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Which Intel processor is this?

M

myuserid08

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 15, 2008
358
9
I've seen a number of posts which say which Intel processor they are using such as "Santa Rosa" and "Penryn".
Is there much difference in performance and how do I find out which processor my macbook has, apple dont seem to tell you for some reason.
 
santa rosa is a chipset, as opposed to penryn, which is the actual CPU. the difference between the penryn (newest) and santa rosa C2D processors arent that impressive. however, the penryn processors do use a lot less power, thus producing less heat. which is good.

donno how to tell the diff. whats your CPU speed?
 
Unless you bought your Macbook within the past month or so, it doesn't have a Penryn processor. Penryn is the latest and greatest with Intels Core 2 Duo processors. They pack more power and use less power. If that makes sense. Their benchmark doing various tasks was considerably better than the Santa Rosa Core 2 Duo. Read about it here.. The Penryn processors were release at the same time the new Macbook and Macbook Pros came out.
 
I bought one of the last 2.2ghz midrange macbooks, so I take it I'm using the old santa rosa?
 
Don't think it really matters which CPU you have... both Merom and Penryn are in the same class, just newer technology - hence not so impressive!
 
Take a look in System Profiler: (Apple Menu -> About This Mac -> More Info...)

In Hardware Overview, if your Model Identifier says MacBook3,1, then you have a Merom chip. If it's MacBook4,1, then you have the Penryn chip.
 
Penryn or Santa Rosa?

I ordered a 2.4 gig MacBook today and there is no reference as to which processor is in the book. Merom, Penryn...

What scares me is the tech support couldn't/wouldn't tell me, they were reading it off of the box. I would figure if you are selling machines that you would know what and which models you are selling.

I know which machine I have like everybody else within a couple of minutes/seconds.

Poor customer service?, they really don't know? or are they selling older generation MacBooks...What do you think?

Also, I contacted Apple Tech Support and asked them what's the difference between the Penryn and the Merom? the guy was either an idiot, wouldn't tell me or didn't know...What do you think?

Any way I am confused...When I get the MacBook tomorrow I will see if it is a 3,1 or a 4,1 I am really hoping for a 4,1.

Any help/comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Chris
 
The dithering masses aren't really familiar with processor classifications beyond the generic Core 2 Duos and Xeons. All the talk of Penryn/Merom I've ever seen comes from this site.

If you ordered your new MacBook from the Apple store itself, I'm sure you will be getting Penryn.
 
mckyvlle said:
Take a look in System Profiler: (Apple Menu -> About This Mac -> More Info...)

In Hardware Overview, if your Model Identifier says MacBook3,1, then you have a Merom chip. If it's MacBook4,1, then you have the Penryn chip.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this info.

I just checked on this Whitebook of mine, and it says 2,1 -- do you know what this means? It was made and bought in November 06 when the Core 2 Duos were rolled out. :confused:
 
valdore said:
Thanks for this info.

I just checked on this Whitebook of mine, and it says 2,1 -- do you know what this means? It was made and bought in November 06 when the Core 2 Duos were rolled out. :confused:
Click to expand...

It's probably a Merom (65nm) Core 2 Duo. But it is using the pre-Santa Rosa platform, Napa.
 
Hiroku1324 said:
I ordered a 2.4 gig MacBook today and there is no reference as to which processor is in the book. Merom, Penryn...

What scares me is the tech support couldn't/wouldn't tell me, they were reading it off of the box. I would figure if you are selling machines that you would know what and which models you are selling.

I know which machine I have like everybody else within a couple of minutes/seconds.

Poor customer service?, they really don't know? or are they selling older generation MacBooks...What do you think?

Also, I contacted Apple Tech Support and asked them what's the difference between the Penryn and the Merom? the guy was either an idiot, wouldn't tell me or didn't know...What do you think?

Any way I am confused...When I get the MacBook tomorrow I will see if it is a 3,1 or a 4,1 I am really hoping for a 4,1.

Any help/comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Chris
Click to expand...

1 gen - 1.83 - 2.0 GHz Core Duo (Yonah)
2 gen - 1.83 - 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
3 gen - 2.0 - 2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
4 gen - 2.0 - 2.2 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Santa Rosa chipset)
5 gen - 2.1 - 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Penryn with Santa Rosa chipset)
 
eXan said:
1 gen - 1.83 - 2.0 GHz Core Duo (Yonah)
2 gen - 1.83 - 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
3 gen - 2.0 - 2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
4 gen - 2.0 - 2.2 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Santa Rosa chipset)
5 gen - 2.1 - 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Penryn with Santa Rosa chipset)
Click to expand...

I got a 2.4 Ghz MBP that says 3.1 so that wouldn't be a penryn processor I guess? On the other hand, i do have 4Gb mem.
oooohw, it is so confusing :D

But most important thing is: it works!!!!
 
alecgold said:
I got a 2.4 Ghz MBP that says 3.1 so that wouldn't be a penryn processor I guess? On the other hand, i do have 4Gb mem.
oooohw, it is so confusing :D

But most important thing is: it works!!!!
Click to expand...

I wrote that for MacBooks. MBPs are different.

1 gen - 1.83 - 2.16 GHz Core Duo (Yonah)
2 gen - 2.16 - 2.33 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
3 gen - 2.2 - 2.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Santa Rosa chipset)
4 gen - 2.4 - 2.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Penryn with Santa Rosa chipset)

Another way to identify your MB/MBP as Penryn, is by the fact that Penryn models don't have the Apple Remote included.
 
eXan said:
1 gen - 1.83 - 2.0 GHz Core Duo (Yonah)
2 gen - 1.83 - 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
3 gen - 2.0 - 2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Napa chipset)
4 gen - 2.0 - 2.2 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Merom with Santa Rosa chipset)
5 gen - 2.1 - 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo (Penryn with Santa Rosa chipset)
Click to expand...

Got it and it is a version 4.1 it did not come with a remote but has 2gigs of memory and is the newest release of the MacBook 2.4....) :p)

I love it :p

Ecom did me right($1259 plus free shipping)...

So check your Macbooks when you get them, you might get lucky like me, or get an older model. (I don't know the real difference except maybe energy savings?) I just want the newest for the money spent....:)

Thanks...:):):)
 
Hiroku1324 said:
Got it and it is a version 4.1 it did not come with a remote but has 2gigs of memory and is the newest release of the MacBook 2.4....) :p)

I love it :p

Ecom did me right($1259 plus free shipping)...

So check your Macbooks when you get them, you might get lucky like me, or get an older model. (I don't know the real difference except maybe energy savings?) I just want the newest for the money spent....:)

Thanks...:):):)
Click to expand...

wow nice deal, i would be ABSOLUTELY PISSED!! if i got an older 3,* version. if i pay for the newest i want the newest.

the difference is battery life and performance increases (minimal at best).
 
DoFoT9 said:
wow nice deal, i would be ABSOLUTELY PISSED!! if i got an older 3,* version. if i pay for the newest i want the newest.

the difference is battery life and performance increases (minimal at best).
Click to expand...

+ MOAAR storage and RAM :D
 
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