Intel has today spruced up its line of mobile processors with the launch of six new ultra-low-voltage parts.
Designed for use in ultra-thin notebooks measuring less than an inch thick, the chips - encompassing the Celeron, Pentium, Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 brands - are designed to facilitate better portability, performance and battery life.
Built using Intel's 32nm manufacturing process, the chips have been refined and housed in a package more than 32 per cent smaller than Intel's previous-generation parts, enabling thinner and smaller notebook designs.
In addition to architecture refinements, Intel's latest additions promise "more than 32 per cent better performance" than Core 2 Duo equivalents, as well as a 15 per cent reduction in power consumption and integrated Intel HD graphics.
Intel's Core i3, i5 and i7 models also feature both Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technology. The six new chips are detailed as follows:
| Processor | Clock speed | Turbo boost | Cores/Threads | L2 cache | L3 cache | GPU clock | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i7 660UM | 1.33 GHz | 2.40 GHz | 2/4 | 2x256KB | 4MB | 166MHz - 500MHz | 18W |
| Core i5 540UM | 1.20 GHz | 2.00 GHz | 2/4 | 2x256KB | 3MB | 166MHz - 500MHz | 18W |
| Core i5 430UM | 1.20 GHz | 1.73 GHz | 2/4 | 2x256KB | 3MB | 166MHz - 500MHz | 18W |
| Core i3 330UM | 1.20 GHz | N/A | 2/4 | 2x256KB | 3MB | 166MHz - 500MHz | 18W |
| Pentium U5400 | 1.20 GHz | N/A | 2/2 | 2x256KB | 3MB | 166MHz - 500MHz | 18W |
| Celeron U3400 | 1.03 GHz | N/A | 2/2 | 2x256KB | 2MB | 166MHz - 500MHz | 18W |
Available to OEMs only, thousand-unit pricing starts at $134 for the Intel Celeron U3400, rising to $278 for the Intel Core i7 660UM.
Intel expects to see the new range of chips made available in at least 40 designs from top-tier brands including Acer, Asus, Lenovo and MSI. The first notebooks equipped with the new parts are expected to debut at next week's Computex exhibition in Taiwan.
Press release: Intel Expands 2010 Intel® Core™ Processor Family to Stylish Ultra-Thin Laptops
