Intel Centrino 2

At the same time with the release of the new Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology designed for laptop computer performance, Intel has also announced 5 new Intel Core 2 processors, 250 costumer and business notebook models, all operating on the new platform.
Among these, one model seems to be the world's highest-performing dual-core mobile processor. It’s an Intel Core 2 Extreme running at up to 3.06GHz speeds.
In three months, the company will reveal 8 new processor models featuring the quad-core technology and the next-generation of models designed for ultra-thin and light notebooks. With these, Intel releases totalize 14 different laptop processors, promising to increase the mobile performance up to the desktop PC level.

Montevina, as it was codenamed, comes with the vPro enhancement to increase performance and battery life, as well as support for 802.11n wireless standard, WiMAX, and new mobile business management functionalities.



"When we first introduced Intel Centrino back in 2003, there were very few Wi-Fi hotspots, YouTube videos and social media didn't really exist, ‘thin and light' only referred to weight goals and desktop PCs outsold notebooks by a very wide margin," said Mooly Eden, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of the company's Mobile Platforms Group. "Today, notebooks outsell desktops in the U.S, and we're paving the way to HD entertainment, rich online gaming, faster broadband wireless speeds and an easier and more secure way for businesses to manage, update and repair their notebook fleets."

The new 5 dual-core processors feature advanced 45-nanometer manufacturing process, 1066MHz front side bus, up to 6MB of L2 cache, reduced wattage up to 30%, and the Deep Power Down Technology that disables processing elements when the laptop is idle.
Other news include the launching of Mobile Intel 45 Express Chipset and wireless Intel Wi-Fi Link 5000 series with 802.11 draft-N support, to allow the fastest data transfer rates of of up to 450Mbps, which will be available in laptops starting August.



The other method of saving power, besides Deep Power Down Technology, is the optional switchable graphics, coming with integrated and discrete graphics on the same laptop, and allowing users to switch between the 2 options when needed, raising the 3D performance for intensive high-demanding applications, and reducing the power consume when performing simple operations.

Another cool improvement is the addition of AMT 4.0, which allows for remote wireless management while the laptop is in sleep mode. It supports WS-MAN and DASH 1.0 management standards and permits communications from outside the firewalled intranet.



Summary of Intel Centrino 2 features:

-3 models operate at just 25Watts;
- high definition on the go;
-possibility to watch a Blu-ray movie on a single battery charge;
-extended security;
-extended manageability capabilities;
-longer battery life;
-support for the upcoming wireless-N high-speed standard;
-improved energy efficiency.