montevina
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ASUS debuting two ultrathin laptops with 45nm Intel Penryn chips next week?
Those 45nm Intel Celeron 743 and SU2300 CPUs we've been seeing on spreadsheets and roadmaps may have found themselves a home with ASUS, if this DigiTimes report has any weight to it. According to the outlet, two new ultrathin portables powered by the aforementioned processors are set to launch on September 7th, with the first markets to get shipments being Taiwan, China, and Europe. Details are scarce beyond that and there's no mention of price, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it hit the $700 mark up to maybe even $1,000. Other sources say MSI and Acer will be making announcements of their own ultrathin laptops not too long after. September 7th is mighty soon, so part of us wonders if "launch" here is simply an unveiling, but in either case if there is something going on in a week, we can't imagine we'll get through the next few days without new factoids trickling out in the open.
SolidLogic GS-L10 Mini-ITX wraps itself in blanket of heat sinks for comfort, fanless existence
Okay, so it's not exactly a looker, but Logic Supply's SolidLogic GS-L10 Mini-ITX is probably meant to be kept out of view anyway, and given its fanless operation, won't give away its whereabouts. Culled from a Serener case and MSI MS-9818 motherboard, the heatsink-laden unit supports three different Intel Montevina processors ranging from the 2.16GHz Celeron M CM585 to the 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo T9400, up to 4GB memory, options for either HDD or SSD storage, and your choice of Windows XP, Vista, or Ubuntu. Connection-wise, we're looking at two ethernet and four USB 2.0 ports, as well as VGA, DVI, and HDMI for video. Prices start at around $861 if you opt out of a pre-packaged HDD, but if you're wanting the full kit and caboodle here, expect to shell out closer $1,900. [Via Windows for Devices]
Intel's upcoming mobile chips to squeeze 3GHz out of Penryn, bring high-performance ULV to the masses
Yeah, we've had just about all the Atom we can handle, and it looks like Intel's just about ready to help us back away from the difficult choice of sexy form factors for low prices and sexy form for exorbitant prices. Intel is working on Montevina Plus, which will push Penryn laptop chip technology past the 3GHz mark, while subsequently sending ULV chips into the mainstream, showing up in laptops ranging from $599 to $1,000, instead of the $1,500+ premiums they currently usually command -- great news for ultraportable lovers that actually want to get a few things accomplished on the road. Intel also sees 2009 as the year of the nettop, at least in emerging markets, and will naturally be pushing Nehalem all over the place -- with the way chip roadmaps are planned, the economic downturn naturally won't be messing with any planned rollouts for the time being.
Clevo laptop shocker! Scores of new, cryptic model names
We got a good look at the M98xNU a few days ago, and now it seems that one of those crazy kids over at the Notebook Review forums has dropped the dime on some other new Clevo notebook models we might be seeing at CeBIT 2009. Most notably, he names the predecessor to the company's D901C laptop: the D90xF will offer a 17-inch screen (up to 1920 x 1200), and it may be Core i7, though this is not certain (sometimes desktop chips end up in high-end laptops, so it wouldn't be unheard of). Also in this batch are several touchscreen tablets, including the 7-inch TN70xM with an Atom Z series processor and passive cooling, the 8.9-inch T89xM with "rugged" design, and the TN12xT, a 12.1-inch based on the Montevina platform with Intel's GM45 chipset. Additionally, we can look forward to the second quarter of 2009 for the launch of the 10.2-inch M71xL, the 10.1-inch M81xL and the 13.3-inch R13xT. And if that weren't enough, early next year should see the release of the company's widescreen W76x series of laptops with 15.6-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio displays. Not that you'll necessarily see the Clevo name on many of these -- the company is known primarily as an OEM. Still, this is an interesting peek into next year's possible Alienware, Voodoo and Sager machines. And you know what? There's plenty more where that came from -- hit the read link for all the glorious details.
