Intel has already announced that they will introduce the new notebook platform codenamed Calpella in third quarter of 2009. Calpella will use processors codenamed Clarksfield that are based on the new Nehalem architecture. However, DigiTimes is reporting that Intel will launch Calpella platform with just three higher-end processors rather than releasing series of processors that cover complete notebook range.

The three processors that will be released in Q3 2009 are Core 2 Extreme XE, Core 2 Quad P2 and Core 2 Quad P1 and they will be priced $1,054, $546 and $364 respectively. Intel will focus on only higher end notebook in 2009 and will wait until first quarter of 2010 to launch processor for budget notebooks. The dual-core processors that Intel will ship for Calpella platform will be made using 32nm process technology making them smaller and more power efficient than present generation Core 2 Duo processors. Intel will follow the slow release schedule to clear out inventories of present generation Montevina based notebook processors.

The Nehalem based quad core processors that Intel will release for Calpella in Q3 2009 will bring quad core processors to mainstream notebooks for the first time, as they will have TDP of 35W. Last year, Intel started shipping quad core processor for notebooks, but those processors were mainly used in large 17-inch gaming notebooks as their thermal requirements were higher. It is very much possible that next generation MacBook Pro will come with quad core processors, as Nehalem based processors will meet thermal as well as size requirements of the slim MacBook Pro lineup.