Intel schedules quad-core mobile CPUs for H2 '08
Specially designed laptops required?
Intel looks set to release a quad-core microprocessor for notebooks at long last, but you're not likely to get your hands on a laptop containing the chip for the best part of a year.
Unsurprisingly, the mobile quad-core is based on Intel's 45nm chip design, 'Penryn'. Intel has admitted as much in the past, and said that four-core laptop CPUs won't be among the first batch of 45nm Core 2 processors.
Now a leaked Intel presentation slide, published by Chinese-language site HKEPC, reveals the date: sometime in H2 2008. By that time, Intel will have released the next generation of its Centrino platform, codenamed 'Montevina', and the quad-cores will work to that specification.
Well, broadly, at any rate. The CPUs will contain 12MB of L2 cache - 6MB shared between core pairs - and run on a 1066MHz frontside bus. The slide indicates a maximum power draw of 45W and a transistor junction temperature of 100°C. Idling, the CPU will consume just 3-4W.
However, Intel has the part's interconnect down as Socket P' - no, that apostrophe isn't a typo, it indicates the interconnect is not the plain old Socket P found in today's Intel-based laptops.
The first Penryn chips - server processors, initially - are expected to launch on 11 November. The first mobile Penryns, all dual-core parts, are expected in Q1 2008, with more following in Q2 alongside the launch of Montevina.
COMMENTS
Re: Quad in a laptop?
Well, for me the use of the laptop is different now. I no longer have a workstation at work because that is simply too loud, big and ultimately syncing with my mobile devices takes some resources. Nor do I need anymore a separate windows box for nasty office stuff. I only have a T60p which is used for development, testing and application benchmarking at work - all under Linux of course. Being a Core 2 Duo, Win XP in VMWare is incredibly responsive, so I can also do all my nasty powerpoint duties on the same machine. But of course, I always have the e-mail with me and when I don't need all the extra power, I can turn-off a core and have longer battery life while on the road or at home. In the end, no need to sync between multiple computers, so my life is much easier.
What I am saying is that these fast new CPUs for me changed the way that I use computers, as now I can do all on the same machine. I can't wait for the quads!
Re: Quad in a laptop?
I guess even dual-core is overkill if you're running Windows but luckily for Intel they're no longer (completely) limited by Microsoft's capabilities when it comes to developing operating systems and applications that can actually make use of advances like multi-thread/core CPUs. I for one would quite like an affordable quiet small form factor quad-core to drive my 1080p TV set... and for OS I'll settle for OS X (Solaris would be a contender were it not for lack of relevant and polished applications).
Re: Quad in a laptop
3 cores for vista (assuming M$ knows how to thread their OS...) and 1 for the rest of your apps.
Quad in a laptop?
Is it just me, or is a quad core cpu overkill for almost any consumer application? And in a laptop? Who needs that kind of multithreading capability in a portable (If you consider those 5+kg 'laptops' to be all that portable) device? Just get yourself a desktop if you've got an application that really needs 4 cores.
Haha Montevina
Gotta love these names - Centrino, Montevina. Of course, they won't mean much unless you know enough Italian to deconstruct them.
And after Montevina, it can only be... Piovoro. Shame on you for teasing AMD so.
