Intel has announced the release of 32nm Core processors for thin'n'light laptops, allowing all of us MacBook Air fans the hope of a major update in the not-too-distant future.

On the list we have the 1.2GHz Core i3-330UM, the 1.2GHz i5-430UM, the 1.2GHz i5-540UM and the 1.33GHz i7-660UM. All four contain two cores and HyperThreading technology to make them appear as four-core parts to the host OS.

All but the Core i7 contain 3MB of L3 cache - the 660UM has 4MB. Each CPU has an on-board GMA 3150 GPU dynamically running at 166-500MHz.

The i5 and i7 parts support Intel's Turbo Boost system, allowing them to overclock themselves should there be thermal headroom available. The 430UM will go up to 1.73GHz, the 540UM to 2GHz and the 660UM to 2.4GHz.

Intel didn't say how much the 330UM and 430UM chips will cost, but the 540UM and 660UM will be $241 and $278, respectively, when bought in batches of 1000. We presume that's because the i3 and unpriced i5 parts are ready just yet, which may hold back the anticipated Air update. ®