Merom/Core 2 Duo (Mobile) Now Shipping?

[jiggie2g]

Merom in MacBook will not cost Apple more than Yonah and it will run cooler and faster even at the same 2GHz.

Erasmus ,
Do you have any idea how much slower your Cube is running because you haven't maxed out the RAM to 1.5 GB? Just by adding two 512 Sticks for only $140 will almost double your speed.

I'm with Multimedia i don't see why Apple would intentionally cripple the Macbook with yonah when they coast exactly the same and are just a drop in upgrade. seeing as how Apple now has to complete the rest of the industry with the same hardware they will have to offer similar configuration.

Here's how is see it.

MacBook Pro

15in 512MB 2.1ghz 80GB HD ,

15 in 1GB DDR2 100GB HD 2.1ghz w/option for 2.33

17in 1GB DDR2 2.33ghz 120GB HD

MacBook

13in 1.86ghz 512mb 60GB HD both B&W

13in 2.0ghz 512mb 80GB HD both B&W

 

[MacSA]

I'm with Multimedia i don't see why Apple would intentionally cripple the Macbook with yonah when they coast exactly the same and are just a drop in upgrade.

But this is Apple we're talking about lol

 

[bigbossbmb]

i'm still baffled why nobody's answered my question. anyone with a g5 powermac upgrade to an off the shelf video card yet?

i wonder about video card compatibility because i don't see a single driver on nvidia or ati for mac. and the specifications for the 1900 xfx and nvidia 7950 both don't even list mac compatibility. this is really making me think twice about buying from apple.

anyone please help??

It is definitely more difficult to find video cards for g5 powermacs. If ATI or Apple carry the card you want, then you're just find and it's very easy. I bought an X800 and swapped out my 9600xt for Aperture. Works great and was very easy to install.

Hopefully with the intel machines it will be easier to find cards, but it will depend on Apple. It is really up to them.

I've got a 9600XT for sale if anyone wants one

 

[iJawn108]

Thanks for the links.

I don’t see why a 20% increase in speed is going to rock the boat. Especially if it’s in the MBP. So if it is ready for shipment I don’t see any advantage in waiting for the MBP line to upgrade.

I guess I’ll have to do some research about the battery performance.

Noone knows what Steve Jobs will do, but I think he had been roper-doping long enough with the G3 and G4. What 6 years with the same G4? He needs to come out swinging while Apple still has a strong brand name from the iPod.

I hope to see some changes. The last 5 years have been so slow that it hasn’t been worth keeping up with.

64 bit addressing.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Maybe I'm out in right field with this suggestion, but how about a further separation between the black Macbook and the white, other than color?

Macbooks (white) - Yonah and integrated graphics (960?)
Macbook (black) - Merom and the new integrated graphics (965???)

That would certainly justify the black's higher cost and would give it more of a punch to be that PB 12" replacement.

Or preferably a MB with a discrete gfx option.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Thanks for the links.

I don’t see why a 20% increase in speed is going to rock the boat. Especially if it’s in the MBP. So if it is ready for shipment I don’t see any advantage in waiting for the MBP line to upgrade.

I guess I’ll have to do some research about the battery performance.

Noone knows what Steve Jobs will do, but I think he had been roper-doping long enough with the G3 and G4. What 6 years with the same G4? He needs to come out swinging while Apple still has a strong brand name from the iPod.

I hope to see some changes. The last 5 years have been so slow that it hasn’t been worth keeping up with.

At the same clock rates, the battery life for Yonah and Merom are the same, just a boost in computational performance (and slightly less heat, I think?).

 

[jwp1964]

Ultra-portable?

Does this current set of chips include some very low power consumption chips for use in the Apple ultra-portable I want so badly?

 

[Eidorian]

Does this current set of chips include some very low power consumption chips for use in the Apple ultra-portable I want so badly?

No

 

[DavidCar]

I'm with Multimedia i don't see why Apple would intentionally cripple the Macbook with yonah when they coast exactly the same and are just a drop in upgrade.

