Intel Officially Brands Nehalem as 'Core i7' Processor

[MacRumors]

Intel has announced that the upcoming Nehalem processor will be officially known as the Core i7.

Nehalem has been the code name for Intel's upcoming processors first due in Q4 2008. Nehalem represents a major overhaul of Intel's processor technology and introduces a number of improvements over existing process bottlenecks.

Intel's choice of name seems to be arbitrary but will reportedly fit into the naming scheme for the full line of chips, as explained by TGDaily.com:

Intel told us that “i7” was simply chosen because it is “short and sweet”. The company showed some understanding for our confusion over this name choice and promised that i7 would make sense down the road when additional new identifiers are introduced.

Intel is expected to reveal more information about the Core i7 at the Intel Developer Forum on August 19th. At the conference, Intel will also detail a new energy saving technique in the i7:

Intel would not reveal the nature of the new energy efficiency feature in the Core i7 chips. A company spokesman said it is not a direct evolution of the Intel's SpeedStep technology that automates frequency scaling based on workloads.

While the first of the Core i7 processors will be introduced in Q4 2008, mainstream desktop and mobile versions of the processor will be delayed until well into 2009.



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[Eidorian]

Monday already?

Bloomfield at a low end, stable price of $266 is really going to kill what Apple offers.

[MalcolmJID]

Sounds good. At least there won't be anyone asking to wait for this one although I imagine they'll be introduced into the MacBook line by the end of '09

[johata3]

2009!? No new macbook pro models in September?

[miniHope]

Well, sure looks like Intel is catching some of the 'i-something' fever from Apple.

[andiwm2003]

hm, that means Penryn Macbook or Macbook pro as soon as they are released. I plan on buying a 13.3 inch notebook so it could be a MB or a MBP.

then a second notebook end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. maybe even quadcore in 2010.

i wonder how much energy saving beyond reducing the clockspeed is possible. i hope the chips don't run very hot.

[DOUGHNUT]

Originally Posted by johata3

2009!? No new macbook pro models in September?

there will still be a MB/MBP update in September since i7 mobile won't arrive until 2nd half next year.

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by johata3

2009!? No new macbook pro models in September?

A Nehalem mobile platform won't even be out until 2009.

You're looking forward to improved Penryn 45nm processors on the just released Montevina platform.

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

hm, that means Penryn Macbook or Macbook pro as soon as they are released. I plan on buying a 13.3 inch notebook so it could be a MB or a MBP.

then a second notebook end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. maybe even quadcore in 2010.

i wonder how much energy saving beyond reducing the clockspeed is possible. i hope the chips don't run very hot.

I expect a quad in the 17" MacBook Pro this year. It'll be some time for one to show up in the MacBook.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by miniHope

Well, sure looks like Intel is catching some of the 'i-something' fever from Apple.

Or you're just recognizing that and Apple has taken over your mind!

Originally Posted by Eidorian

A Nehalem mobile platform won't even be out until 2009.

You're looking forward to improved Penryn 45nm processors on the just released Montevina platform.

I hope Apple doesn't pull a Mac Mini on the rest of the line.

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I hope Apple doesn't pull a Mac Mini on the rest of the line.

Apple has been doing a Fall laptop update for how long now?

Mac mini needs love but we have plenty of other threads on that. I really want to buy on right now as well...

[manhattanboy]

anything faster and with less power consumption will be a welcome addition
thumbs up

[twoodcc]

not sure what's up with the naming here, but i hope to see these in new macs

[amac4me]

In my view, the best time for current owners to upgrade their portable Macs will be next year when the mobile version of Nehalem are available.

My current MBP was purchased in March of this year so I plan on upgrading next year. Glad I timed my purchases this way.

The next MacBook and MacBook Pro updates won't be earth shattering. People have been hoping for redesigns but I don't think we'll see them just yet. It would be too risky for Apple because it wouldn't make sense to have redesigned systems released just prior to the holiday shopping season. It opens the door to potential problems, a design flaw, production issues, or something that couldn't have been anticipated.

A major design change heading into the busiest shopping period of the year ... I doubt it will happen. Thus, the next revisions to the MacBook and MacBook Pro are likely to be incremental.

These are my expectations

[winterspan]

Perhaps

• 1st gen architecture = 8086
• 2nd gen architecture = 286
• 3rd gen architecture = 386
• 4th gen architecture = 486
• 5th gen architecture = P5 (Pentium)
• 6th gen architecture = P6-based (Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium-M, Core, Core 2)
• (6th gen branched to "P68" aka Pentium IV)
• 7th gen architecture = i7 Nehalem

Anyways, I can't wait for a 2x quad-core "Gainestown" (Nehalem) Mac Pro. Besides just the new single-die quad-core architecture, Quickpath interface, integrated memory controller, simultaneous multi-threading, etc, It will use triple channel DDR3. Finally RAM won't be so darn expensive anymore. 8GB+ of RAM will make multi-platform development with VMware great!

[galstaph]

should be interesting to see what these are capable of when they are released...

[andiwm2003]

Originally Posted by amac4me

............................
The next MacBook and MacBook Pro updates won't be earth shattering. People have been hoping for redesigns but I don't think we'll see them just yet. It would be too risky for Apple because it wouldn't make sense to have redesigned systems released just prior to the holiday shopping season. It opens the door to potential problems, a design flaw, production issues, or something that couldn't have been anticipated.

A major design change heading into the busiest shopping period of the year ... I doubt it will happen. Thus, the next revisions to the MacBook and MacBook Pro are likely to be incremental.

