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We don't actually know what the mobile nomenclature is for the Nehalem architecture or Westmere.

i7 is the highend, i5 is the mainstream (still pretty highend if you ask me with 4 cores, HTT, integrated memory controller etc.) and i3 will be the value line when it arrives in Westmere at 32nm. You see, with Intel moving out Atom in force, they can position that as a really cheap desktop alternative, especially by the next variants. Core 2 will move down the line to more value level performance I expect.

The mobiles I believe will use i6/i4/i2, with Clarksfield being i6 and Arrandale being i4 (still figuring out what will take i2). It's frustrating since Intel canceled Havendale and Auburndale to squeeze out all the money they can from Core 2 (especially since AMD is still playing catch-up). It's most important to look at the codenames than the production line model.

-ton suffix processors are MP server chips like Beckton
-town suffix chips are DP server/workstation likes like Gainestown Xeon
-field processors now represent higher-end CPUs with no integrated GPU like Bloomfield (i7)
-dale procs are mainstream/value segments with integrated GPUs.

Honestly, Apple SHOULD use Clarksfield for laptops, however the heat generation is just too much. They'll have to use Arrandale unless TDP can drop. But that puts them behind PC vendors in performance, and Apple has been top notch in laptop performance. However, Apple has one trick up their sleeve: OpenCL. GPU acceleration can fill the gap in performance between quad and dual core processors for the time being.
 
Yeah I hate having extra power too. :rolleyes: Man, sure wish they'd artificially limit my proc more.

It's a legitimate statement. Not everyone can use that redundancy, so not having it could be an advantage in some cases.

edit: The most important benefits being a lower TDP >> thinner laptops (smaller cooling solution), better battery life
 
It's most important to look at the codenames than the production line model.

-ton suffix processors are MP server chips like Beckton
-town suffix chips are DP server/workstation likes like Gainestown Xeon
-field processors now represent higher-end CPUs with no integrated GPU like Bloomfield (i7)
-dale procs are mainstream/value segments with integrated GPUs.

What's Woodcrest then? ;)

(Looking for patterns in codenames is not a good idea - the rules change, and sometimes codenames deliberately break the pattern to confuse people.)
 
AS much of a fan I am of apple tech... this is just not going to happen in the timeframes stated.

The PC world always gets the latest gear first.. take i7 for example.. Its been out a while and many people have machines now with this technology in it.

Apple ... nowhere to be seen. And probably never will be seen.

The mac pro awaits the next xeon.... 1yr+ days and counting.

The iMac.. awaiting god knows what. If its the same form factor then all they can do with it is use mobile processors.

I think they should dump the form factor of the iMac and design it so that they can use proper desktop processors to actually be able to compete with PC's since they refuse to release a mid range tower desktop.

Yarrrrr! Rant over.
 
It's a legitimate statement. Not everyone can use that redundancy, so not having it could be an advantage in some cases.

edit: The most important benefits being a lower TDP >> thinner laptops (smaller cooling solution), better battery life
Apple's laptops don't need to be any thinner. :rolleyes:
 
not "either/or"

I think they should dump the form factor of the iMac and design it so that they can use proper desktop processors to actually be able to compete with PC's since they refuse to release a mid range tower desktop.

They don't need to dump the Imac - lots of people like the all-in-one form factor.

Just add a mini-tower with a quad Core i7 for the "rest of us".
 
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I hope this pans out. I would also like to see a desktop processor in the iMac line as well.
Apple's laptops don't need to be any thinner. :rolleyes:

I too hope that Apple puts some significant power into the iMac line.

My one concern is that they find a way to do so without overheating the interior components.
My last iMac suffered from very high internal temps (as reported via several temp tools) and eventually died. Which i believe to be result in large part from excessive heat with too little hot air outflow.
The infatuation at Apple with thinner cases, and thus worse air cooling, is something I just do not understand. Sigh.
 
So the mobile Core i7 Arrandale part is just dual-core with HTT enabled (2 real, 2 logical cores), correct? Compared to the current desktop Core i7 part which is quad-core with HTT enabled (4 real, 4 logical cores)?

So, there's still a chance Apple could decide to use the true quad-core Clarksfield part instead, which has 4 real and 4 logical cores.
Most Clarksfields will be too hot for the MacBook Pro (besides the lowest-end one, which is basically the equivalent of the current 2.0 GHz quad-core). And Apple may not want to put a Clarksfield with lower GHz than the Arrandales.

What he said. I promise you, these processors will not be in the macbook or macbook pro. They are way to expensive for apple to make their profit margin. End of discussion.
Yeah, mainstream and entry-level CPUs are "to expensive." :rolleyes: (Unless you're talking about the Bloomfield Core i7's.)