Maybe the low end MacBook will keep Yonah and get a price drop, while the higher end MacBook, black and white, will get Merom. That might lead to the most sales, to both those looking for a cheaper MacBook, and those waiting for Merom.

 

[Erasmus]

Merom in MacBook will not cost Apple more than Yonah and it will run cooler and faster even at the same 2GHz.

Erasmus ,
Do you have any idea how much slower your Cube is running because you haven't maxed out the RAM to 1.5 GB? Just by adding two 512 Sticks for only $140 will almost double your speed.

I did double the ram from 256 to 512, and didn't notice anthing, however upgrading it now would just be another reason for not upgrading to an iMac. Do you have any idea how much faster my iMac Ultra would be? I'm sure you do.

I just don't see much point in upgrading a computer that I expect will only be useful for its hard-drive on a home network.
But you are right, RAM is dirt cheap nowadays.

I think you missed my point about Yonah Macbooks. I want the price to drop. There is no point in me owning a Merom Macbook if I buy an iMac. The present Macbook is easily fast enough for writing essays on the train, wouldn't you agree?

 

[Eidorian]

Maybe the low end MacBook will keep Yonah and get a price drop, while the higher end MacBook, black and white, will get Merom. That might lead to the most sales, to both those looking for a cheaper MacBook, and those waiting for Merom.

I don't think Apple should divide a single line between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo. The average idiot customer won't be able to conprehend why Merom is performs better at the same clock speed as Yonah. Between two entirely separate product lines it's not a problem. Unless you start throwing in products with Yonah/Merom at the same clock speed. Watch those heads spin.

 

[Multimedia]

$949 Refurb 1.83GHz Combo MacBook Is As Cheap As MacBook Is Going To Get

I did double the ram from 256 to 512, and didn't notice anthing.

That's because you have to get to 1GB before you see the substantial increse in speed. Both my Cubes have 1.5 GB inside and I'm sure it's the only way to fly them properly. That 256 Module was a waste of money. You should put a 512 in that last empty slot at least for only $70 to get it up to a Gig.

I just don't see much point in upgrading a computer that I expect will only be useful for its hard-drive on a home network.
But you are right, RAM is dirt cheap nowadays.

I think you missed my point about Yonah Macbooks. I want the price to drop. There is no point in me owning a Merom Macbook if I buy an iMac. The present Macbook is easily fast enough for writing essays on the train, wouldn't you agree?

Price is not going to go down. That's where Apple wants it. You'll have to get a refurb for $949. Lower than that will probably not happen until next year - if they still have them in stock. For writing, you can still buy a 14" iBook for $999 - the 12" iBook refurbs are all gone and the 14" iBook is $999 - in other words, rediculously overpriced. So no money can be saved and you appear to have no imagination for how you could use the additional power in future.

$949 seems reasonable to me. But I don't want Yonah inside. So I will continue to wait for the 17" MBP with Merom+Santa Rosa+Leopard+802.11n inside next Spring. I might pull the trigger on a Merom refurb MacBook later this year. Knowing what's coming next year makes me want to wait for the whole shebang. But I may cave once Merom MacBooks go refurb to tide me over.

 

[ArizonaKid]

Change The Date

recent AppleInsider story[/url] had indicated that Intel may have plans to move up Merom's formal launch to next Monday, July 23rd, to coincide with the Core 2 Duo Desktop variant ("Conroe") launch.

Monday is the 24th. This is the third post on this. How long does it take for an admin to correct a simple mistake?

 

[solvs]

I would really like to see Apple have a laptop cheaper than $1,100, and I think there would be a definite market for the, especially for teenagers looking into getting a Mac. I know that's unlikely, but...

I don't know, I'm kinda expecting it. As seen in the past, I'm sure they'll drop to ~$1000. Maybe even cheaper once they get some of their R&D back and chip prices start to fall. Eventually I see a sub $800 laptop even. Maybe.

 

[Multimedia]

Sub $1K MacBooks Highly Unlikely

I don't know, I'm kinda expecting it. As seen in the past, I'm sure they'll drop to ~$1000. Maybe even cheaper once they get some of their R&D back and chip prices start to fall. Eventually I see a sub $800 laptop even. Maybe.