These are my expectations

i don't think you're right.

for one nehalem is far away so buying now gives you a long time till the next update is out (if you care about that at all).

then the moderate update you mention is only moderate for you. for other people it's the jump from G4 to intel dual core and that is huge.

and i expect a case redesign soon together with LED displays in the MB. after that is a good time to buy if you are not happy with the current offering. a lot of people are and buy now.

[pianoman181]

Would Core 3 have been too easy? Seriously.

[Roller]

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

i don't think you're right.

for one nehalem is far away so buying now gives you a long time till the next update is out (if you care about that at all).

then the moderate update you mention is only moderate for you. for other people it's the jump from G4 to intel dual core and that is huge.

and i expect a case redesign soon together with LED displays in the MB. after that is a good time to buy if you are not happy with the current offering. a lot of people are and buy now.

I agree. I don't think that we'll see Nehalem-based laptops from Apple until MW 2010, and that's a long way off. Until then, Apple will have to come up with something more than incremental changes in order to remain competitive.

[amac4me]

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

i don't think you're right.

for one nehalem is far away so buying now gives you a long time till the next update is out (if you care about that at all).

then the moderate update you mention is only moderate for you. for other people it's the jump from G4 to intel dual core and that is huge.

and i expect a case redesign soon together with LED displays in the MB. after that is a good time to buy if you are not happy with the current offering. a lot of people are and buy now.

Originally Posted by Roller

I agree. I don't think that we'll see Nehalem-based laptops from Apple until MW 2010, and that's a long way off. Until then, Apple will have to come up with something more than incremental changes in order to remain competitive.

My comment about it an incremental update is relative to the current generation. I do however think that the comment about LED displays in the MacBook is a real possibility. The same goes for a multi-touch trackpad. 2010 is too far out for Nehalem-based Mac portables.

Overall, I think the time to release redesigned systems is after the holidays at MacWorld 2009. With the 3G iPhone release out of the way and other than a Snow Leopard demo, what else do we have to look forward to in January?

[Rootman]

Weird. I have a cat named i7.

[kabunaru]

First, MacBook
Then comes the MacBook i7.

First, MacBook Pro
Then comes the MacBook Pro i7.

i7= sounds very close to G7 (PowerPC)
PowerPC resemblance anyone?

[andiwm2003]

Originally Posted by amac4me

.................... With the 3G iPhone release out of the way and other than a Snow Leopard demo, what else do we have to look forward to in January?

ilife, mac mini, apple TV, ipod's, mac pro, tablet mac/subnotebook, imac updates, blue ray

anyway, back to the topic: nehalem promises a secret power saving system. will that allow to change the design of noteboks toward MBA like designs?

[thecartoonguy]

Originally Posted by Rootman

Weird. I have a cat named i7.

Hehe mine is named 5
wait.....
wait for it......

cat-5...I get it

[ltcol266845]

Ah, well into 2009 sounds like a good time for a MBP upgrade

I for one am waiting AT LEAST until quad cores come to 15.4" MBP. Maybe even WUXGA

And who isn't excited for Larrabee! I for one hope that Intel kicks some serious butt with Larrabee, the graphics market is in need of a revolution, and it will make desktops significantly more powerful!

[winterspan]

Originally Posted by amac4me

My comment about it an incremental update is relative to the current generation. I do however think that the comment about LED displays in the MacBook is a real possibility. The same goes for a multi-touch trackpad. 2010 is too far out for Nehalem-based Mac portables.

Overall, I think the time to release redesigned systems is after the holidays at MacWorld 2009. With the 3G iPhone release out of the way and other than a Snow Leopard demo, what else do we have to look forward to in January?

I'm at a loss as to whether they (Apple) and others

Despite some doubts, I think I'm going to have to agree with the others on this. It just seems like it has been SOOOOO long since Macbook and Macbook Pro case and structural changes that it would be crazy to wait for mobile Nehalem. One point I'm interested to see is if Apple (and other computer companies) have your same perspective on the holiday rush, e.g. they would rather make conservative updates to their product line than risk any problems with major product changes during a huge sales period. That is certainly one way to look at it. The other would be the desire to maximize sales by driving the hype around new products.

I decided to do some quick "back of the napkin" research and look at Apple's past behavior regarding major laptop updates. I only included laptop updates that made either case modifications or major processor changes.

1st gen iBook G3 July 1999
2nd gen iBook G3 May 2001
1st gen iBook G4 Oct 2003

1st gen PowerBook G4 (Ti) Jan 2001
2nd gen PowerBook G4 (Al 12/17") Jan 2003
2nd gen PowerBook G4 (Al 15") Sept 2003

1st gen MacBook (Core) May 2006
1.5 gen Macbook (Core 2) Nov 2006

1st gen Macbook Pro (15") Feb 2006
1st gen Macbook Pro (17") Apr 2006
1.5 gen Macbook Pro (Core 2) Oct 2006

From that data at least, there doesn't seem to be a strict release strategy. Although it appears to be more the exception than the rule, both the iBook G4 and the 15" version of the aluminum Powerbook were launched during the pre-Christmas shopping period. Also, The Core -> Core 2 transition of both the Macbook and Macbook Pro happened during the 2006 Christmas shopping season.

After all that, I'm still unsure. But given that both laptops' designs are long in the tooth, and that mobile Nehalem is more than a year away, I'm leaning towards a major overhaul in at least the Macbook, and possibly the MBP, being seen in the next month.