Merom/Core 2 Duo (Mobile) Now Shipping?

MacRumors · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

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

seems likely to me.

Eidorian · Jul 21, 2006

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

AlBDamned · Jul 21, 2006

PlaceofDis said:
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 · Jul 21, 2006

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

Eidorian · Jul 21, 2006

mcarnes said:
Sheesh. This is a 180 from waiting for G5 updates.

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

bradc · Jul 21, 2006

^^^^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 · Jul 21, 2006

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

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

Eidorian · Jul 21, 2006

bradc said:
^^^^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 · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

andiwm2003 said:
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 · Jul 21, 2006

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

macnews · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

I really should of waited. *sigh

Poudresteve · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

macnews said:
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 · Jul 21, 2006

why just mbp's?

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 · Jul 21, 2006

Eidorian said:
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 · Jul 21, 2006

Slipmip said:
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.

QCassidy352 said:
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.

Apple Corps said:
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/finance/earnings/IntelQ22006earningsfoils.pdf

Apple Corps · Jul 21, 2006

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 · Jul 21, 2006

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.

Merom/Core 2 Duo (Mobile) Now Shipping?

macrumors bot

macrumors 6502a

Administrator/Editor

macrumors Core

macrumors Penryn

macrumors 68030

macrumors 68000

macrumors Penryn

macrumors 6502

macrumors regular

macrumors Penryn

macrumors 68000

macrumors 601

macrumors 6502a

macrumors Penryn

macrumors G3

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

macrumors newbie

macrumors 6502

macrumors newbie

macrumors G5

macrumors Penryn

macrumors 68030

macrumors 68000

Our Staff