Intel Plans Dual-Core Processors for Ultra-Thin Notebooks

Trying to increase the momentum around its line of ultra-low voltage processors for ultra-thin notebook platforms, Santa Clara, California-based Intel is said to be planning the launch of an updated line of dual-core CPUs, specifically designed for the aforementioned segment. These new chips will replace the company's current processor offering and are scheduled to power some of the upcoming ultra-thin laptops. They should also deliver a better performance level and improved features when they'll be launched, sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.

According to a recent report on Digitimes, citing the ever so popular industry sources, the world's leading chip maker will roll out the Core 2 Solo SU3000 series, replacing it with the new Core 2 Duo SU7000 series. At the same time the Pentium SU2000 and a single-core Celeron model will be replaced by the Core 2 Duo SU4000 and the Dual-Core SU3000, respectively. The sources also indicate that Intel will keep its Celeron 700, at least until the end of the Q4 period. Chipzilla will also maintain its current Core 2 Duo SU9000.

These processors have been specifically built to go into a new wave of ultraportable computer systems, most of which address the requirements of today's mainstream and business users. It's Intel's hope that this segment will benefit from the same level of popularity that the netbook segment has benefited from, especially since these laptops sell for a bit more on average, compared to netbooks.

On a side note, Intel is also expected to update its line of netbook chips, as the company is preparing to debut its next-generation Pine Trail-M platform, due out in December. The new Atom platform for netbook systems has been designed to enable PC vendors to build thinner netbooks with longer battery life. Such systems are expected sometime in the first quarter of 2010.