INTC: Cool-Looking—and Running—Laptops Get Performance Boost from Intel® Core™2 Duo Processors

Laptops around the world are getting a make-over as systems based on Intel® Centrino® Duo mobile technology are now shipping with Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processors inside, Intel Corporation announced today.

More than 200 Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology-based designs from PC manufacturers, resellers and integrators around the world will incorporate the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor (formerly codenamed “Merom”) this year. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor, launched last month, has garnered widespread acclaim and is already shipping in the company’s other premium platform for consumers, Intel® Viiv™ technology-based entertainment PCs.

“In just one year we’ve taken extraordinary leaps in mobile and desktop computing with the launch of the Intel Core 2 Duo processor,” said David (Dadi) Perlmutter, senior vice president of Intel’s Mobility Group. “For laptops the new processor has doubled the performance, giving consumers and businesses an immersive mobile experience while keeping power consumption and battery life unchanged. The dual-core processing power of the Core 2 Duo processor helps people handle the toughest of multi-tasking scenarios no matter where they are.”

Intel Core 2 Duo processors have two processing cores – or computing “brains” – that can handle multiple tasks in less time while consuming less power. This means cooler, sleeker and smaller systems. These processors also deliver improved performance for videos, gaming and multimedia activities – especially when running multiple applications simultaneously. For example, when integrated into Intel Centrino Duo-based systems, the Intel Core 2 Duo processors can improve viewing and playing back high-definition video, speed up conversion of songs into a digital format so they can be uploaded onto an MP3 player, and more quickly run the latest virus protection updates.

Laptops based on Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology with the Intel Core 2 Duo processor also include the current Intel® 945 Express chipset family and the Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection.

Intel Viiv technology-based entertainment PCs with the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which started shipping earlier this month, also include the new Intel® 965 Express Chipset family with support for high-definition playback and up to 7.1 surround sound.

Pricing
The mobile version of the Intel Core 2 Duo processors T7600, T7400, T7200, T5600 and T5500 are priced at $637, $423, $294, $241 and $209 respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities. For additional information on platform component pricing and availability, visit Intel® Processor Pricing (PDF 24KB)