Intel launches 45nm Penryn CPUs
November 12, 2007

Intel launched a new line of microprocessors on Sunday, code-named Penryn.

Penryn represents a shrink of the Core 2 Duo architecture from a 65nm to 45nm manufacturing process, but far more interesting than the modest performance gains are the power consumption improvements.

Penryn uses High-k metal gate transistors, which replaces traditional polysilicon transistor gates with a secret blend of metal alloys. A hafnium based mixture is used for the insulator in place of silicon dioxide. A High-k value means less unwanted current flow, and an easier manufacturing process - allowing the processor to be made smaller.

Penryn saves power wherever possible. For instance if a 32-bit operation is being performed, the other 32-bits in the data path are temporarily switched off. Additionally, mobile variants of Penryn processors can enable a new Deep Power Down state (DPD) which allows them to idle at under 200 milliwatts many times every second, with a less than 200 microsecond exit latency.

The end result is a more densely packed processor which runs cooler and therefore can be pushed to run faster.

So when can we expect to see a Penryn Mini-ITX? Intel-based Mini-ITX boards are generally developed from the starting point of Intel's mobile Centrino platform.

1st generation (Intel 855 aka Carmel) and 2nd generation Centrino (Intel 915 aka Sonoma) boards are now rare. 3rd generation boards (Intel 945 aka Napa) and 4th generation (Intel 965 aka Santa Rosa) boards are currently popular - both using similar Merom Core 2 Duo processors.

Penryn support will first be added to the Centrino platform in early 2008 (Santa Rosa Refresh), followed proper by the 5th generation Centrino (Montevina, due in Q2 2008).

Permalink | mini-link

Recent Stories

• AMD’s Ryzen 8000G CPUs - the perfect choice for smaller Mini-ITX builds? 17 Jan 24
• Intel Hands Over the NUC Reins to ASUS 06 Sep 23
• NA500 Network Appliances now available 24 May 23
• Expanded range of Dynatron Coolers now available from Mini-ITX.com 08 Feb 23
• The Commodore 64x - modern Mini-ITX inside a retro enclosure 07 Jul 22
• The Turing Pi V2 - now on Kickstarter 16 May 22
• AMD announce Ryzen 4000 "G " Series with Integrated Graphics 21 Jul 20
• ASRock built a Mini-ITX sized RX 570 with Thunderbolt 3 11 Jun 19
• ASRock fills out range of 8th Gen Core Intel 'Coffee Lake' Mini-ITX boards 26 Apr 18
• Intel Atom C3958 gets benchmarked on GIGABYTE's MA10 motherboard 09 Oct 17

News Archives

• January 2024
• September 2023
• Full Archive

* Back to Mini-ITX.com *