Register Hardware

Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/12/05/intel_core_2_penryn_mobile/

First mobile Intel 'Penryn' processors to launch in January

By Tony Smith
Published Wednesday 5th December 2007 11:01 GMT

Intel has already launched its first desktop 45nm 'Penryn' processor, the Core 2 Extreme QX9650 and has begun seeding next year's QX9770 - reviewed here (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/12/03/review_intel_qx9770_x48/). And now we know what it's planning for laptops.

While these desktop CPUs are quad-core parts, the mobiles will be dual-core chips, DailyTech reports (http://www.dailytech.com/Intels+Penryn+Mobile+Processor+Schedule+Revealed/article9893.htm). They'll debut on 6 January during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and just ahead of Macworld Expo.

The line-up comprises five models. The T8100 and T8300 are clocked at 2.1GHz and 2.3GHz, respectively, and contain 3MB of L2 cache shared by both cores. The T9300 and T9500 up the cache to 6MB. They run, respectively, at 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz.

All four chips have a thermal envelope of 35W, which matches current Core 2 Duo processors, allowing notebook makers to slot the new chips in without having to redesign the machines' thermal characteristics.

The fifth chip, the Core 2 Extreme X9000, consumes up to 44W when it's running at full, 2.8GHz pelt. It too has 6MB of L2 cache.

This release will mark the so-called 'Santa Rosa Refresh' - Intel's next update of the current incarnation of its Centrino notebook platform. Santa Rosa's successor, 'Montevina', is due in May 2008 (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/18/idf_montevina_ship_date/) and will see the introduction of 25W CPUs capable of running on an 1066MHz frontside bus (FSB) - Santa Rosa uses an 800MHz FSB.

Montevina will incorporate the 'Cantiga' chipset, with an updated LAN chip, 'Boaz', and 'Echo Peak' and 'Shiloh' providing wireless connectivity. Echo Peak combines Wi-Fi and WiMAX. Curiously, he didn't mention 'Dana Point', Intel's planned WiMAX-only module for notebooks. Shiloh, by the way, is an 802.11n-only module.