Intel has begun sampling processors made using a 45 nanometre (nm) process technology, and said it expects to ship production chips in the second half of 2007.

The first products are likely to be shrunk-down versions of this year's Core 2 Duo processors, which will consume less power and be able to operate at higher clock speeds.

Current Intel processors, such as its Core 2 Duo laptop and desktop chips plus the newer quad-core parts, are built using a 65nm production process. The company is now producing engineering samples of a 45nm chip codenamed Penryn, which is expected to be aimed at laptops. Intel also plans a desktop chip, Wolfdale, which will likewise be a 45nm die-shrink of Core 2 Duo.

According to a Reuters report, Intel's director of process architecture and integration Mark Bohr said the company is on track to begin shipping 45nm chips in the second half of 2007.

Moving from 65nm to 45nm will effectively double the number of transistors that can fit on a die, according to Intel. The company said it will use these transistors to add bigger cache sizes and more features.

The 45nm process will also be used for a new processor architecture called Nehalem that will be introduced in 2008.