Intel to debut two new CPUs for ultra-thin notebooks

Intel is trying to cater to the low-cost ultra-thin notebook market by introducing two new but different category CPUs.

Intel sure does not want to give an inch to the competitors. Already seating pretty at an 82% market share, and with AMD’s shaking chip SBU earnings – it has everything to lose. The newest threat to them is the new Via Nano which is getting important appreciations from critics, and Samsung is leaving no stone unturned in promoting its new NC20 which will sport the Nano.

To cater to the low-cost ultra-thin notebook market, Intel announced plans to launch two new ultra low voltages (ULV) CPUs by the end of March this year mainly targeting the company's consumer ultra low voltage (CULV) platform – as reported by Digitimes. According to them, the company will unveil the 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo SU9600 and the 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo SU3500 next month. Prices will be $289 (£202) and $262 (£183), respectively, in 1000-unit lot. Both the SU9600 and SU3500 will be compatible with the same GS45 chipset as used with current ULV CPUs. The recent CULV product range already includes the SU9400, SU9300, SU3300 and Celeron 723 processors.  According to the industry sources, Intel will then tier the CULV range into three levels, comprising Celeron entry-level processors, followed by single-core chips, and finally dual-core performance CPUs – as observed by Engadget.

Intel knows they can’t stick around with the premium processors like quad-cores and i7s, especially after such a huge explosion in the netbook population. This probably is the reason behind Intel’s such new initiatives.