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Intel Introduces Core i7 Quad-Core Mobile Processors

The KEY question for apple is:

What is the thermal design power (TDP) of these and future processors?

That is!
 
Get This.

iMac 24" Gets all 3 different versions of the processor.

Apple drops current line of MBP down to MacBook, MacBook is discountinued. Apple Release new MacBook Pro Line in 15" and 17" Sizes, containing these Quadcore chips. (Possibiliy 15" lowest, 17" Mid, no 2Ghz Model)

What would be called the MacBook Line get Dual Core Arrandale CPU's next year.

Top Spec Mac Mini also gets this new chip, at Base Speed.
 
I sure hope that Apple doesn't wait for the Arrandale (especially for the iMac). I'd much rather have a Clarksfield.

The Arrandale is designed to do 1 thing, drive down cost. 1/2 the cores of clarksfield and integrated intel graphics (yuck).

I really think Clarksfield is going to be used in the high end iMacs and MacBook Pros (anything right now that doesn't use the 9400M). The arrandale will be used in the models that currently only use the 9400M.

Clarksfields TDP is 45W, the current Penryn processor used in the MacBook Pro is 35W. Clarksfield includes the Northbridge on the processor which eliminates the northbridge from the logic board. 45W Clarkfield = 35 W Penryn + 10W Northbride. The total power is equivalent the density is higher on the Clarksfield.
 
mgargan1 said:
I do wonder; however, if the Turbo Boost is a hardware thing, or does the OS need to recognize it? In other-words, will turbo boost work as intended for OS X?
Click to expand...

Turbo boost is in in the die and hardware based (Energy Gates). Core 2 Duos have something similar but it fails because the energy gate isn't effective at turning off cores when unneeded.

Remember the more the cores, the more they have to share the TDP. So Core 2 Duos share, however, the sharing in i7s is more aggressive in the sense that the energy gate will completely shut off an unused core where as in Core 2s the core goes down to almost turned off but it has power going thru it. Hence, the Core 2s don't have Turbo boost, but they do get a small jump.
 
Eric S. said:
Dual-core hyperthreaded = 4 virtual cpus. It will look just like a 4-core system.
Click to expand...
In that case clarksfield is an 8-core machine. Intel doesn't have any other mobile true quad cores in their roadmap until sandy bridge, the desktop chips are set to come out in 2011, which means the mobile ones won't be until almost 2012. If Apple doesn't find a way to use Clarksfield in their product line the majority of their products will be stuck at duel core for the next 2-3 years.
 
guzhogi said:
Looking at the baseline speeds, 2.0 GHz as the fastest, I know some people will wonder why they should get MBPs with these (if they come) when their old MBPs had a higher speed (my current MBP has a 2.5 GHz CPU). However, going from 2 cores -> 4 cores, that should make up for it, especially w/ apps that use Grand Central/OpenCL.
Click to expand...

The 1.7 GHz model runs at 2.8GHz in dual-core operation via Turbo Boost. In addition, it is multi-threaded, so great for Snow Leopard going forward. And 45W TDP, but the chip includes the memory controller and PCI-e controller so it's not so bad compared to a previous generation 35W part.

Perfect for a revamped iMac I would say, apart from the cost of these puppies. It might be enough to make me bite the bullet and get the 24" iMac despite not wanting an all-in-one computer.

Too hungry for a revamped MacBook however. Arrandale for these.
 
As for these being in an iMac, I think that will boil down to cost. The numbers I found show the 920 (extreme version) at $1000 per in lots of 1000, and the 820 at about $600 per in lots of 1000. I expect the price would be lower in lots of 1,000,000 but overall this isn't an inexpensive processor. Only time will tell what Apple is planning.
 
MattZani said:
Get This.

iMac 24" Gets all 3 different versions of the processor.

Apple drops current line of MBP down to MacBook, MacBook is discountinued. Apple Release new MacBook Pro Line in 15" and 17" Sizes, containing these Quadcore chips. (Possibiliy 15" lowest, 17" Mid, no 2Ghz Model)

What would be called the MacBook Line get Dual Core Arrandale CPU's next year.

