Processor giant lays out roadmap

Intel will start shipping its next generation Merom chips towards the end of this year, but in the meantime it is readying the launch of the T2700 Core Duo processor and will slash prices on existing Core Duo and Core Solo processors at the end of May.

After the price cut the T2600 will fall in price to $422, the T2500 to $295, the T2400 to $240, the T2300E will be introduced at $210, while the T1400 Solo will cost $210 as well.

The price cuts on the top end Core Duos are around 30 per cent for the T2600 and the T2500, with the new chip, the T2700, shuffling up to the top of the Intel notebook rack.

The Core Duo ultra low voltage processor, dubbed the U2500, which clocks at 1.06Ghz and has 2MB of cache, will cost $290 when it launches. The U1400 and the U1300 cost $260 and $240 respectively.

Intel will also cut prices on Celeron mobile processors the 390 and the 380 on 23 April, which follows the intro of the 430 and the 420 this week.