Intel's ultra-low-voltage (ULV) range of notebook processors has been updated to include a trio of higher-clocked parts.
The processors - available in Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Solo derivatives - are often used in super-thin notebooks and shouldn't be confused with the CULV parts expected this summer. Intel's new introductions - the Core 2 Duo SL9600, Core 2 Duo SU9600 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 - raise their respective clock speeds whilst retaining the thermal envelope rating of prior models.
The updated range is detailed below with the trio of new parts highlighted:
| Model | Frequency | Cores | L2 Cache | FSB | TDP | Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ULV Intel Core 2 Duo SL9600 | 2.13GHz | 2 | 6MB | 1,066MHz | 17W | $316 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 | 1.86GHz | 2 | 6MB | 1,066MHz | 17W | $316 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Duo SL9300 | 1.60GHz | 2 | 6MB | 1,066MHz | 17W | $284 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 | 1.60GHz | 2 | 3MB | 800MHz | 10W | $289 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 | 1.40GHz | 2 | 3MB | 800MHz | 10W | $289 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 | 1.20GHz | 2 | 3MB | 800MHz | 10W | $262 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 | 1.40GHz | 1 | 3MB | 800MHz | 5.5W | $262 |
| ULV Intel Core 2 Solo SU3300 | 1.20GHz | 1 | 3MB | 800MHz | 5.5W | $262 |
*pricing in one-thousand-unit quantities |
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With the arrival of the 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600, we'd expect to see super-thin notebooks such as Lenovo's ThinkPad X Series and Apple's MacBook Air to be upgraded to offer higher speeds than the 1.86GHz currently available.
If you're wondering how these are different to the yet-to-be-launched CULV, here's how it's expected to pan out. CULV - or Consumer Ultra Low Voltage - is a platform as opposed to only processors. Combining a low-power Core 2 chip and a shrunken-down chipset, it's expected to offer a lower-cost alternative to the pricey ULV-equipped systems, putting it up against AMD's Yukon.
It's expected to arrive in the summer, and when it does, we'll be looking at Atom-based netbooks in the bargain sector, CULV-based notebooks in the mid-range, and ULV-based systems higher up the ladder. That's the theory, at least.
