Intel is rolling out its next generation laptop platform on Monday. Previously codenamed Montevina, Intel says the new Centrino 2 platform, provides faster performance with longer battery life by using the Penryn 45nm Core 2 Duo processor with a variety of support chips.

The 45nm Penryn processor, teamed with Intel’s Mobile 4 Express chipset (formerly codenamed Cantiga), Intel’s GMA X4500 integrated graphics chip and a wireless module with both WiFi and WiMax. Intel expects it will be inside mainstream laptop vendors like HP, Sony, Toshiba and others.

The launch was originally slated for June at the Computex show in Taipei, but there were a couple of problems, notably with the new graphics module. Machines using the GMA X4500 integrated graphics chip and the Mobile WiMAX chipset may be delayed still further, say some industry observers.

Penryn-based processors boast a 1066MHz front-side bus, and are lumped into “Performance” and “Small Form Factor” segments, with a power draw between 35 watts and 5.5 Watts (on the single-core U3300). Three of several new processors run at 25 watts, versus the usual 35 watts while DDR-3 memory supplies faster, more power efficient memory access.

This is the first Centrino platform with built-in support for WiMAX. In the lid are 3 antennas enabling MIMO support for both WiFi (802.11n) and Mobile WiMAX (802.16e). The Montevina platform offers a WiFi/WiMAX Link 5150/5350 mini-PCIe adapter (code-named Echo Peak), the Intel WiFi Link 5100/5300 mini-PCIe adapter (code-named Shiloh) or an add-on card WiMAX (802.16) (code-named Dana Point).

According to Wikipedia, the code-name Montevina refers to the fifth-generation Centrino platform, now formally named Centrino 2 to avoid confusion with previous Centrino platforms. It was scheduled for release at Computex Taipei 2008, which took place on June 3 - 7, 2008, but was delayed until July 14, due to problems with integrated graphics and wireless certification. Montevina will support Penryn, Intel’s 45nm die-shrink version of Core 2 processors.

Centrino Montevina platform
Mobile processor Processors - Socket P / Micro-FCBGA

  • a second-generation Intel Core 2 Duo (code-named Penryn) 45nm processor with 1066 MT/s FSB with clock speeds ranging from 2.26 GHz to 3.06 GHz, also featuring SSE4.1 support, which adds 47 new instructions to SSSE3. It is planned to consume no more than 29W, compared to Merom’s and first-generation Penryn’s 34W TDP.
Mobile chipset an Intel Mobile 4 Express series chipset (code-named Cantiga; GL40, GS45, GM45, GM47 or PM45) with Intel’s GMA X4500 graphics technology and ICH9M southbridge, 1066 MT/s front side bus. The graphics core GM45/47 is expected to be clocked at 533/640MHz which will contain ten unified shaders, up from the eight provided by GMA X3100.
Wireless network Wireless Modules

  • an Intel WiFi Link 5100/5300 mini-PCIe adapter (code-named Shiloh), and the add-on card WiMAX (802.16) (code-named Dana Point), or
  • the Intel combo WiFi/WiMAX Link 5150/5350 mini-PCIe adapter (code-named Echo Peak).

The Montevina platform is branded as “Centrino 2 vPro” when combined with security and manageability features built-in technologies.