Intel Introduces Core i7 Quad-Core Mobile Processors

Intel yesterday introduced at its Intel Developer Forum its new line of quad-core Core i7 processors, previously code-named "Clarksfield", for mobile computers. The two processors, manufactured using quad-core dies based on Intel's 45 nm Nehalem microarchitecture, take advantage of Intel's Turbo Boost technology to run at baseline frequencies of 1.6 GHz and 1.73 GHz with the ability ramp to 2.8 GHz and 3.06 GHz respectively when conditions warrant. An "Extreme Edition" processor running at 2.0 GHz and capable of ramping to 3.20 GHz was also released.

Intel Corporation introduced its revolutionary Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor and Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor Extreme Edition today, bringing Intel's award-winning and super-fast Nehalem microarchitecture to the mobile market.

These processors in addition to the new Intel PM55 Express Chipset, provide the best laptop experience for intense gaming, digital media, photos, music, business applications and other multi-threaded software that hungers for faster processing speed. The chips also boost overall performance when using several of these applications simultaneously.

Apple may be more likely, however, to wait until the release of the 32 nm die shrink of the Nehalem microarchitecture, scheduled to appear as the dual-core "Arrandale" processors early next year, to revamp its MacBook Pro line. Arrandale, which was also briefly previewed at the Intel Developer Forum, should offer considerably lower power consumption than Clarksfield processors and better fit into Apple's design constraints for its notebook computers.