Friday, January 11, 2008, 10:00 am

Intel to grow next-gen notebook chip offerings

By Slash Lane

Intel Corp. plans to extend its upcoming Montevina platform to include two new classes of chips that will allow system manufacturers like Apple to build a variety of new and low-power notebook systems, according to a published report.

Due to hit the open market in June, the fifth-generation Centrino platform and Santa Rosa successor has long called for four classes of notebook chips, including a high-performance X-class, a standard T-class, a low-voltage L-class, and an ultra-low voltage U-class.

However, DigiTimes in a report published Friday claims the chipmaker will tack on a new P-class for power-optimized energy-efficient high-performance notebook systems that will sport a thermal design power (TDP) between 20-29 watts.

Additionally, the publication's sources say the Santa Clara-based firm will also add an S-class of microprocessors which will include a smaller package size aimed at small form factor products. The S-class will further be broken down into three segments -- SP, SL and SU -- which will sport TDP ranges of 20-29W, 12-19W , and 11.9W, respectively.

Traditionally, Apple has adopted chips from Intel's T-class of notebook processors for its MacBook lines. Chips in that class currently have a TDP of approximately 35W, including an upcoming array of first-gen Penryn chips destine to make their way into the Mac maker's mid-Winter notebook lineup.

When it arrives in June, Montevina will serve as the foundation for the second generation 45-nanometer notebook processors detailed above and also feature a faster 1,066MHz front-side bus and support for DDR3 memory.