Intel Corp. plans to launch its new mobile platform aimed at performance-demanding end-users on the 23^rd of September, 2009, according to documents seen by X-bit labs. The code-named Calpella platform will open the doors to mass mobile quad-core microprocessors eventually, but initially there will be only three chips launched along with the platform and all of them will be quite expensive.

Intel Calpella platform will be based on the code-named Clarksfield microprocessors with four cores that will be sold under Core i7 trademark as well as code-named Ibex Peak-M core-logic that will be branded as Intel PM55.

Like desktop counterparts code-named Lynnfield, Intel Core i7 mobile processors will have integrated dual-channel DDR3 memory controller and will utilize a new interconnect bus. Initially, there will be three Intel Core i7 mobile chips: Core i7-720QM (with or without vPro technology), Core i7-820QM (with or without vPro technology) and Core i7-920XM that will operate at 1.60GHz, 1.73GHz and 2.0GHz, respectively. Thanks to Nehalem micro-architecture, the new chips will support HyperThreading technology and will be able to process eight threads at once. The mobile Core i7 processors will sport 256KB of L2 cache per core as well as 8MB (800- and 900-series) or 6MB (700-series) of unified L3 cache. The chips will use 989-pin mPGA packaging.

Since the new microprocessors are made using 45nm fabrication process, the Calpella will not be much more power efficient compared to current generation platforms. The Core i7 Extreme mobile processor will have thermal design power (TDP) of about 55W, whereas the other Core i7 mobile chips will have 45W TDP. In fact, thermal envelopes of the new chips are even higher compared to existing Intel Core 2 Quad for mobile processors, but keeping in mind that the new CPUs feature built-in memory controllers, overall power consumption of the whole platform should remain on about the same levels.

Intel expects the Core i7 mobile processors to offer tangible performance boost compared to existing central processing units, which is why Intel will sell the Core i7 models 720QM, 820QM and 920XM for $364, $546 and $1054, respectively, which is generally similar to comparable Intel Core 2 Quad mobile chips.

Officials from Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: Intel, Calpella, Clarksfield, 45nm, Ibex Peak, Lynnfield, Core