A desktop processor should be in the iMac, and not a notebook processor with less power consumption because the iMac isn't portable and isn't meant to be, it's meant to be the entertainment center or a more powerful computer than a MacBook. All-In-One or tower, it shouldn't have a notebook processor because it's not portable.
Same reason why there most likely won't be quad-cores in the MacBook Pro. Heat. The new 65 W desktop quad-cores may be cool enough for the iMac though. ;)

Intel to Launch 32-Nanometer CPUs by September 2009
Earlier than I thought. I believe Atom is early on the 32 nm list as well as Arrandale.

The PC world always gets the latest gear first.. take i7 for example.. Its been out a while and many people have machines now with this technology in it.

Apple ... nowhere to be seen. And probably never will be seen.
I understand what you're saying, but there's no Mac that can take the Core i7.

The mac pro awaits the next xeon.... 1yr+ days and counting.
Gainestown isn't released yet. The Mac Pro got Woodcrest, Clovertown (3.0 GHz only), and Harpertown within months of their releases. But still, Apple could have updated other components (in addition to initial Clovertowns and 3.4 GHz Harpertown) in the interim periods.
 
Apple's laptops don't need to be any thinner. :rolleyes:

I didn't say thinner than their current size. Right now, thinner than the competition with dual core processors. Quad core processors have higher TDP's and would create thicker apple laptops than what they are now. Some may be fine with that, but I don't see apple segmenting their product line around that (different thickness 15"). I could see them having quad cores in 17" only though.
 
So here's the million dollar question, am I going to get super screwed buying a laptop this back to school season?

Not that I need that much processing power, I just hope they add the larger battery to the 15in MBP and update the GPU to the Nvidia 130m. Then I think I will be happy as I have a 2ghz iMac G5 right now.
 
Too bad I go to highschool this Sept., not next. Me and about 40 kids in my class will be in line for the SL release, the new standard for my school (we just got a uniMB shipment in the library). I really would love a quad MB, but I'll sell my new MB as a junior too buy the redesign, and again when i go to college.

we have tech classes at school (that im going to take) that use MP's... I want my computer to be decent in class, :D
 
Most Clarksfields will be too hot for the MacBook Pro (besides the lowest-end one, which is basically the equivalent of the current 2.0 GHz quad-core). And Apple may not want to put a Clarksfield with lower GHz than the Arrandales.

Yeah, mainstream and entry-level CPUs are "to expensive." :rolleyes: (Unless you're talking about the Bloomfield Core i7's.)

Same reason why there most likely won't be quad-cores in the MacBook Pro. Heat. The new 65 W desktop quad-cores may be cool enough for the iMac though. ;)

Earlier than I thought. I believe Atom is early on the 32 nm list as well as Arrandale.

I understand what you're saying, but there's no Mac that can take the Core i7.

Gainestown isn't released yet. The Mac Pro got Woodcrest, Clovertown (3.0 GHz only), and Harpertown within months of their releases. But still, Apple could have updated other components (in addition to initial Clovertowns and 3.4 GHz Harpertown) in the interim periods.

Yes but these cpu's include other parts that were on the mother board. This might add more room for cooling
 
I really hope so. It'd make me more comfortable buying one...plus
4GB RAM, GeForce 9800 GT or GTX+, 1TB HDD for the same price as the current top end 24" iMac.

Just found this rumor from November saying Apple was planning on using them in their new iMacs:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ng_on_quad_core_desktop_chips_from_intel.html

Actually, seems those 65W quads are more expensive than the new, faster i7's. It may be more practical to address the cooling issue in the iMac than to go with an older, slower, more expensive processor. Think releasing Snow Leopard along with a Quad Core iMac line would make a powerful impact from a marketing standpoint. The other option, releasing a another Duo Core line, when Quad Core PCs are available for the same price, would probably turn some potential buyers off in this economy, and wouldn't really excite anyone. If that was the route they were going to take, I'd think they would just update the processor on their current iMacs without much hoopla, which I think they've done before. Given they update iMacs once a year lately, I'm thinking they're going to find a way to deal with the i7's or take a profit hit with the 65W Quads. Otherwise, they're looking at a uncertain 2009 with their computers significantly behind PCs, more than ever, and many casual laptop users switching to Netbooks, which are more convenient and much cheaper.
 
I too hope that Apple puts some significant power into the iMac line.

My last iMac suffered from very high internal temps (as reported via several temp tools) and eventually died. Which i believe to be result in large part from excessive heat with too little hot air outflow.
The infatuation at Apple with thinner cases, and thus worse air cooling, is something I just do not understand. Sigh.

I am planning on getting a high-end 24" iMac in the next update, but a message like yours worries me. Should I be? What model was yours?
 
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