Intel’s August launch of its 64-bit dual-core Merom processors will include the high-end T7600 series and mainstream T7200 and T7400, according to sources. Of the Merom lineup, the T7600 will feature a 2.33GHz core speed and will be priced at over US$600. The 2GHz T7200 and 2.16GHz T7400 will be priced at US$294 and US$423, respectively, close to the 2GHz T2500 and 2.16GHz T2600 (codenamed Yonah).
In addition, Intel plans to introduce the Celeron M 440 and M 450, with respective core speeds of 1.86GHz and 2GHz, later this year, the sources indicated. The chip giant will also reduce prices for the existing Celeron M 420 and M 430 to as low as US$86, with the price-cut strategy improving the company’s competitiveness in the entry-level segment, according to the sources.
Sources at Taiwan notebook makers suspect that by pricing the mainstream Merom chips in a similar range to the T2400 and T2500 Intel may cause higher inventories of Yonah-based dual-core models in the worldwide notebook market over the next three months, after which a significant price war to clear inventory may take place. From January 2006, when the dual-core Napa platform was launched, the average selling price (ASP) of Napa models has fallen from US$1,500 to US$700, the sources mentioned.
