Intel Launches Low Cost Quad-Core Mobile Processor and New Core 2 Duos

[Minimoose 360]

Man, just when we thought everything was figured out.

 

[diamond.g]

Nehalem uses a completely different platform than FSB based processors. There isn't much point is custom designing an iMac just to put in the i920 and then a separate iMac design for FSB processors. And there's no way Apple can base an entire product line on a single processor.

Besides, for most things Nehalem doesn't offer much advantage over Penryn. Admittedly, rendering is a lot faster, but still no match for the dual quad cores in the Mac Pro. And it's not like Intel intends Nehalem to directly replace Penryn yet so Apple isn't really behind the times. Nehalem will continue to be a niche in desktops with the Core i7 until the mainstream Core i5 (only dual channel DDR3, northbridge integrated, etc.) comes and pushes Penryn out.

If Apple could tame the 130W TDP then they could use all of the Core i7 CPUs. Then there would be no need to make two separate kinds of systems as they would just begin to transition everything over. Luckily the MP would still hold the overall speed crown (and core count crown) so Apple wouldn't have to worry about eating into MP sales.

 

[djjclark]

Lets not get carried away, Apple has $15Billion in the bank, of which most is liquid assets so not even really in the bank anyway.

latest 10K says 24.5 Billion in cash or liquid assets. You know something more?

 

[Bubba Satori]

Ok somebody has to ask it, so it might as well be me. Quad core 2.0Ghz vs 3.06Ghz Duo? Discuss.

If you're doing a lot of 3d rendering, the quad, otherwise the Duo.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Who wants an 18.4" notebook. Ridiculous.

People who have different needs than yours. Not ridiculous.

 

[Bubba Satori]

So are any of these going into the macbooks? And anytime soon?

Doubt it. MBPs for the time being.

 

[flipperfeet]

This would be awesome if Apple would actually opt in. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't seem concerned these days with competing with other computer companies. Cell phones seem to be their main business these days...

I just do not see it this way, and the earnings and market share reporting do not support your view.

 

[alphaod]

A quick look here [newegg.com] makes me think the $348 for the quad core isn't such a great deal...

I know they probably use newer technology and all, but is that still really a good deal?

But those run at twice the wattage which mean 1 hours battery life. I don't want that!

 

[Eidorian]

If you're doing a lot of 3d rendering, the quad, otherwise the Duo.

What about a dual core and a quad core at the same price?

But those run at twice the wattage which mean 1 hours battery life. I don't want that!

You neglected the socket type and suggested heat dissapation.

 

[macmee]

Mobile quad + iMac? Sounds expensive.

 

[Eidorian]

Mobile quad + iMac? Sounds expensive.

It does when you can get a quad core Dell for US$450. I can imagine that it's possible with the Q9000 with the final machine cost being over $1,000.

 

[macmee]

It does when you can get a quad core Dell for US$450. I can imagine that it's possible with the Q9000 with the final machine cost being over $1,000.

I was talking about compared to the current dual core imacs. I don't think quad iMacs would be starting at $1299 CAD.

 

[Eidorian]

I was talking about compared to the current dual core imacs. I don't think quad iMacs would be starting at $1299 CAD.

Take a trip down memory lane and see how much the processors cost.

 

[timswim78]

Will Q9000 work in current iMac?

Sorry if this is a naive question.

Will I be able to drop this into my current Socket P iMac? If so, I am ready to do it.

(I've already replaced an iMac hard drive, so I am not afraid to open it up again).

 

[ditzy]

you just considerably over-simplified what arn posted. In leopard it's best to have a 3.0 duo unless you heavily use multi-core-aware apps. In snow leopard it will be best to have the 2.0 quad if Grand Central is as good as advertised and developers take advantage of it.

I put a question mark to ask if I was understanding right. If I wasn't I'm a bit ditzy at times and wanted someone to correct me.

 

[dolphin842]

Actually, in the Bay area I'm paying $0.41/KWH.

That's why I got the HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server - at average usage 0.015 KW it adds up...

Wow, my rates hover around $0.07/KWH, but then again, you get to live in Bay Area, and I get to live in rural NC next to a huge coal plant.

Even still, I have a kill-a-watt, and I'm happy with the efficiency of the intel iMacs. My first-gen one doesn't pull more than 65W. I hope they keep using lower-power parts instead of the desktop chips.

 

[63dot]

IIRC, Apple being "first" with a CPU has happened twice recently.

The MacBook Air's CPU was the most recent.

The one before that was IIRC in the Mac Pro; can't recall which CPU...