I seriously doubt it. It's not part of Apple's style to appeal to the masses by offering something CHEAP.

"Profits" on those sub $1k notebooks are next to nothing. Apple wouldn't want to make so little per unit. Plus they don't need to do that. You can buy old Macs for under $1k all the time. Since the refurbished 1.83 GHz Combo MacBook is already only $949, what's the problem?

You think that isn't low enough? You want Apple to be a welfare agency for those who can't afford $949? Because given the slim margins that would be involved in such a product, that is what they would be doing. Plus they would be canibalizing their above $1k sales. Makes no sense to me.

 

[MacinDoc]

i think the macbook should get the chips with 2 MB of shared L2 cache,

and the pro's get the chips with 4 MB of shared L2 cache

There will be then a difference between the two models (is having 4mb of shared L2 cache a lot better than 2mb? i have no idea but i presume it is)

or perhaps just let the blackbook have the 2.0ghz chip with 4mb of shared l2 cache to compensate for them charging for colour

...only if the Macbooks also get a price drop, because the Core Duo chips should get a price drop, if Intel even keeps making them.

What everyone keeps forgetting in this discussion, however, is that the Core2 Duo chips will be considerably more energy efficient, reducing heat production and prolonging battery life. Considering that they will be introduced at the same price as the current Core Duo chips, why not use them in the Macbook, at the 2 GHz speed?

Furthermore, transitioning all Macs to 64 bit chips as quickly as possible would also hasten the transition to a true 64 bit system, as developers would have more reason to develop for a 64 bit environment (assuming that OS X 10.5 is truly 64 bit).

 

[Multimedia]

Merom In MacBook - Gotta Happen By November Or Sales May Tank

...only if the Macbooks also get a price drop, because the Core Duo chips should get a price drop, if Intel even keeps making them.

What everyone keeps forgetting in this discussion, however, is that the Core2 Duo chips will be considerably more energy efficient, reducing heat production and prolonging battery life. Considering that they will be introduced at the same price as the current Core Duo chips, why not use them in the Macbook, at the 2 GHz speed?

Furthermore, transitioning all Macs to 64 bit chips as quickly as possible would also hasten the transition to a true 64 bit system, as developers would have more reason to develop for a 64 bit environment (assuming that OS X 10.5 is truly 64 bit).

I'm with you MacInDoc. Intel is not going to keep selling Yonah for long before they stop making them. Anyone who does the least amount of research should see that Merom is a much better way to go for all the reasons you mention. If Apple is really trying to stay state-of-the-art, they will lose Yonah as soon as Intel's supply can keep up with Apple's production volume. On the MacBook front, this should be able to happen by October-November, I imagine.

If Apple doesn't put Core 2 Duo in MacBooks @ 1.83 & 2GHz by November, the competition on the PC front is going to make Apple look like they are selling outdated products as if they are current. This will not fly among savy buyers and MacBook sales might falter - perhaps even tank without such a switch.

Almost all mobile computers selling for more than $1k by November will be Core 2 Duo. So for the holiday shopping season, Apple has got to put them inside MacBooks by then.

 

[iJawn108]

seven months from now, some yutz is going to be saying the same thing about merom.

that will be me with santa rosa.

 

[Multimedia]

Merom Won't Be Going Away In 2007

[/SIZE]

seven months from now, some yutz is going to be saying the same thing about merom.

Merom won't be going away in 2007. So no yutz need apply for next mobile processor amticipation duty all of next year, unless of course you mean the 4 core Mobile version of Merom coming next Fall '07.

that will be me with santa rosa.

And Santa Rosa will add to Merom's Power next Spring. That's what I'm waiting for as well.

Trouble with this forum is a whole bunch of folks have just come in after we've already spent the past 6 months discussing this stuff and most of the newbies are completely
Intel Processor Roadmap illiterate.

 

[Erasmus]

(Stuff...)

