CNET News.com has learned that Lenovo and Fujitsu are in the process of putting together systems based on the special Core 2 Duo chip that Apple is using in the MacBook Air. The new laptops should be out shortly, according to sources familiar with the companies' plans, and will give customers a chance to see what the rest of the PC industry can do with the ultra-low-power chips. Both manufacturers did not comment on the story. Apple asked Intel to design the special Core 2 Duo chip last year as it was putting together the design that would become the MacBook Air. The chip fits into a package that's significantly smaller than the standard Intel notebook chip, and it uses less power than the standard Core 2 Duo, allowing it to fit into the slim MacBook Air without melting the inside of the package or eating the battery.

If you're an ASUS motherboard owner and you're wondering if it will support the latest Intel 1600MHz FSB 45nm processors, the chart below will answer your question. ASUS has unleashed the list of its motherboards that will officially support FSB1600.

Intel informed vendors that it will begin cleaning up its dual-core Xeon 3000-series portfolio. The 3000-series version 3040, 3050, 3060 and 3070, all based on the 65 nm Conroe core, are entered into the firm's product discontinuance program and are going to be phased out. The high end models 3075 (2.66GHz) and 3085 (3.0GHz) will remain available for now.

Intel Corporation and Micron Technology today unveiled a high speed NAND flash memory technology that can greatly enhance the access and transfer of data in devices that use silicon for storage. The new technology - developed jointly by Intel and Micron and manufactured by the companies' NAND flash joint venture, IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) - is five times faster than conventional NAND, allowing data to be transferred in a fraction of the time for computing, video, photography and other computing applications.

Intel has entered a range of Core 2 Duo processors with Merom core into its product discontinuance program. According to a product change notification (PCN) published today, the models T5500, T5600, T7200, T7600 and LV L7200 will see final shipments on July 27, 2009. The T7400 and LV L7400 versions will ship until July 26, 2009, according to the published schedule. Boxed versions of these processors will ship until August 26 of this year. Orders for these CPUs are possible until May 26, 2008. Also affected by the PCN are the Celeron M models 520 and 530, which also can be ordered until May 26 and will continue shipping until January 26, 2009.

The first 45nm 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9650 CPU is set to undergo a few updates as Intel is preparing a new stepping for later this quarter. Planned to be available from March 3rd on, the C1 stepping CPUs will feature new SSPEC and MM numbers and a new CPUID - 0x00010677. The rest of the specifications of the C1 stepping remain unchanged from C0, but motherboard makers will still have to release new BIOS versions in order to support it.

Intel Corporation said today it will purchase more than 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates as part of a multi-faceted approach to reduce its impact on the environment, making Intel the single-largest corporate purchaser of green power in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The company said it hoped the record-setting purchase would help stimulate the market for green power, which should lead to additional generating capacity and ultimately, lower costs.

When we reported about the Inquirers review of the Asus Z7S we were quite skeptical. ASUS contacts could not confirm existence and even doubted the news themselves due to various reasons. (naming scheme, FB-DIMM's on enthusiast board, etc)
Besides a small review the Z7S was not heard of. Though we are happy to be able to tell you it isn't a hoax, a contact at Asus confirmed existence of the board and it is indeed aimed at previous PC-DL/NCCH-DL users.
Unfortunately nothing new is known, but seeing how the aforementioned boards were priced odds are it will not cost you an arm and a leg. Which is, of course, relative.
Strategically it would make sense to release this around the release of Skulltrail, the only board with similar features. So let's hope for some more news next month.

Intel has now begun shipping the first of its low-end dual core processors: the 1.6GHz Celeron E1200. The processor is based on Intel's Core architecture and is manufactured using a 65nm process, with an 800MHz FSB and 512KB L2 cache. Intel's price (when sold in 1,000 unit quantities) is $53, with these CPUs coming into the market just below the 1.6GHz Pentium E2140 CPUs. Newegg.com has given the processor a price tag of $65.99 for the retail version, which is exactly $9 below that of the E2140.

Having recently launching its first dual-core Celeron E1200 processor, Intel is ready to launch another family member with a faster core frequency in the second quarter of 2008. Intel is planning to launch E1400 with a core frequency of 2GHz, 800MHz FSB, L2 cache of 512KB, and maximum TDP of 65W. The chip is based on a 65nm Conroe core and supports Intel 64, XD Bit (Execute Disable Bit) and Speed Step technology. Pricing will be set at US$53 in a thousand-unit tray quantities. In the first quarter of 2008, Intel will let the dual-core Celeron E1200 and single-core Celeron 440, 430 and 420 defend the entry-level segment, while in the second quarter, the company will let the Celeron E1400, 440 and 430 continue the job, while phasing out the E1200 and 420. During its first quarter of sales, the Celeron E1000 series accounted for around 3% of Intel's total desktop CPU shipments, and the ratio will not exceed 10% in 2008. The series is expected to completely replace single-core Celerons by the second quarter of 2009.

