Beijing sees new launches from Intel

Intel announces launch of Santa Rosa and Montevina.

25 April, 2007

It was Intel inside and everywhere else at Beijing as the chip-maker held its Developer Forum held in the Chinese capital on April 17 and 18. To make things picture perfect, Intel also chose the event to announce the launch of Santa Rosa, the generation-next Intel Centrino processor tech.

Santa Rosa incorporates the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Mobile Intel 965 Express chipset family, Intel Next-Gen Wireless network connection, Intel 82566MM and 82566MC, Gigabit Network Connection, and optional Intel Turbo memory, said a report. It however added that during the first half of 2008, Santa Rosa will be replaced with the 45nm Hi-k Intel dual core mobile processor, codenamed Penryn.

So that means, the chip maker is planning indeed a slew of launches. If you though Penryn is what would command the Intel show in 2008, think again. The company says it would replace Penryn with Montevina, its first Centrino processor technology for notebooks to offer integrated Wi-Fi and WiMAX wireless technologies for greater wireless broadband access. This will happen in 2008, said the report.

The company believes that Montevina, with around 40 percent smaller components, will be an ideal choice for mini and sub-notebooks. The technology will also include integrated hardware decode for HD video, the report quoted top official as saying.

The Beijing event also saw Intel unveil its mobile WiMAX with MIMO technology solution integrated into a concept Centrino-based notebook. This was not all. The company also launched its Intel Ultra Mobile Platform 2007 codenamed 'McCaslin' for mobile internet devices and ultra-mobile PCs.

'McCaslin' is based on Intel processor A100 and A110, Intel 945GU Express Chipset, and Intel ICH7U I/O Controller Hub, where power and package have been optimized for unique ultra-mobile requirements. Intel is also expected to soon introduce its next-generation platform for MIDs and UMPCs codenamed Menlow next year. Menlow will include a new processor codenamed Silverthorne, based on 45nm Hi-k low power micro-architecture.