Merom Chip Is Set for Notebooks

PC makers are making way for "merom."

Numerous manufacturers will begin selling notebooks based on the mobile version of Intels Core 2 Duo processor, known by its code name Merom, on Aug. 28.

The Core 2 Duo for notebooks offers buyers the latest step in the multistaged introduction of Intels highly touted Core 2 Duo chip family. It also offers a performance increase of about 20 percent versus its predecessor, the Core Duo, while holding power consumption to nearly the same level, Intel executives have said.

The Santa Clara, Calif., company also is looking to the processor family to help it pull out of a recent rough period in which tough competition from rival Advanced Micro Devices contributed to Intels market-share slip and an increase in its processor inventories.

Given that the switch from Core Duo to Core 2 Duo processors in current notebooks is fairly straightforward—involving only a system software upgrade—PC makers are expected to use the chip to upgrade many systems.

Among them will be models for businesses and consumers from companies including Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo Group.

For the most part, the manufacturers are expected to wait for the arrival of Intels "Santa Rosa" chip platform to launch redesigned notebooks.

Santa Rosa, scheduled for the first half of 2007, will combine Core 2 Duo processors with a new supporting chip set code-named Crestline; an updated wireless module dubbed Kedron; and Intels Active Management Technology and Robson Technology, which uses flash memory to augment a notebooks hard drive.

Five Core 2 Duo notebook processors will arrive on Aug. 28. The models, T5500, T5600, T7200, T7400 and T7600, will range from 1.66GHz to 2.33GHz, Intel executives have said.