Intel confirms Centrino 2, exposes specs

Although long expected, Intel has confirmed that its new notebook platform, codenamed Montevina, is officially being christened as Centrino 2. Systems built under the specification will use 45nm Penryn processors, with clock speeds up to 2.8GHz and normal thermal design power ratings between 25 and 35W. Some processors, though, will use a special compact design like that in the MacBook Air, producing an ultra-low power consumption of 5W.

Combined with the processors will be a GM45 chipset, using a GMA X4500 graphics processor said to be three times faster than the current X3100. Past this, aspects of Centrino 2 will be optional; the platform is being divided into regular and vPro standards, for instance, and it is likely that many notebooks will not come with the proscribed Blu-ray support. 802.11a/g/n wireless should be default, but Intel's nascent WiMAX technology will be installed only as system builders choose to.

Accompanying Intel's announcement is news that its new 3.2.GHz Core 2 Extreme Processor, the QX9770, is shipping today long with its X48 Express chipset. The QX9770 has 12MB of L2 cache, and a 1,600MHz front-side bus. [via CNET]

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Other story tags: Intel, blu-ray, MacBook Air, notebooks, WiMAX, Centrino 2, Penryn, Centrino, Montevina, Core 2 Extreme