IDF Japan: Merom/Conroe details

[K. Eng]

PC Watch over in Japan is generally reliable, and often gets stories about the latest technology (and lots of pictures of the latest products before they even land in the U.S.).

http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2005 ... biq109.htm

You can use either Google or Babelfish to translate. Basically, has officially acknowledged that the Conroe processor exists. Conroe is said to be the desktop version of Merom, which is the generation of mobile CPU after Yonah.

PC Watch's sources say that Merom is slated for Q3 '06 launch in order to bring the x64 platform to Centrino ASAP. What this means is that Yonah will have a comparatively short reign as the Centrino platform's lead CPU. PC Watch cites as further evidence that Intel has asked OEMs to design Napa systems around a 45 Watt TDP, even though Yonah is a 31 Watt TDP design (about 15-16 watts/core).

Based on all the information I can gather, I'm predicting a Napa platform release in late Q3 to early Q4 '05. Yonah will be the flagship mobile chip for only 9-10 months, and Merom will assume that role in the early second half of 2006. However, because Yonah will still be a less power hungry CPU, it will continue to be used in ultralight and some thin/light roadwarior notebooks, while Merom will be used in the thin/light and larger categories . Intel has every incentive to bring Merom out ASAP, because it needs Windows x64 compatibility for the future.

Once Merom tapes out and Intel gets demo silicon running, we'll have a better idea of launch dates.

[eigh]

merom in fall 06, which is 64bit centrino targeted to go with longhorn. is longhorn a strictly 64bit app?



(i really hope it isnt)



edit:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1589897,00.asp

right now its planned to have a 32bit release, but they said that could change. while only a 64bit version of longhorn could push sales and upgrades to 64bit chips, i dont like that idea..

[K. Eng]

Intel provided an updated roadmap a couple days ago, which was posted on xbitlabs:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/displa ... 30511.html

Yonah shipping in Q4 '05, Merom in late 2006. Unless AMD suddenly decides to release a dual core Turion 64 early, we won't see dual core in Centrino for at least another 6-7 months.