Leaked Intel roadmap shows Centrino 2 bump just before Calpella hits
Intel's Montevina mobile processors will get a significant bump in the 2nd quarter of 2009 with the 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo T9900, and the 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo P8800. A completely separate, slightly more suspect Digitimes rumor tells of a possible Core 2 Quad Q9600 CPU of unknown speed and power. Regardless, we won't get to bask in their awesomeness for very long, as the switchover to the Calpella platform (and Clarksfield) will follow quickly in the 3rd quarter of 2009. Will the rumor-mill never cease to torture us? [Via Electronista]Read - Intel Clarksfield & Ibex Peak-M Chipsets In Q3 '09Read - Intel planning Montevina Refresh
Dell's Studio 15 laptop gets its Centrino 2 on
Dell's Studio laptops have style, we'll give them that, but we were a bit dismayed when they launched right before Intel's Centrino 2 processors. After three months of living a pleasant but not-really-cutting-edge life, the Studio 15 finally crashed the cool kids' party a couple weeks ago, rocking the house with two new Centrino 2 configurations. Buy one now and your processor will be either a P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB cache, 1066MHz FSB) or for an extra 175 simoleons, a T9400 (2.53GHz, 6MB cache, also 1066MHz FSB). If you were holding out for this before buying one of Inspiron's classy siblings, well, here you go -- but the competition is awfully fierce right now.
ASUS launches a slew of new laptops
ASUS took a break from cranking out an endless series of Eee PCs to revamp some of its traditional laptop lines today, here's what you need to know: B50A business laptop: 15.4-inch screen, Penryn Core 2 Duos on Intel's GM45 Express chipset with ASUS's Expressgate SplashTop implementation and integrated X4500 graphics, max 4GB RAM and 320GB drive, spill-resistant keyboard, Bluetooth, WiFi, dual-layer burner, 1.3 megapixel webcam. F8 laptops (pictured): 14.1-inch WXGA screen, Penryn Core 2 Duos with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with Express Gate, TV tuner with remote control, up to 4GB RAM and a 320GB drive, 1.3 megapixel swivel webcam, five available colors. F6 "scented" laptops: 13.3-inch screen, lids feature five available graphics and fragrances (really), Penryn Core 2 Duos with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with Express Gate, TV tuner with remote control, up to 4GB RAM and a 320GB drive, fingerprint scanner. G71V and G50V "Republic of Gamers" laptops: 17-inch (G71) and 15-inch (G50) gaming laptops with up to Intel Core 2 Quad QX9300 processors and 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT graphics, 4GB of RAM, 2x 500GB hard drives, dual-layer burner, 2.0 megapixel swivel webcam, LED lighting effects, gaming hotkeys. No pricing or ship dates yet, but we'll get you those as they come in. Read - B50A Read - F8 Read - F6 Read - G71V and G50V [Via i4u, thanks Vinit]
Asus unleashes F8Va laptop with HD3650 graphics, reviews and prices roll in
Leave it to Asus to bust out a nice laptop that we can't have -- yet. The new F8Va, released in Korea only for now, packs an Intel Core Duo T9400 at 2.53GHz, 4GB DDR2 800 MHz RAM, a 320GB SATA spinner, ATI Radeon HD3650 GPU, and a 14-inch WXGA screen at 1440 x 900. To top it off, the F8Va includes a Blu-Ray combo drive, 1.3 megapixel camera, and HDMI out. It's hitting Korea in July, but if / when it comes to the US, we're probably looking at a $1299 price based on early reviews. Early test scores came in at 4103 3DMarks, an SM2.0 score of 1349, and a HDR/SM3.0 score of 1819. Drool over the info in the read links if you must.Read - Asus F8Va LaptopRead - Asus F8Va Montevina platform laptop review
OCZ announces Centrino 2-based "whitebook" reference design for rebranders
All the big names might have gotten their Centrino 2 lappies out the door today, but there hasn't been much action from the shady rebranders and fly-by-night system builders we love so dearly -- good thing OCZ is here with its Centrino 2-based OCZNBIM17A "whitebook" reference design. Get ready to see this bad boy appear in the back of vans everywhere with random company names on it -- you'll recognize the 17-inch laptop's boxy shape and available X9100 Core 2 Extreme processor, or perhaps the dual CrossFire-capable graphics slots with HDMI output will tip you off. Pricing will vary wildly depending on how various system builders configure this thing, but we've got a feeling generic doesn't mean cheap when it comes to this particular machine.
