 2 Duo processors, albeit with different model number sequences, how's a consumer to know? This, of course, may be exactly why Intel has taken this approach - to bring down the barriers separating mobile and desktop CPU lines.
Merom shouldn't be left out in the cold - it will certainly find a home in lighter, more portable notebooks, and in any case is part of the next generation of Centrino Duo products due H1 2007. ®
Full Computex coverage at Reg Hardware (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/07/rh_computex_2006_coverage/)
Read Reg Hardware's Intel Core 2 Duo 'Conroe' Performance Preview (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/04/preview_intel_core_2_duo/)
Apple to bring Core 2 Duo to MacBook Pro this month? (4 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/04/apple_merom_macbook_pros/
Merom laptops to ship late August (27 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/27/intel_merom_details/
Asus unveils Core 2 Duo mobos (10 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/10/asus_conroe_p965_mobos/
Intel's multiple Meroms pin-incompatible - report (3 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/03/intel_plans_merom_refresh/
Alienware beams in Core Duo laptop trio (28 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/28/alienware_dual-core_trio/
Intel ships top-of-the-line Core Duo (28 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/28/intel_ships_last_core_duo/
Acer unveils 'pure, clean' laptop (28 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/28/acer_white_travelmate/
Retailer prices up boxed Intel 'Conroe' (22 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/22/uk_conroe_pre-order_pricing/
Intel pledges 60 per cent price cuts (9 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/09/intel_price_cuts/
Asus unwraps HD DVD notebook duo (9 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/09/asus_hd_dvd_notebooks/
Intel does HD with G965 chipset (7 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/07/intel_does_hd_with_g965/
Gigabyte gives 'Merom' room in mini media PC (7 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/07/gigabyte_merom_mini_media_pc/
Tyan unleashes 16-core 'personal' supercomputer (7 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/07/tyan_unveils_typhoon/
Asus readies Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme mobo (1 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/01/asus_p5w_dh_deluxe_mobo/
Intel forks 'Merom' mobile CPU (30 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/30/intel_multi-cache_meroms/
Intel to push Core 2 CPUs across the board (26 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/26/intel_core_2_market_strategy/