Top Spec Mac Mini also gets this new chip, at Base Speed.
Click to expand...

Why aren't you submitting info to Mac Rumors?
 
Eidorian said:
Turbo Boost is in hardware and near instantaneous.
Click to expand...
AFAIK Features like that are turned off or on in BIOS/EFI. So we would assume there would be an EFI update to accommodate that functionality.
danielwsmithee said:
I sure hope that Apple doesn't wait for the Arrandale (especially for the iMac). I'd much rather have a Clarksfield.

The Arrandale is designed to do 1 thing, drive down cost. 1/2 the cores of clarksfield and integrated intel graphics (yuck).

I really think Clarksfield is going to be used in the high end iMacs and MacBook Pros (anything right now that doesn't use the 9400M). The arrandale will be used in the models that currently only use the 9400M.

Clarksfields TDP is 45W, the current Penryn processor used in the MacBook Pro is 35W. Clarksfield includes the Northbridge on the processor which eliminates the northbridge from the logic board. 45W Clarkfield = 35 W Penryn + 10W Northbride. The total power is equivalent the density is higher on the Clarksfield.
Click to expand...
Do we know if nVidia has plans on making Mobile Nehalem chipsets?
 
camomac said:
Hopefully we will see bluray early next year too!
Click to expand...

yeah for me also... i wont buy a laptop that doesn't have it


and yes to those who think these new chips would be good for imacs and mac mini.... i agree why should the imac just be limited to laptop low power chips??? makes no sense
 
Uh, why??

I just read the reviews of new laptops using these Core i7 chips (on Gizmodo) and the battery life they get is AWFUL. Apple would be wise to wait for a better CPU to come along, rather than rush to engineer something with this one in it.... (None of the tested systems even reached 2 hours of run-time on battery.)

It *could* go in an iMac ... but Apple would probably rather save the engineering/R&D money putting one together with it, and just use the next chip instead. iMac users aren't really THAT performance-minded that they'd buy up the new model in huge numbers.


AAPLaday said:
Dammit Apple, stick one of these in a MBP even if its just the 17" model, oh and in the new iMacs please :)
Click to expand...
 
Quad-core in the iMac late this year or 2010 is almost a definite now. I doubt a significantly new MBP will come out this year though.
 
diamond.g said:
AFAIK Features like that are turned off or on in BIOS/EFI. So we would assume there would be an EFI update to accommodate that functionality.
Click to expand...
I don't see a reason to disable it to be honest. It gives me an additional multiplier when overclocking too.

Apple should have had quad cores in the iMac and MacBook Pro since since 2008.
 
Hattig said:
Perfect for a revamped iMac I would say, apart from the cost of these puppies.
Click to expand...
I agree the extreme edition at $1000 a piece would probably only be a build to order option with a $500 mark up.

I see the iMac lineup as follows.

October 2009 update
20" iMac Core 2 Duo 9400M
24" iMac Core 2 Duo 9400M
24" iMac Core i7 1.6 GHZ Clarksfield - Discrete graphics
24" iMac Core i7 1.73 Ghz Clarksfield - Discrete graphics
- BTO - 2.0 Ghz Clarksfield
- BTO - Improved Graphics

Then in march 2010
20" iMac Arrandale
24" iMac Arrandale
24" iMac Core i7 1.73 GHZ Clarksfield - Discrete graphics
24" iMac Core i7 2.0 Ghz Clarksfield - Discrete graphics
- BTO - intel's next extreme edition (assuming clarksfield prices come down and new EE processor introduced).
- BTO - Improved Graphics
 
CyberBob859 said:
Does anybody think that the mobile Core i7 launch makes the rumor of an iMac and MacBook refresh "within weeks" more credible?
Click to expand...


maybe, but there was a story a week ago that Intel has already started producing 32nm CPU's for launch next year
 
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