Merom makes appearance on Intel roadmaps

THE LATEST ROADMAPS we've seen from Intel show that its next generation processor, the Merom, is on target for a launch in the second half of this year.

Although Intel has still not decided what clock speeds the dual core Merom will run at, it will have 4MB of cache, a system bus of 667MHz, and support VT, EIST, iAMD64, XD and use the socket M.

It also appears that Intel will continue its practice of delivering cut down versions of its notebook chips, and in particular releasing a Celeron M chip based on the Yonah designs in the second quarter of this year. These chips will only be offered in a PGA package, however.

The chips to be launched will be the 430 and the 420, but Intel will also introduce a 423 Celeron M which is an ultra low voltage chip.

The notebook roadmaps show that Intel will also release a T2700 Yonah in the second half of this year, along with a dual core ultra low voltage chip, the U2500.

Intel hasn't yet decided when to introduce price cuts on the Yonah dual core chips it launched at the Consumer Electronics Show last week.