In Q2 2009 Intel wants to launch new CPUs which are intended for products in the gap between cheap, compact and inefficient netbooks and efficient, low-priced but big notebooks.
The MacBook Air is not really known for its price performance ratio but it is still the second cheapest device with a 45 nanometer Intel processor and a maximum of 17 Watt TDP which offers more performance than an Intel Atom. [Source: view picture gallery]
When you want to buy a mobile computer from 400 Euro you are spoilt for choice: Either you go for a high end netbook on Intel Atom basis with very low processing power and insufficient handling or you choose a low-priced 15 inch notebook which is considerably weightier and bulkier and in most cases only offers low battery life. Smaller products with a longer battery life do exist but they are mostly based on expensive UL and ULV Core 2 Duo processors and that often leads to prices beyond 900 Euro. Only some models with Celeron ULV offer a good compromise between processing power, handling, mobility and price.
Intel wants to close this gap between netbook and notebook by refreshing the Montevina platform which is planned for the second quarter. New CPUs shall allow thin and light notebooks in the price range between 600 and 1,200 US dollar without being forced to the minimum performance of a netbook. There are no further details available for those new products but our colleagues of
Golem.de spoke to Intel's marketing director and she revealed a comparison with the only mobile 45 nm Celeron ULV 723. It costs about 160 US dollar and offers a clock speed of 1.2 GHz and a TDP of 10 Watt. Intel specifies a power consumption of 5.5 Watt during typical operation. Power consumption and price of the new CPUs will be comparable.
In comparison: The new Intel Atom Z540 offers 1.8 GHz with only 2.4 Watt TDP but it is considerably more inefficient due to its different architecture. Above the Celeron, Intel only offers the Core 2 Duo SL9300/9400 with 17 Watt TDP and the SU9300/9400 with 10 Watt TDP. Whereas those processors are only used in devices between 1,350 Euro and 2,000 Euro.
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