Intel plans to refresh its entry-level Celeron processor line using the same 32nm manufacturing and “Sandy Bridge” architecture as its latest Core CPUs. Expected in September are the dual-core G5xx and single-core G4xx for desktops, plus the dual-core B8xx and the single-core B7xx for laptops, according to a DigiTimes report.

Intel's Celeron line has been de-emphasized by the chipmaker ever since it announced its first Atom processors in April 2008. Yet despite being ignored by the company's marketers and most of the rest of the world, these entry-level CPUs — some offering lackluster performance, but some surprisingly fast — never faded away completely.

Now, for whatever reason, Intel plans to breathe new life into the Celeron range, offering it as an entry-level alternative to the Atom for basic desktops, portables, and embedded devices.

Celeron's transition to Sandy Bridge was first suggested by this graphic, leaked at the end of March by the Chinese Mydrivers.com website
(Click to enlarge)

New offerings will offer the same "Sandy Bridge" architecture, 32nm manufacturing, and integrated graphics as the company's 2011 Core i3/i5/i7 range. But, they'll be differentiated from their more-expensive relatives by a smaller L3 cache and by selective deletion of features such as Turbo Boost, hyperthreading, and virtualization technology.

A July 20 DigiTimes report doesn't go into detail on the above, but it does say Intel will launch dual-core Celeron G540 (2.5GHz) and G530 (2.4GHz), as well as single-core Celeron G440 (1.6GHz) processors, in September. Priced at $52, $42, and $37 in thousand-unit tray quantities, respectively, they'll replace six existing Celeron processors (including the E3500 and 450), according to authors Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai.

For notebook platforms, Intel will launch the dual-core Celeron B840 and B800, plus the single-core Celeron B710, DigiTimes adds. These will be priced at $86, $86, and $70, respectively, the report says.

Meanwhile, as noted by both DigiTimes and a separate CPU World report, Intel already quietly announced two ultra-low-voltage (ULV), Sandy Bridge-based Celerons this month. Though unheralded by the chipmaker's marketing department — there must be interesting Atom-vs.-Celeron office politics in Santa Clara — they're listed on the company's website as follows:

• the single-core Celeron 787, clocked at 1.3GHz, with a 17-watt TDP, 1.5MB L3 cache, support for up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and VT-x virtualization technology (but no hyperthreading, VT-d, or Turbo Boost)
• the dual-core Celeron 857, clocked at 1.2GHz, with a 17-Watt TDP, 2MB L3 cache, and other details as above

Intel's site says the Celeron 787 and Celeron 857 will launch during the third quarter of this year. According to Intel, the Celeron 857 will sell for $134. The company doesn't list a price for the 787, but both CPU World and Digitimes claim the 787 will sell for $107 in thousand-unit tray quantities.

The Digitimes story also reminds us that Intel is set to launch dual-core Atom N2800 and N2600 CPUs for desktops, priced at $47 and $42, respectively. For low-price desktops, it will offer the dual-core Atom D2700 and D2500, respectively selling for $52 and $42, Chen and Tsai add.

The same prices, as well as additional details, were listed in our May coverage of these 32nm "Cedar Trail" Atoms. As we noted at the time, Intel says the processors will include Blu-ray 2.0 support, a dedicated media engine "for full 1080p playback," plus additional video options including Intel Wireless Display, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at [email protected] and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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