You may be right, who knows? There seems to be good arguments on both sides to whether Macbooks get Merom in August.
One of the reasons I want an iMac with Conroe (or any intel processor I suppose) is for Boot Camp, and SolidWorks for uni (plus random games, ie. Quake 4, Doom 3 etc ). Other than the fact that my cube would die trying to pull along this extremely demanding application, I am 99% certain that it will not run on System anyway. This is another reason I am wanting a Conroe and the X1800, other than for games, it would be perfect for running Solidworks.

Therefore I don't care what's in the Macbook, as I only need it for non processor intensive purposes, with anything else optional. My motive is purely cost-cutting.

Also, I've looked, and I do not believe Australia has a Refurb section of its Store, and I refuse to buy something from eBay.

 

[Chuck]

I posted this question in another thread but no one has answered it, so... I was wondering what thoughts you had on this:

Will this upgrade to Core 2 Duo be considered a RevB strictly speaking, for the iMacs? I mean, since it's a new generation of Intel chip as opposed to a speed bump of an existing chip, is it likely to cause any unknown bugs or dramas that the Core Duos didn't?

I'm in the market for a new iMac when they put the new chips in, but I want to be confident that this time they'll have ironed out all the bugs from the initial release of Intel iMacs, plus not be likely to have new bugs caused by the new architecture of the Core 2 Duos.

Thoughts?

Chuck.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

I posted this question in another thread but no one has answered it, so... I was wondering what thoughts you had on this:

Will this upgrade to Core 2 Duo be considered a RevB strictly speaking, for the iMacs? I mean, since it's a new generation of Intel chip as opposed to a speed bump of an existing chip, is it likely to cause any unknown bugs or dramas that the Core Duos didn't?

I'm in the market for a new iMac when they put the new chips in, but I want to be confident that this time they'll have ironed out all the bugs from the initial release of Intel iMacs, plus not be likely to have new bugs caused by the new architecture of the Core 2 Duos.

Thoughts?

Chuck.

If iMacs get Merom its highly likely there'll be 0 new problems. If they get Conroe there is a very very small possibility of heat issues.

 

[dannyallen34]

[/SIZE]Merom won't be going away in 2007. So no yutz need apply for next mobile processor amticipation duty all of next year, unless of course you mean the 4 core Mobile version of Merom coming next Fall '07. And Santa Rosa will add to Merom's Power next Spring. That's what I'm waiting for as well.

I was wondering where you heard that there is going to be a 4 core mobile version of Merom coming Fall '07. Any roadmaps i've read for intel, including that one you linked to (and the Tom's Hardware one) don't mention it. In fact, I didn't even read of a desktop 4 core processor being released until 2008, let alone 2007 in a laptop.

I'm wondering where you heard this because I'm getting a MBP for college next summer and if there were quad core MBPs coming out in the fall I would wait.

(Oh, and if I misinterpreted 4 cores to equal Quad core on a single processor, please clarify what you meant.)

 

[iGary]

Why do I have some weird feeling that they will update the entire product line at WWDC?

 

[islanders]

If Apple is really trying to stay state-of-the-art, they will lose Yonah as soon as Intel's supply can keep up with Apple's production volume. On the MacBook front, this should be able to happen by October-November, I imagine.

If Apple doesn't put Core 2 Duo in MacBooks @ 1.83 & 2GHz by November, the competition on the PC front is going to make Apple look like they are selling outdated products as if they are current. This will not fly among savy buyers and MacBook sales might falter - perhaps even tank without such a switch.

Almost all mobile computers selling for more than $1k by November will be Core 2 Duo. So for the holiday shopping season, Apple has got to put them inside MacBooks by then.

This seems to be a realistic approach… how long can Apple wait?

Just because Intel is shipping Merom, who are they shipping to? Apple? Dell? Sony?

When are these chips going to be delivered to Apple for at least one line of MBP?

Is it possible we are getting ahead of ourselves here? After all Apple was the last player to sign with Intel.

Or has Intel already produced enough chips to satisfy demand before shipping to any single company?