NWC News Network, July 15 2008, 1500 hrs
Intel Corporation has unveiled its Intel Centrino 2 Processor technology products for laptops, powered by five new Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Close to 250 innovative consumer and business notebook PC designs are on the way including those equipped with the right combination of processors, graphics and battery life to enjoy high definition videos and myriad other computer and internet activities.
Intel also introduced a dual-core mobile processor, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor running at a brisk 3.06 GHz. Rounding out a mobile-focused summer for the company, the company also plans to unveil eight new processors within 90 days that will include mobile quad-core products and second generation products for ultra thin and light notebooks. In total, Intel will bring 14 new processors into the marketplace as laptop sales continue to outpace desktop PCs.
Formerly code-named Montevina, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology and Intel Centrino 2 with vPro Technology improve upon every facet of a laptop’s main features, including performance and battery life via new processors and chipsets, faster draft 802.11n wireless (with WiMAX arriving later this year), and new business-class manageability capabilities.
“When we first introduced Intel Centrino back in 2003, there were very few Wi-Fi hotspots, YouTube videos and social media didn’t really exist and desktop PCs outsold notebooks by a very wide margin,” said R Ravichandran, Director – Sales, Intel South Asia. “Today, notebooks are fast gaining share and we are seeing new and previously unheard off usage model. We are paving the way to HD entertainment, rich online gaming, faster broadband wireless speeds and an easier and more secure way for businesses to manage, update and repair their notebook fleets.”
The company is introducing five new dual core processors based on its reinvented transistors (high-k metal gate formula) and advanced 45 nanometer manufacturing process. These processors come with a faster 1066MHz front side bus and up to 6MB of L2 cache, and three versions reduce laptop processor wattage about 30 percent, down to just 25 watts. Also featured is Deep Power Down Technology that turns off processing components such as core clocks and cache memory when the laptop is idle for greater energy savings.
Switchable graphics, a new optional power-saving feature available on Intel Centrino 2-based notebooks, provides both integrated and discrete graphics on a single notebook, enabling users to easily switch between the two options. Switchable graphics delivers greater 3D performance when needed while providing the option for greater power savings for the best of both worlds.
For consumers, the technology delivers the horsepower and battery life to enjoy a typical full-length, Blu-ray high-definition video on a single battery charge plus the ability to play a variety of online games, download music or post videos faster than before.
For businesses, the vPro technology offers enhanced manageability and security options. This is increasingly important as companies replace desktops with notebooks and need to remotely diagnose, update and repair systems over a wireless network. Improved manageability with AMT 4.0 has also been added that provides wireless manageability during system sleep states, ongoing remote configuration capabilities, support for next-generation management standards (WS-MAN and DASH 1.0) and the ability for an employee to initiate communications to IT from outside a company’s firewall.
|