Laptop manufacturers have started selling the first notebooks powered by Intel's new Core 2 Duo processors formerly known by their 'Merom' codename.

Manufacturers including Dell, Gateway and Toshiba have launched more than 200 new laptop models featuring the dual-core 64-bit processor.

Intel is preparing its next mobile upgrade for early next year, when the chipmaker is planning to launch its Santa Rosa chipset.

The processor is the first mobile chip to use Intel's Core micro-architecture. The new architecture is largely identical to the Banias micro-architecture which formed the foundation of Intel's previous mobile processors. The new chips therefore offer only limited improvements.

Much larger gains can be achieved in the server and desktop segment, where the Core micro-architecture replaces the power hungry Netburst technology.

Intel released its Woodcrest Xeon processor in June, which on average offers 80 per cent better performance while consuming 40 per cent less power.

Launched in July, the Conroe desktop processor is designed to cut power consumption by 40 per cent while adding 40 per cent in performance.