Intel plans to raise the proportion of Core 2 Duo Mobile (Merom) CPU to over 50% of its laptop processor shipments of in the first quarter of 2007, making 64-bit dual-core models the mainstream in the notebook market, Digi Times writes according to industry sources.
While Intel is expected to officially unveil its Merom processors by the end of July, volume production may only begin in mid-August, and the first Intel-based 64-bit dual-core notebooks may not hit shelves until the end of August, the sources pointed out.
Intel’s initial shipment goal for Merom after its launch is 15% of its laptop processor shipments, and the proportion will increase to 30% in the fourth quarter, the sources said.
In the first quarter of 2007, Intel expects the launch of Microsoft’s Vista to drive up demand for 64-bit dual-core laptop PCs, and Merom’s proportion in its notebook processor shipments will top 50% in the first quarter, the sources added.
