Merom chip on the loose

Darius Chang  |  Aug 28, 2006

Notebooks based on Intel's latest Core 2 Duo technology, previously codenamed Merom, has been given the go-ahead to start shipping from today. The latest iteration has 64-bit computing support and, according to Intel, performs 20 percent faster than its older sibling while keeping the heat signature low. The available Core 2 Duo notebook processors are:

Model
Speed
Price (per 1,000 units)
T7600
2.33GHz
US$637 (S$1006.71)
T7400
2.16GHz
US$423 (S$668.51)
T7200
2.0GHz
US$294 (S$464.64)
T5600
1.83GHz
US$241 (S$380.88)
T5500
1.66GHz
US$209 (S$330.30)


According to Intel's July 2006 processor price list, the Core 2 Duo chips are priced at the same level as the older Core Duo. This begs the question. What will become of the Core Duo notebook platform? Lillian Tay, principal analyst for Gartner Client Computing Market, told CNET Asia that there are two possible scenarios.

The first is that Core Duo chip will be relegated to entry-level notebooks, taking the space which the Celeron M processor is now occupying. For this to happen, Intel will have to drop its Core Duo pricing significantly and possibly remove Celeron M from the market.

Alternatively, if Intel intends to keep the Celeron in the value market space, then such a price drop is unlikely. In this case, it is likely that future multicore laptops will shift to the new Merom chips entirely, forcing the older Core Duo processors out of the market. In a chat with Bryon Ma from IDC, the associate director was more geared toward the second scenario and sees the Merom chip as a evolutionary transtition of the Core Duo platform.

So for now, the safest bet seems to be systems based on the Merom processor that will be debuting at the upcoming COMEX show in Singapore. However, like most new technology, expect to pay a premium to hop onto the latest Core 2 Duo bandwagon.

Filed under:  Notebooks
Leave a comment  |   Bookmark  |   Share
Add tag
To add tags, you need to become a member. It's FREE.
 

To post comments, you need to become a member. It's FREE.  

advertisement

Crave is...


The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.
 

Crave for...


» Mobile Phones (569)

» Digital Cameras (350)

» Notebooks (358)

» PC & Peripherals (367)

» Handhelds (210)

» Printers (34)

» Home AV (385)

» Music & Play (353)

» Gadgets (836)

» Future Tech (121)

 

Previously...


2008

» May

» April

» March

» February

» January

2007

2006

2005

2004