While Intel still rules the desktop computer market with its dual core and quad core processors, on the mobile segment things are a little bit fuzzier, as AMD secured some time ago a couple of big contracts with important laptop and notebook producers like Dell and Toshiba.

Now Intel tries to breathe new life into the Santa Rosa mobile computing platform by upgrading the Core 2 Duo line of processors with another CPU from the Extreme line. The main advantage of the Extreme processors over regular Intel ones is their overclocking ability that allows system manufacturers and end users alike to tweak even the last bit of performance for the latest 3D games and CPU hungry applications.

According to the news site xbitlabs, the Intel Core 2 Extreme X7900 processor is based on a dual core architecture and it comes with a unified 4MB of second level of cache memory as well as an 800MHz frontside bus. Its standard operating clock frequency is 2.8GHz and unlike the former enthusiast-class processor aimed at the mobile computing market, the new Intel Extreme CPU is coming with all bus ratio locks removed. This simply translates into the ability to overclock this CPU at higher than previously possible frequencies. "The Intel Core 2 Extreme mobile processor X7900 is Intel's highest performing notebook CPU from Intel and provides outstanding capabilities for high-end gaming and demanding applications - at home and on the go," a statement by Intel reads.

At the power saving department, the Core 2 Extreme X7900 features the same power saving technologies as any other central processing unit from the Core 2 Duo line but because its overclocking abilities and its power saving features will always offer different results based on the relative running frequencies. This new Extreme processor is already available for computer system makers at a price of $851 and laptops from Asus, Dell, Medion and other manufacturers are expected to become available in the next weeks.