Intel Centrino 2 to debut in June at 3.06GHz?

Intel's next large update to its mobile platform will bring a name change and significantly higher clock speeds, notebook makers claim. While Intel has largely used the original Centrino name for its combination processor, mainboard chipset, and wireless platform since it was first introduced in 2003, the company now intends to formally introduce its Montevina platform as Centrino 2 to more clearly illustrate the technology differences between this and today's Santa Rosa design. The new design is already known to ramp up system bus speed from 800MHz to 1,066MHz and will offer new wireless chipsets, including the option of WiMAX for long-range wireless.

The processors connected to Centrino 2 should also represent a significant upgrade to clock speeds across the board, according to the report. The faster bus will contribute to an increase in the minimum clock speed for full-size processors from 2.1GHz to 2.26GHz; the top end will climb from 2.8GHz to 3.06GHz for dual-core systems. These processors will reportedly be priced between $206 and $851 in large batches. A mobile quad-core CPU has been separately planned for the release but is likely to be clocked below the 3GHz mark due to power and heat requirements.

The new tip now points to the release of Centrino 2 at Taiwan's Computex technology show, which begins on June 3rd; a set of low-power processors based on the same small package as the MacBook Air will also ship but should appear later, arriving sometime during the summer.

Filed under: computers, industry
Other story tags: Intel, Core 2, Centrino 2, Montevina