[Correction: This story turned out to be wrong. The M520 and M530 are laptop/notebook CPUs and while they are low power parts, they are not the Ultra Low Voltage parts needed for UMPCs. ULV Core 2 Solo and Celeron 65nm CPUs are due in Q3 2007. My apologies. Steve.]
While Santa Rosa and Steeley platforms/processors are still a long way off, there are new CPU’s being launched within weeks that could bring UMPC’s up to 1.7Ghz. The new breed of Core 2 Solo based ultra low voltage (ULV) CPUs are imminent and the first, a 1.6Ghz Celeron, are due for launch in January. Following up in Q2/Q3 will be a 1.7Ghz part and full-flavour Core 2 Solo processors supporting ViiV and 64bit processing. Ultra Low Voltage Core 2 Duo processor are also planned.
“It looks to me like we’ll see a 1.7Ghz UMPC before long. CeBit (March) is my prediction for this. I’m sure the mainstream press and PR agencies will love it as it represents a huge increase on that highly abused specification. This could help perception of UMPCs performance in the market. “
There’s a possible problem with the integrated GPU though. The new Santa Rosa GMA X3000 GPU looks like it won’t have any partner ULV CPU until late in 2007. The only graphics improvements we’ll see in 2007 could be through discreet mobile GPU solutions. How will this effect UMPC solutions on both Intel and VIA platforms?
“The Intel UMPCs will remain fairly high-end devices with VIA focusing on the lower-end of the market with smaller consumer umpcs…”
The full report on Intel’s ultra-mobile CPUs and how it might effect the development of UMPCs in 2007 is available at Carrypad.
