Intel Centrino 2 platform to launch on Monday

Back in May we learned that Intel had postponed the launch of its Centrino 2 notebook platform until mid-July, supposedly due to a series of issues relating to the platform’s integrated graphics and a certification problem with the FCC for their 802.11n wireless network controller. Well, the mid-July deadline is almost here and it looks like Centrino 2 is finally ready to debut.

Intel’s fifth-generation notebook platform will be unleashed in San Francisco on Monday afternoon, and several notebook makers including HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, and Fujitsu will have systems ready at launch – though it appears that Intel is still having problems with its own integrated graphics as only systems running discrete graphics from Nvidia or ATI will be available initially.

The platform is expected to offer faster memory and a further focus on reduced power consumption and connectivity by combining Penryn-based mobile processors with a chipset supporting DDR3 memory as well as 802.11n Wi-Fi support – some versions will also support WiMAX. According to reports, the first 45-nm processors in the Centrino 2 platform will be dual-core parts, but quad-core CPUs should follow later on.