Intel demos mobile quad-core CPU

Author: Phil Cogar
Published: 15th October 2007

Quad-core CPUs are coming to a laptop near you.

Mooly Eden, vice president of Intel's mobile platforms group, kicked off IDF Taiwan earlier today. During his keynote presentation, Eden demonstrated a quad-core CPU that will be aimed at mobile computers. The CPU ran Enemy Territory: Quake Wars seamlessly throughout the presentation.

The new mobile quad-core, while being very fast, will come at a high cost - a shorter battery life. The CPU will have a 45W TDP that is likely to require some heavy cooling.

Fear not the leg scorching thermal output of this beast though, Intel has also announced a cooling technology that will be more than capable of keeping your laptop cool. The cooling system is based off of compressor technology like that used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and high-end desktop computer systems.

A compressor on display was about 2cm in diameter and 10cm in length. A system of three of them used in conjunction would reduce the chassis temperature by around 10 degrees Celsius.

Another cooling feature that Intel introduced was the ability to cool a laptop through the keyboard instead of through air vents on the sides and bottom. The design will still protect the innards from spills but will also give motherboard designers more flexibility when it comes to designing their layout.

Expect to see the mobile quad-core launch in the second half of 2008 and the cooling technologies within a year or two.

Is your laptop battery life already too short for you or do you not mind having to stay near a wall most of the time? Leave your thoughts over in the forums.