The new 45nm Wolfdale Core 2 Duo E8000 CPUs have a new cooler bundled with the BOX package. As you can see below, the cooler is similar than the one found in Intel's 65nm Conroes. This move probably helps Intel trim down the manufacturing costs, but mostly comes to show one big plus of the 45nm process and that's the lower heat output.

German hardware site PCGH had the opportunity to benchmark the upcoming Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor through various performance benchmarks. The 45nm Core 2 Quad Q9300 CPU is yet to be relased and features 2,5GHz (333x7.5) clock speed, 6MB L2 shared cache and only 1.2V default voltage. See all the tests here.

Now that Intel Skulltrail is due to be out in the beginning of February, we can confirm this will be the first Intel motherboard to fully support NVIDIA's SLI multi-GPU Technology. Below is a proof picture of the SLI bridge included with the motherboard's bundle.

Intel plans to agrresively expand its shipments of notebook CPUs aiming to almost double its total of 2007 within the next few years, according to DigiTimes. Since Intel launched its Centrino platform in 2003, shipments have grown from 38 million notebook CPUs in the first year to 79 million in 2006. In 2007, shipments surpassed 100 million units, and in 2008, with the help of the Montevina platform, the company expects shipments to reach 123 million units. Over the next few years shipments are forecast to continue growing to hit 145 million, 169 million and 195 million units in 2009 to 2011, respectively. In 2008, Intel will also start supporting the WiMAX wireless technology in its Montivina platform, by launching several networking products: a Wi-Fi/WiMAX mixed wireless module 5350/5150 (3x3 AGN MC) codenamed Echo Peak, a Wi-Fi only module 5300/5100 (3x3 AGN MC/HMC) codenamed Shirley Peak, 82567LF Gigabit LAN codenamed Boazman and 82567LM Gigabit LAN for digital office applications. In addition, Montivina will adopt 2GB and 4GB versions of Intel's Turbo Memory technology.

This is a preliminary list of Intel's processor price cut schedule for year 2008.

This first quarter of 2008 will see more than 3 video cards from NVIDIA being EOL forever. The end of this month Intel will mark the death of the Conroe-based Core 2 Extreme X6800, Core 2 Duo E6300, E6600, E6700, E6320 and E6420 processors. In March Intel will also cut the lines of the Core 2 Duo E4400 CPU.

Intel Corporation today announced record fourth-quarter revenue of $10.7 billion, operating income of $3 billion, net income of $2.3 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of 38 cents. For 2007, operating income grew 45 percent, reflecting the company's ongoing efficiency programs, with profits growing significantly faster than revenue.

Intel is planning to launch 15 45nm notebook CPUs for its upcoming Centrino platform, Montevina, which is currently scheduled to launch in May this year. Intel will launch seven CPUs with a typical package size of 35mm squared for notebooks. The CPUs include: Core 2 Extreme QX9300 with 12MB L2 cache and TDP of 45W, (the core frequency of this model has not yet been set), Core 2 Extreme X9100 with a core frequency of 3.06GHz, 6MB L2 cache and TDP of 44W, Core 2 Duo T9600 (2.8GHz, 6MB and 35W), T9400 (2.53GHz, 6MB and 35W), P9500 (2.53GHz, 6MB and 25W), P8600 (2.4GHz, 3MB and 25W), and P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB and 25W). All the CPUs will support a 1066MHz FSB. The company will also launch eight CPUs with a package size of 22mm squared. These will include: SP9400 with a core frequency of 2.4GHz, 6MB L2 cache and TDP of 25W, SP9300 (2.26GHz, 6MB and 25W), SL9400 (1.86GHz, 6MB and 17W), SL9300 (1.6GHz, 6MB and 17W), SU9400 (1.4GHz, 3MB and 10W), SU9300 (1.2GHz, 3MB and 10W), U3300 (1.2GHz, 3MB and 5.5W), and Celeron 723 (1.2GHz, 1MB and 10W). The CPUs with a TDP less or equal to 10W will support FSB speeds up to 800MHz while the rest will support up to 1066MHz.