-hh

That's true. The Mac Pro processor was only used in PC professional servers for a little more than a year, but no desktop stations from what I can see. Apple may be the first to offer it to a home user. The high end crowd for the Xeon were basically business rack mount customers via Dell and IBM.

 

[AidenShaw]

That's true. The Mac Pro processor was only used in PC professional servers for a little more than a year, but no desktop stations from what I can see.

Apple may be the first to offer it to a home user. The high end crowd for the Xeon were basically business rack mount customers via Dell and IBM.

All dual socket workstations from Dell, HP, SuperMicro and the rest used the same Xeon family chips as the Mac Pro.

The Xeon family is the only chip that works with more than one socket.

But, since all the others had dual-core and quad-core single socket systems - there wasn't as much demand for "home Xeons" from other vendors. Certainly some power users had dual socket systems like the Dell T5400 Workstation (it's a lot smaller than a Mac Pro, by the way).

The Mac Pro is only a "home system" because of the huge gaping hole in Apple's product line where the quad-core mini-tower should be!

 

[rickeym]

Mobile quad + iMac? Sounds expensive.

I don't think the price will change much from what it is today.

 

[rickeym]

Sorry if this is a naive question.

Will I be able to drop this into my current Socket P iMac? If so, I am ready to do it.

(I've already replaced an iMac hard drive, so I am not afraid to open it up again).

Why?

 

[i make movies]

I understand these chips were 'released' today, and there's even a laptop from acer with a quad chip in it.

If the chips are released today, then when can we get them? I'm talking in general, not just in apple products. I did a very minute amount of searching online and the only thing I can find is the stupid press release posted on a dozens of different tech sites and not one vendor selling the chips or the laptop from acer...and I thought the whole intel tick-tock chip release process was complicated.

 

[63dot]

All dual socket workstations from Dell, HP, SuperMicro and the rest used the same Xeon family chips as the Mac Pro.

The Xeon family is the only chip that works with more than one socket.

But, since all the others had dual-core and quad-core single socket systems - there wasn't as much demand for "home Xeons" from other vendors. Certainly some power users had dual socket systems like the Dell T5400 Workstation (it's a lot smaller than a Mac Pro, by the way).

The Mac Pro is only a "home system" because of the huge gaping hole in Apple's product line where the quad-core mini-tower should be!

I love my Mac mini. One day, maybe way down the line in 2010/late-2009, but I hope sooner, a quad core mini would be amazing. When a chip is announced in my backyard, we rarely listen because within months, now weeks these days, the price goes way down.

I think the Mac Pro may downsize but upgrade specs.

I am glad that Apple went with Intel.

 

[MikeAtari]

Apps should already be "tuned" for dual, quad or 8 core processors.

I was thinking that too. Generally, under Leopard as it exists now, I'd want the fast dual core chip, but if Snow Leopard is optimized for quad core chips, a quad 2.0 Mac could be quite fast.
Still, outside of the OS, other apps have to be optimized to take advantage of it as well to really see the benefit, so it might be a good long term investment, not necessarily instant gratification.

Let me just say, that if an application has already been optimized for a dual core machine, that means they've already broken down the app to be Multi-Threaded. This type of app can be easily "tuned" for a Quad Core, simply breaking the problem up again, and running 2 more threads.

So, the app's ought to be ready to run on a quad core TODAY. Actually, Application Developers should be checking the number of processors available, and starting additional threads depending upon the number of processors present, today. Because, Apple has servers that have 8 cores Today.

 

[AidenShaw]

I love my Mac mini. One day, maybe way down the line in 2010/late-2009, but I hope sooner, a quad core mini would be amazing.

Does your Mini look like one of those surreal cordless marketing images from Apple?

Or have you had to convert it to a Mini-tower?

Or is it like most Minis that I've seen in friends' homes and offices - a complete mess of random wires and add-ons?

What's the point of buying a tiny computer for its style, then mucking it up with add-on crap because frankly it is too small to be useful for much of its target audience?

Apple should keep the Mini, but add a small tower with room for some disks, a modest PCIe x16 graphics card, one or two PCIe x1 slots.

And the small tower should be the quad core. If you need a quad core, you probably want more than a single laptop drive in your computer! (And of course, the mini-tower should use desktop CPUs and chipsets - rather than the more expensive for less power mobile versions.)

 

[Eidorian]

Sorry if this is a naive question.

Will I be able to drop this into my current Socket P iMac? If so, I am ready to do it.

(I've already replaced an iMac hard drive, so I am not afraid to open it up again).

I doubt it. There's the pin out issue and the firmware support of the processor.