Centrino 2 laptop parade continues as Samsung throws out a few
It's almost over folks -- at least, that's what we're continuing to tell ourselves. Anyways, Sammy has decided to follow in the footsteps of practically everyone else in the laptop realm by revealing a few newcomers over in South Korea. Granted, we already knew that a few of these were coming, but now we've got actual units with Photoshopped screen savers to prove their existence. Ready? Let's go. We've got the Centrino 2-based 12.1-inch Q210, 13.1-inch Q310, 14.1-inch R460, 15.4-inch R510 / R560 and 17-inch R710 on the consumer side, while the P210, P460, P461, P510 and P560 make up the business crowd. A few more lovely images are waiting in the read link, though no price / release dates accompany them.[Thanks, Khattab]
Samsung unveils Aura and Eclipse Montevina-based laptops
Montevina-based laptops are slowly but surely starting to trickle out, and Samsung's the latest to joint the party with a new Aura machine and the entirely new Eclipse line. The new R510 Aura sports a 15.4-inch screen, 2.53GHz T9400 Core 2 Duo on Montevina's 1066MHz bus with integrated X4500 graphics, 4GB of RAM, a dual-layer burner and a 320GB drive in a five-pound package, while the new Eclipse R710 17-inch desktop replacement sports a 2.53GHz P9500 Core 2 Duo and 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics in a new case design with colorful accents. Rounding out the Eclipse line are the 12.1-inch Q210 and 13.3-inch Q310 (pictured), which are being billed as ultraportables. Both feature NVIDIA 256MB GeForce 9200M GS, 4GB of RAM, 320GB drives, and dual-layer burners in the new Eclipse case design, but the Q210 makes do with a 2.26GHz P8400 Core 2 Duo, while the larger Q310 gets a 2.4GHz chip. No pricing information is available yet, but scroll past the break for pictures of the other machines.Read - Eclipse Q210 and Q310Read - Eclipse R710Read - Aura R510
Montevina-Based Sony VAIO FW, Z, SR, BZ laptops around the bend?
We'll start this by suggesting you take everything from here on out with a healthy dose of salt, but given that Sony has a history of updating its VAIO laptop line in one fell swoop, there's enough credibility here to pass it along. With everyone that hopes to remain relevant in the laptop sector going to Montevina as soon as feasibly possible, it's no shock to hear that Sony's VAIO FW, Z, SR and BZ series units will be making the same leap this summer. Currently, there aren't a whole lot of specifications floating about, but we do know the VGN-FW line will sport an atypical 16.4-inch display while both the VGN-Z and VGN-SR lines check in as subnotes. For a wee bit more on the supposedly forthcoming crew, surf southwest to the read link.[Via Laptoping]
Santech rolls out Centrino 2-based X46 laptop
While we've yet to see the expected flood of Centrino 2-based gear, things certainly seem to be picking up as we near the end of that little delay, with Santech only the latest to debut a laptop based on the platform once known as Montevina. Dubbed the X46, this one comes packing a 15.4-inch WXGA+ display, along with your choice of Core 2 Duo processor up to 2.8GHz, up to 4GB of RAM (plus 2GB of Intel Turbo Memory). a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics card, a max 320GB hard drive (or 200GB if you want to do 7,200 rpm), and your choice of a DVD burner or Blu-ray drive. Look for this one to start shipping in Europe by June 30th, with prices starting around the $1,000 mark for the default configuration.
Intel gets early hands-on with Intel-based ASUS M70VM
Looks like Intel and ASUS are gearing up to demo some Centrino 2 (Montevina) gear at Computex, as Intel's Senior Technical Marketing Engineer for Corporate Demonstrations blogged on Intel's site about running around using the yet-unreleased M51VA with WiMAX in Taipei. Sounds like he sure is enjoying the hardware his company produced, even despite the recent delays which are keeping it out of the hands of non-Intel folk like you and us.
