Intel considers new brand, sequence number for dual-core Yonah

Intel plays with the idea to introduce a new brand name and a new sequence numbering system for its upcoming Yonah mobile dual-core processor, TG Daily has learned. Sources indicated that Intel will introduce a completely new numbering system consisting of letters and numbers for the dual-core chip and low-power single-core Yonah chips.

The development and engineering phase for Intel's next-generation mobile processors is pretty much completed. Volume production of Yonah is ramping throughout the fourth quarter of this year and we would expect more than 100 different system builders to have Yonah single- and dual-core notebooks available when the chip will be announced during the Consumer Electronics Show in the first week of January 2006.

Everything appears to be set for a smooth launch, but Intel's marketing appears to be unsure about the sequence number the new product generation will carry. Sources told TG Daily that the company may introduce a completely new brand for the dual-core and low-power single-core versions of the processor. While we do not know whether Intel has made a final decision on the main processor brand, we do know that the company will drop the current 700-series sequence number for most Yonah versions.

As it appears, Intel selects an even more confusing route to name processors within one family. According to sources, the sequence number will consist of a letter E, T, L, or U as well as a 4-digit number such as "1300".

The letters will indicate the power consumption of the processor: E will stand for a maximum power consumption (thermal design power, TDP) of 50 watts and higher, T for a TDP between 25 and 49 watts, L for a TDP between 15 and 24 watts and U for a TDP of 14 watts and less. The numbers following the letter will indicate faster and slower processors, but will not reflect a particular connection to clock speed.

According to sources, Intel plans the following dual-core processors:

In the second half of 2006, Intel will launch the "Merom" processor as a "refresh" for the "Napa" platform that will be introduced with Yonah. Merom will support Napa's "Calistoga" chipset, allowing customers to simply substitute a Yonah with a Merom processor on a Napa board. However, in order to enable all of Merom's new features - such as 64-bit capability - users will have to wait for a chipset that is designed for the new processor architecture.