Intel Merom (64-bit Mobile Processor) Due in September?

[MacRumors]

TGDaily reports that Intel is on track to release the next generation mobile processor known as "Merom" in September of this year.

The Merom processor is reported to launch at 2.33 GHz and bring 64-bit capability to the mobile platform.

According to the article, Apple was reportedly interested in using Merom for the Intel transition, but its late delivery timeframe pushed Apple towards using the recently released Core Duo which now powers the Mac mini, iMac and MacBook Pro.

Meanwhile, Intel's next generation desktop processor (Conroe) is expected in Q3 2006. Apple still has to transition the PowerMac, Xserve, iBook and PowerBook 12"/17" to the Intel processors.

More details may come from Intel's Developer Forum conference which starts tomorrow. The previous (Aug 2005) roadmap showed which processors Intel was planning to release in 2005/2006.

 

[iGary]

Looks like September/October for the PM.

 

[Chaszmyr]

I'm really looking forward to seeing Conroe in action with pro apps.

 

[AppleCareWorker]

15/17 Power Book

hey Dee Dee Dee the 15 is Done already . I think you ment to say 12/17

[fixed]

 

[Seasought]

Can't wait all of the panic-induced "should I sell my current macbook/powerbook/whatever for the new Macs?" threads.

 

[macEfan]

well, if they are good, lets see them in macs! Intel is always introduceing something new these days.

 

[d_and_n5000]

Great. I'd wager roundabout October to transition the MacBook Pro's. Then the Macbooks/iBooks and Mac mini's can get to full Core Duo speed and such, which means yay for me!

 

[yankeefan24]

too late for me. oh well. maybe eventually i will have one for myself.

really, i was hoping earlier, but september isn't that bad. They just miss the back to school market.

 

[nicksoper]

Intel System Delivery

Apple still has to transition the PowerMac, Xserve, iBook and PowerBook 12"/17" to the Intel processors.

Do you think that was written in any particular order of which system is being upgraded first?

I know the answer is no, but it's worth wondering which systems they will be updating first. And why. Anyone care to speculate?

Nicko

 

[Chef Medeski]

TGDaily reports that Intel is on track to release the next generation mobile processor known as "Merom" in September of this year.

The Merom processor is reported to launch at 2.33 GHz and bring 64-bit capability to the mobile platform.

Yonah - notebook chip. 1st half of 2006.
Merom - notebook chip coming in the second half of 2006. 5 watts (vs 22 in today's chips)

Wait, so let me get this straight. We will have a MacBook Pro in September-November that has nearly four times the battery life, 64-bit, and 2.33 GHz. Are you serious? This is amazing. Is that true? Am I making the right assumptions here?

I'm definitely waiting to buy that!

 

[WildCowboy]

"Apple still has to transition the PowerMac, Xserve, iBook and PowerBook 12"/17" to the Intel processors."

Do you think that was written in any particular order of which system is being upgraded first?

I know the answer is problably no, but it's worth wondering which systems they will be updating first. And why. Anyone care to speculate?

Nicko

That sentence was written by arn...so the answer would be "no."

 

[bigandy]

mmm tempting to wait for that instead of plumping for a macbook...

 

[gunm]

Whoo, can't wait for Sept/Oct when the new Macbook Pros w/Merom are released. I have no idea how I'm going to afford one, though...

 

[WildCowboy]

Wait, so let me get this straight. We will have a MacBook Pro in September-November that has nearly four times the battery life, 64-bit, and 2.33 GHz. Are you serious? This is amazing. Is that true? Am I making the right assumptions here?

I'm definitely waiting to buy that!

I think that was a typo in the original article. Here is a recent article quoting Merom at 25W.

And by the way, the chip power requirements are only part of the equation. Even if the chip used one-fourth the watts of a predecessor, there are lots of other things sucking up power that contribute to the machine's battery life.

 

[mrdeep]

Wait, so let me get this straight. We will have a MacBook Pro in September-November that has nearly four times the battery life, 64-bit, and 2.33 GHz. Are you serious? This is amazing. Is that true? Am I making the right assumptions here?

I'm definitely waiting to buy that!

Battery life will probably not be four times better, the processor may use 1/4th the power, but the hard drive, cd drive, display (the 3 big power users) will probably use about the same.

 

[PlaceofDis]

makes you wonder if the current MBP are just a stop-gap solution to the end of the G4 and wait for the Merom chips late in the year.

 

[d.perel]

Whoo, can't wait for Sept/Oct when the new Macbook Pros w/Merom are released. I have no idea how I'm going to afford one, though...

really.... 64-bit apple laptop with new intel processor... who can say $3000 and negative two hours battery life?

 

[t1mmy]

just goes to show it's physcially impossible to stay on top of techonology. just bought my first laptop (macbook) and so far so good. Unless the processer speed is significantly increased, might just stick with what I have.

 

[PlaceofDis]

really.... 64-bit apple laptop with new intel processor... who can say $3000 and negative two hours battery life?

um? intel mobile processers are some of the best at keeping power consumption levels down. high end apple laptops do cost a lot. but definately wrong there on the battery life. please don't troll.

 

[PtMD]

Wait, so let me get this straight. We will have a MacBook Pro in September-November that has nearly four times the battery life, 64-bit, and 2.33 GHz. Are you serious? This is amazing. Is that true? Am I making the right assumptions here?

I'm definitely waiting to buy that!

No unfortunately, the CPU while a major drain isn’t the only power hungry device. Memory, GPU, Display, media, they all suck power... That said, we should still see substantial increases in battery life.

 

[Stridder44]

And to think one day I'll be stairing at the new XServes with (Woodcrest?). *shudder of joy*


Until then, hopefully they get things perfect with the MacBooks (ibook replacer) so I can get one!

 

[e-clipse]

mmm tempting to wait for that instead of plumping for a macbook...

This makes my wait to purchase a little easier. The timing is great, since I am making my purchase for my fall 2006 semester. Woohoo!

 

[bigbossbmb]

makes you wonder if the current MBP are just a stop-gap solution to the end of the G4 and wait for the Merom chips late in the year.

that is EXACTLY what they are...and exactly why i'm waiting til MacWorld 07, my powerbook will last til then :

13.3" Widescreen MBP w/ a Merom proc and OS X 10.5 Leopard pre-installed

 

[nagromme]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that compared to the Intel timetable being discussed last year, Merom and Conroe have now swapped places.

Originally Merom was expected first, sometime in Q3 or Q4, and Conroe was expected to FOLLOW Merom.

But now Conroe has been moved up to Q3, while Merom will now follow Conroe--around the end of Q3.

Since laptops already have Intel chips, that's good news in my book. Get the Intel PowerMacs on their way!

 

[joshysquashy]

I dont know about you lot, but I am starting to see a reason for switching to intel.

I was skeptical at first but it does seem that they are increasing specifications at an alarming rate, when compared to PowerPC which as far as I know has not progressed much at all?

I do hope that after this transition is complete Apple is not constantly updating things, its nice to have the latest technology at least for a few months!