Merom/Core 2 Duo (Mobile) Now Shipping?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Intel is shipping Core 2 Duo Mobile chips (Merom) to manufacturers, according to recent Intel financial report. A recent AppleInsider story had indicated that Intel may have plans to move up Merom's formal launch to next Monday, July 23rd, to coincide with the Core 2 Duo Desktop variant ("Conroe") launch. Despite the move, availablility at the time was still not expected until August.

Merom is expected to replace Core Duo "Yonah" CPUs found in the MacBook Pro. Apple could use the 2.0, 2.16, or 2.33 GHz variants of Merom in its MacBook Pro line, each of which sport 4 MB of L2 Cache (up from 2 MB in current MacBook Pros) and have a 667 MHz frontside bus.

[hyperpasta]

Niice. I would assume that they forgo using the 2.0 GHz chip though. Right now, their lineup is pretty solid using two different speeds. Unless the modify the structure of the lineup (as in lower prices), I think it would make sense.

[WildCowboy]

This definitely increases the chances of Apple introducing new MBPs at WWDC. Could be a huge event!

My PB is only a year and half old, but Merom-based MBPs are looking awfully tempting...

[PlaceofDis]

up the chips in the MBPs and up the speeds in the MBs?

seems likely to me.

[Eidorian]

I'm ready to pay Apple. Something under $1500 please.

[AlBDamned]

Originally Posted by PlaceofDis

up the chips in the MBPs and up the speeds in the MBs?

seems likely to me.

Yup, possibly the cheap 2.0GHz Yonah's across the board in MacBooks and the 2.16 and 2.33 Merom's in the MBP. Plus a new enclosure at WWDC for MBP.

Get saving Al!

[mcarnes]

Sheesh. This is a 180 from waiting for G5 updates.

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by mcarnes

Sheesh. This is a 180 from waiting for G5 updates.

They're much more predictable with Intel's roadmap.

[bradc]

^^^^No kidding eh? Intel is on the move this year! Releasing products left/right&centre!

This WWDC will either be amazing or a total letdown?

[Core Trio]

Noooo....must...resist urges to buy...new MBP's

Just have to keep reminding myself I cant afford these things right now..

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by bradc

^^^^No kidding eh? Intel is on the move this year! Releasing products left/right&centre!

This WWDC will either be amazing or a total letdown?

I doubt we'll see Core 2 Duo machines next Tuesday, but it's possible.

Otherwise I expect a WWDC rollout.

[bigbossbmb]

great news, but i think a few will vote it negative because they like to whine...

i may need to bump up my timeline for upgrading my dying 12"

[andiwm2003]

i thought the merom chips have the same pricing as the yonah 5 or 6 month ago. that would mean apple could switch to all merom (MB, mini, MBP). especially since they are compared to dell & co. in the windows world you are almost forced to use the better chip (merom) because the competition is fierce.

[Nuc]

It would be nice if they released the MBP before WWDC so that I can take advantage of the tax free holiday and the student discount here in NC...

Nuc

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

i thought the merom chips have the same pricing as the yonah 5 or 6 month ago. that would mean apple could switch to all merom (MB, mini, MBP). especially since they are compared to dell & co. in the windows world you are almost forced to use the better chip (merom) because the competition is fierce.

Merom is launching with Yonah's original pricing. Yonah is going to get another price drop later this year.

[bigandy]

oh dear, i seem to be drooling....

[macnews]

Glad I didn't decide to buy a new MBP in June! I have plans to wait until after WWDC, but I think we might see a change in processor before than. I don't see moving to a newer Intel chip as being a "big" developer issue.

[JackSYi]

I really should of waited. *sigh

[Poudresteve]

This is not what I needed to maintain a productive Friday afternoon! My excitement level was already at "11" with new Mac Pro's coming out. I'll have to see what else I can cut out of the ol' budget to get all of these new toys...

[toneloco2881]

Originally Posted by macnews

Glad I didn't decide to buy a new MBP in June! I have plans to wait until after WWDC, but I think we might see a change in processor before than. I don't see moving to a newer Intel chip as being a "big" developer issue.

Well, when you couple the fact it's an entirely new architecture for intel, along with being 64-bit, it might tie in nicely at the developer conference. I expect Leopard to evolve into a full 64-bit OS so these chips can would make for a great entrance at WWDC...IMO.

