14 DAY TRIAL // New details on the future Intel microprocessor roadmap have emerged on the web. According to reports, the giant chip maker plans to update its Montevina CPU line-up with new mobile processors in the second quarter of the next year. The new additions the company has in store include a Penryn-based Core 2 Duo T9900 chip that is able to top 3.06GHz and a Core 2 Duo P8800, which runs at 2.66GHz.
The same reports reveal the fact that the refreshed Montevina platform will only have a short life to live, as the Santa Clara company will roll out its new Calpella Platform in the third quarter of 2009. As far as we know, Calpella will be designed for the Nehalem-based Clarksfield mobile processors and Ibex Peak-M (GM57, GM55, PM55) chipsets.
During the third quarter of next year, Intel will come up with novelties for the entry level segment as well. These will include Penryn-based Celerons meant to replace the Merom-based Celerons, but the chip maker is also preparing some new entry level chipsets, including GL43 and GS40.
Other reports on Intel indicate that the company is also planning to release a faster Core 2 Quad Q9600 processor, one that will feature a regular power consumption. However, no specifications on the speed of such a processor exist, although the rumor sets a possible launch date for April next year.
The plan to launch multiple small-package Core 2 Duo chips in early 2009 seems to be something certain. These include a full performance 2.53GHz SP9600 CPU, along with a low voltage 2GHz SL9600 chip designed for systems like the MacBook Air, while a sub-2GHz, ultra-low voltage SU9600 processor would be targeting the smallest ultraportable notebooks. Reports of Intel planning a new entry-level mobile motherboard chipset called GM47 have already been circulating for a while. This chipset, they say, will upgrade integrated graphics to the GMA 4700MHD, similar to the GMA 4500MHD that boosts the clock speed from 533MHz to 640MHz.
Although Intel did not unveil any pricing details on the new processors, they are expected to come at the same cost as the existing models. The company usually does that, keeping the prices of the phased out models for the new chips as well, and the highest non-Extreme mobile chip Intel has now on the market is priced around $530.