Intel developing multiple versions of Yonah CPU

Mac rumour site Think Secret heard from reliable sources that Apple will launch new iBook and Mac mini systems along with a new, improved iPod shuffle at MacWorld Expo in San Francisco next month.

The new Mac mini and iBook notebook will be among the first systems to feature Intel's new Yonah processor. By the time Apple will launch these systems a dual-core Yonah will be available and by the end of Q1 2006 a single-core version will be shipping too. Think Secret also learned Intel will offer two versions of each processor design.

The dual-core version of Yonah, which sources say will be marketed as "Centrino Duo," will be available in a low-voltage version at speeds of 1.5GHz, 1.66GHz, and 1.83GHz, while a faster "performance" version will ship at speeds of 1.66GHz, 1.83GHz, 2.0GHz, and 2.16GHz. Bus speeds and L2 cache are expected to remain the same between the variants, at 667MHz and 2MB, respectively. Sources cautioned that not all speeds might be announced concurrently, and that the performance version of the dual-core Yonah might not be announced until later in the quarter.

Yonah's launch could mean that dual-core Yonah iBooks, at speeds of 1.5GHz, might be announced in January, while faster PowerBooks, packing the performance version of the processor, might arrive later in the quarter, although that remains pure speculation at this point. Think Secret first reported that Apple was prepping Intel-based iBooks in mid-November, and sources more recently noted that the 14.1-inch iBook will likely be replaced by a 13.3-inch widescreen version. Think Secret also recently reported details of the revamped Mac mini that will pack an Intel processor.

More details over here.