[Slipmip]

This may be a dumb question, but why would apple just use the new chips in mbp's and not the mb? Dosn't seem to make sense. As soon as core 2 merom comes out every pc notebook will have it. Price wouldn't be an issue cause merom is same price as yonah, correct?

[QCassidy352]

Originally Posted by Eidorian

I doubt we'll see Core 2 Duo machines next Tuesday, but it's possible.

Otherwise I expect a WWDC rollout.

I don't think we'll see these at WWDC unless there are other substantial changes. Going from a Yonah to a Merom chip may be great news, but it's hardly something Steve can crow about on stage. "Here's the new macbook pro... it looks and functions exactly like the old one, but 20% faster. Um, yeah. You already know all about the macbook pro, so there's really nothing else for me to say, is there?"

I expect we will see mac pros and leopard demo'ed at WWDC, plus the usual talk about how well apple is doing, etc. Maybe some talk about pro apps because it's a developer's conference. MAYBE a new ipod (nano) just because it's such big news, even tho it's not really for developers.

But as far as new MBPs go, I'd expect a quiet announcement some tuesday in the relatively near future.

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by Slipmip

This may be a dumb question, but why would apple just use the new chips in mbp's and not the mb? Dosn't seem to make sense. As soon as core 2 merom comes out every pc notebook will have it. Price wouldn't be an issue cause merom is same price as yonah, correct?

The MBP is a PRO model. They can keep Yonah (Which is fast enough mind you) and still speed bump it/lower the price some more.

Originally Posted by QCassidy352

I don't think we'll see these at WWDC unless there are other substantial changes. Going from a Yonah to a Merom chip may be great news, but it's hardly something Steve can crow about on stage. "Here's the new macbook pro... it looks and functions exactly like the old one, but 20% faster. Um, yeah. You already know all about the macbook pro, so there's really nothing else for me to say, is there?"

I expect we will see mac pros and leopard demo'ed at WWDC, plus the usual talk about how well apple is doing, etc. Maybe some talk about pro apps because it's a developer's conference. MAYBE a new ipod (nano) just because it's such big news, even tho it's not really for developers.

But as far as new MBPs go, I'd expect a quiet announcement some tuesday in the relatively near future.

So new iMacs next Tuesday?

I do agree that the new Pro towers need a much more proper launch while the other lines can just get a shiny new Core 2 Duo logo on their site and an update to Apple's Intel page.

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

I posted this very early on:

Yesterday, 09:36 PM #1
Apple Corps
macrumors regular

Location: Fresno, California
Core 2 Duo
Intel presentation slide confirms that the pc portable version of the Core 2 Duo is NOW SHIPPING - fully 1 month ahead of schedule.

Is that the Merom? What would that say about WWDC announcements :-)

READ SLIDE #3 http://download.intel.com/intel/fina...ningsfoils.pdf

Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
__________________
Quad G5 / 4.5 GB / Two 20" ACD
Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 / 2 GB
17" iMac FP 1.25
15" TiPB 400 / 1 GB
Indigo Clamshell 366
Canon 20D / Canon i9900

Do you guys not give at least a tag line credit :-)

Your copy pasta didn't work completely.

http://download.intel.com/intel/fina...ningsfoils.pdf

[Apple Corps]

I posted this very early on:

Yesterday, 09:36 PM #1
Apple Corps
macrumors regular

Location: Fresno, California
Core 2 Duo
Intel presentation slide confirms that the pc portable version of the Core 2 Duo is NOW SHIPPING - fully 1 month ahead of schedule.

Is that the Merom? What would that say about WWDC announcements :-)

READ SLIDE #3 http://download.intel.com/intel/fina...ningsfoils.pdf

Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
__________________
Quad G5 / 4.5 GB / Two 20" ACD
Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 / 2 GB
17" iMac FP 1.25
15" TiPB 400 / 1 GB
Indigo Clamshell 366
Canon 20D / Canon i9900

Do you guys not give at least a tag line credit :-)

[dongmin]

It'll be quite an action-packed WWDC, if all these rumors pan out--which of course they wont.

-Leopard preview
-Mac Pros
-new iPod Nanos
-true video iPods
-iTMS movie downloads
-MacBook Pros with Meroms

Crazy. I'm betting against the consumer-related announcements. And hoping for MBPs with new enclosure and features.