Intel launches mobile Extreme CPU

MOBILE GAMING IS the next big thing for hardware and software manufacturers. They hope. Just like hawks, companies are looking for parts of the market or new markets where they can spread their wings, and it seems that mobile gaming segment is finally coming to life.

Intel opened GC Press Day with a press conference, announcing the Core 2 Extreme X7900. This processor relies on the old 65 nanometre die codenamed Merom, but with updated specs. Unlike most of the models, X7900 gets to its 2.8GHz clock using the 800 MHz FSB, and 667 MHz should become thing of the past. Thermal envelope of 45W was held with this part as well, since it eats up 44W of current.

Just like the desktop part, Intel unlocked this processor as well, and the company is expecting that OEMs will implement the overclocking function for gamers. However, saying that is much easier than do it. On desktop side, this was a no-brainer with a massive number of 3rd party cooling vendors but laptops do not spot all that space for advanced cooling. Expect 3-3.2 GHz clock, but not much more than that. This might change once when we see Penryns coming out in force.

Intel's rep demonstrated the new processor inside two new laptops: Asus G2 and Dell's new baby codenamed The Beast. The Beast's market name was printed on a case itself, which has rather plasticky feeling - a rather boring M1730. This notebook spots interesting components in terms of central, graphics, and physics processing power.

Company has launched the Mobile Games Developer Guide v2.0 and new version of Laptop Gaming TDK on Games Developer Conference, which is being held right now, in a run-up to GC here in Leipzig. µ