I'll be brief on this one. Intel Skulltrail is designed to compete against the AMD Quad FX platform. Although the Quad-Father was never popular enough, Skulltrail will share the same idea: dual Socket 771 Xeon processors like the 45nm Harpertown supporting up to 8 processing cores and fully-buffered DIMMs (FB-DIMM). The Skulltrail system will use the upcoming Intel D5400XS motherboard. With two NVIDIA nForce 100 MCP chips, the D5400XS will support up to four PCI Express x16 slots, finally allowing SLI on an Intel motherboard. The motherboard will have a 10-layer PCB with limited production (2000 units reported earlier) and price over US $600. Today's word is that the Intel D5400XS motherboard is scheduled for a launch on WW06. That's short for Work Week 6, tech-speak for the sixth week of 2008. In other words if that's true, expect Skulltrail to be launched somewhere around Febuary 4-9, 2008.

Sager has refreshed their 17-inch desktop replacement model NP5792 with beefed up cooling system to handle the NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX and the latest Intel 45nm processors. The NP5792 is a powerful machine with all the latest features such as Intel Wireless-N technology, fingerprint reader, and 1GB Intel Turbo Memory. It can be customized with Core 2 Duo models including Penryn T8100/T8300/T9300 /T9500, 4GB RAM, Blu-ray drive, 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) widescreen display, 200GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX with 512MB or GeForce 8700M GT (512MB), built-in 8ch Azalia Sound System, 8 cell Lithium-Ion battery, Bluetooth 2.0, Intel 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN, 2.0 mega pixel webcamera, built-in TV-Tuner with remote, and Windows Vista OS. The NP5792 starts at $1,679, but the high-end specs will charge you about $3624. Visit Sager NP5792 product page to get more facts.

Intel Corporation today announced the launch of its first modular server building block products that support a server specification announced last July by the Server Systems Infrastructure (SSI) organization. In using these modular server building blocks, system builders can uniquely integrate computing, networking and storage capabilities in one system for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), and their needs for budget-friendly IT simplicity and flexibility. The modular server building blocks are based on Intel Multi-Flex Technology, a set of management and storage technologies developed to enable ease of use, low-cost and flexibility.

The One Laptop Per Child project feels sorry for the Intel loss, said Nicholas Negroponte, chairman of OLPC, in an interview. "It was very unfortunate what happened with Intel and I hope there's a way of rebuilding it in the future because there's no interest in OLPC pushing Intel out. It just is not in our interest. Our goal is to get this to as many children as possible," he said. He called it unfortunate that Intel made statements that OLPC asked the chip maker to stop working on the Classmate PC. "The picture that painted was one of OLPC being anti-competition, which is ridiculous. We'd like to see as many laptops out there as possible and kids have the widest choice possible," On the other hand Agnes Kwan, an Intel manager responded that Intel would be willing to talk with OLPC, but she added that the organizational break-up came about because of differences that the groups have been so far unable to resolve.

New York state launched a formal investigation of Intel Corp on Thursday, to determine if the world's No. 1 chipmaker broke state and U.S. antitrust laws to squeeze out its main rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said his office issued a broad subpoena seeking information about whether Intel coerced customers to exclude AMD from the worldwide market for microprocessors. "Our investigation is focused on determining whether Intel has improperly used monopoly power to exclude competitors or stifle innovation," Cuomo said in a statement. Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy confirmed the company had received the subpoena and would "work very hard" to comply with the subpoena, in keeping with its normal practice. "We believe our business practices are lawful and that the microprocessor market is competitive and is functioning as one would expect a competitive market to function," Mulloy said. AMD said it had been contacted by Cuomo's office. "I can confirm that we have received a subpoena, too," said spokesman Drew Prairie.

Intel has decided to extend the original naming scheme for the upcoming Montevina platform, by adding a P segment to CPUs targeting notebooks and an S class for small form factor PC processors. Intel originally had four segments for the July official Montevina launch: X for the extreme segment - CPUs that have a TDP over 40W, T for mobile high-performance at 20-39W, L for mobile high energy efficient at 12-19W, and U for mobile ultra-high energy efficient with a TDP less or equal to 11.9W. Now Intel will add a P segment for power-optimized energy-efficient high-performance processors with a TDP between 20-29W, which indicates that the original T segment will have its TDP range changed to between 30-39W. The company will also add an S class of CPUs, with a smaller package size, aimed at small form factor products. There will be three segments under the S class: SP, SL and SU with TDP ranging from 20-29W, 12-19W and smaller or equal to 11.9W, respectively. In addition, Intel plans to launch quad-core processors for its notebook platform in the third quarter of this year. The company will use the same Q code branding used in its desktop Core 2 Quad line-up.

We all know the Inquirer isn't always right. However this story seems solid. The Inq is reporting of a new Asus s771 board. Of course nothing special, though next to Skulltrail this would be the only board with overclocking options in the BIOS.