Montevina and Puma-based ASUS notebooks leak out
With Intel's Montevina platform (hopefully) on the way and AMD's claim that "over 100" laptops will launch with Puma, it's kind of surprising that we haven't seen even more pre-release info on machines due to ship with the new chips, but apparently ASUS is getting ready to hit us with some new gear at Computex. Based on the existing M51 and M70 lines, the M51VR will feature a 2.26GHz Penryn P8400 with 3MB of L2 cache on Montevina's 1.06GHz bus, while the M51VA and M70VM (pictured) will get 2.53GHz T9400s with 6MB of cache. ASUS should also be showing off the Puma-based F5Z and X50Z laptops with 1.9GHz AMD Athlon64 X2 QL-60 chips, 667MHz buses, ATI Mobility Radeon HD3200 graphics and 15.4-inch screens at Computex, so it'll be interesting to see how these bad boys do side-by-side.[Thanks, Sergio]Read - ASUS Montevina laptopsRead - ASUS Puma laptops
Centrino 2 delayed, AMD Puma licks chops
We were all excited to see Intel's Montevina-based Centrino 2 next month, but it looks like that was never meant to be. Citing problems with the chip's integrated graphics and issues with 802.11n certification, Intel has pushed its launch to July 14, with the complete line hitting streets in the first week of August. Says AMD, "Hi. We're AMD. We have a little chip called Puma, it has no integrated graphic issues, and it'll be available in June. How YOU doin'?"
New iMacs running an overclocked Penryn chip, not Montevina
Following this morning's iMac introduction, speculation has been rampant as to whether Apple got an early shot at Intel's upcoming Core 2 Duo Extreme X9100 chip. The X9100 is meant to usher in the "Montevina" Centrino 2 era, and boasts significant less power consumption than its forebears, in addition to those spiffy new clock speeds. Well, it turns out the new iMacs aren't Montevina, but instead a special-made 45nm Penryn 3.06GHz chip with a 1066MHz frontside bus. That means most of the juice of the X9100, but at 55 watts instead of 44. This chip exclusivity has been a bit of a pattern with Apple, and one which we're sure its competitors are quite appreciative of. Read - Electronista Read - TG Daily
Dell's leaked Latitude E6000 and E5000-series of laptops pack GPS, DisplayPort, WWAN, UWB and much more
Our week o' Dell scoops continues with what Dell calls its "mainstream" and "essential" series of Latitude E-series laptops. While the enterprise-ready, mainstream series packs just about everything (and more) that you could hope for in a balanced spec-for-size lappie, the essential series is only essential if you're on a tight budget and just can't live without the comparatively low-end chub. The 15.4-inch E6500 and 14.1-inch E6400 models will replace Dell's D830 and D630 whereas the "essential" 15.4-inch E5500 and 14.1-inch E5400 carry on the low-end tradition of Dell's D531 and D530. With any luck, these will be Dell's first Montevina / Centrino 2 class machines if they all hit the targeted June release date as planned. AMD fans will see the E5500a and E5400a configurations at about the same time. So what can you expect under the hood? Well, just look at the 5.1-pound E6500 which reads like a suit's, geek fantasy: UWB, Bluetooth 2.1, mobile broadband Integrated GPS, yes GPS New 84WHr slice batteries for "all day" computing LED backlighting, 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, discrete nVIDIA graphics and DisplayPort out Hard, Hybrid, and Solid State disk drive options with eSATA jack for more Optional camera and mic Plenty of security options including contact-less smart cards and encrypted hard disks Time to pad those budgets a bit, eh CIOs? Full low-down in the gallery below.%Gallery-18965%
Intel reveals plans for quad-core laptop CPUs
It looks like your favorite lap burner will get all quad-ified this year, thanks to the folks at Intel, and a little something we call "enthusiast pressure." The hot-to-the-touch CPU rumor mill claims that we'll see the quad-core, 45nm QX9300 hit the scene after the Centrino 2 (aka Montevina) chips are launched in the second quarter of the year. The general feeling is that the quad-equipped laptops will primarily be heavier, desktop-replacement systems, as the Core 2 Extreme processors are still fairly power hungry. If you haven't already fallen off the edge of your seat, you have our congratulations.
Intel's quad-core QX9300 laptop CPU in Q3?
Check it high-enders. DigiTimes has been milking their Taiwanese motherboard sources for information about Intel's laptop-class, Core 2 Extreme QX9300 processor. They've come away with a Q3 ship date and price of $1,038 when purchasing the quad-core proc in bulk. Digitimes' own sources had originally pegged the QX9300 for a May release. But such is the life of the muckraker.
