Intel Plans to Add Three New ULV Processors Ideal for MacBook Air Update to Sandy Bridge Lineup

Submitted by lalit on May 20, 2011 - 7:39pm.

Intel plans to add three new Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processors including Core i5-2557M, Core i7-2637M and Core i72677M to Sandy Bridge mobile CPU lineup. CPU-World posted on their website:

Two forthcoming Core i7 ULV dual-core processors, i7-2637M and i7-2677M, have 1.7 and 1.8 GHz base, and 2.8 GHz and 2.9 GHz Turbo Boost frequencies. This is 200 MHz higher than the frequencies of their predecessors, Core i7-2617M and i7-2657M. Default clock rate of the HD 3000 graphics on new chips stays the same, 350 MHz, although the maximum turbo frequency is increased to 1.2 GHz. The microprocessors boast 4 MB level 3 cache, and support HyperThreading and Vpro technologies. It is interesting to note that, despite of having lower processor number, the Intel i7-2637M SKU will be faster than the i7-2657M.
Core i5-2557M part has two CPU cores, clocked at 1.7 GHz, and can execute 4 threads at the same time. The model also features Turbo Boost technology, that can temporarily overclock the CPU up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache on this chip is smaller, only 3 MB, while all other processor characteristics, including specifications of on-chip HD 3000 graphics, are identical to Core i7 ULV parts.

There is no information when these processors will ship, but we believe that they should be announced this summer (may be June or July). And we also believe that these are the processors that Apple will use in the updated MacBook Air lineup, which will also be released around the same time.