New iMacs Get Core i7 Chips, But What Does That Mean?

We were pretty excited to see Intel's new monster quad-core chips inside the iMacs Apple unveiled today, but you may be a little confused by the options: Core 2 Duo or Core i7 or Core i5??? Can someone please explain? Why yes, Giz can.

IDF's Array of Affordable Thin-and-Lights Are Decidedly Not Netbooks

Want the tiny size of a netbook, but the power of a full-size? Intel showed off a crop of ultraportable laptops, all aimed at around an $800 MSRP, using Core 2 Duo processors, not Atom. Check out our gallery below. More »

Intel Refreshing Montevina Chips, Adding More Power in Spring

If you're looking into getting a new laptop, you should probably hold off until after the holidays for an extra boost in processing power. According to sources at AppleInsider, Intel's planning a refresh of its Montevina Core 2 Duo processors for Spring 2009. The update will give notebooks two new variants of chips, a P88000 running at 2.66GHz and a T9900 with 3.06GHz. These next Montevina chips will be the last ones Intel produces before it turns to its Core i7 architecture – but that switch-up is at least a year down the line, and who's going to put off laptop buying for that long? [Apple Insider]

Sony Explains Intel Core 2 Duo with Weird French Elves

Sony's site has an absolutely hilarious page explaining how Intel's Core 2 Duo chip helps you multitask with cartoons featuring two odd, party-hat-wearing elfin caricatures. Read on for my analysis, with the caveat that I speak not a word of Japanese. More »

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale Processor Tested (Verdict: "Recommended")

The chaps over at Hot Hardware have put the Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 processor, which belongs to the (45nm) Wolfdale line, through its paces, and they sure were impressed. From their extensive testing, the processor, intended for desktop machines and ideal for gaming especially, did not seem to make any massive changes on an architectural level, however, small adjustments had a great overall effect on performance. The 6MB of L2 cache brought an impressive speed boost, while the power consumption and heat production levels both fell. More »

Sony Vaio Type T Gets Refreshed CPU and Casing

The fantastic Vaio Type T may have lost its thin crown to another laptop, but Sony has rejigged its slimline notebook, giving it a faster CPU, an ultra-low-voltage Core 2 Duo U7600 running at 1.2GHz and a fancy-pants artsy finish. No word on pricing or availability yet. [Akihabara News] More »

The MacBook Air Mini-Processor Explained

If you were curious about how the MacBook Air's ultra-compact Core 2 Duo processor came to be, an in-depth AnandTech study has revealed that the processor is a mixture of Intel's 65 nanometer (65nm) Merom architecture with an 800MHz bus and a new, smaller chip package originally slated to be released later this year. Hit the link for all the details. [AnandTech via AppleInsider]

ASUS' Nova P22 PC Is Small, Sleek, and Powerful

ASUS' new PC, the Nova P22, has solid specs for a small machine. A Core 2 Duo processor, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth, built-in speakers and a slot-loading disc drive round out the 122-cubic inch package. The P22 also supports 5.1 speaker configurations if surround sound is your thing. It will retail for $800 when it sees release at the end of January, and it looks like it would be a great complement to their new LCD monitor. [ASUS]

Ars Benches the New iMac, Predictably Decent Performance

While we poked and prodded our new iMac trying to answer all of your questions, Ars Technicha went their traditional route and benchmarked the hell out of the poor iMac. The 20-inch, 2.4GHz machine with 2GB or RAM " outdid a MacBook Pro with an identical CPU and FSB in my testing, and it was more than competitive with a Mac Pro in formal tests." That said, these aren't huge increases over modern hardware. And the Mac Pro destroyed the iMac in heavily multi-threaded tests. Such is the predictability of performance in all x86 era. [Ars]

Informed Speculation: Apple Macbook With Santa Rosa Coming Very Soon?

With Lenovo and LG's Santa Rosa laptop offerings (not to mention various other PC vendors as well) almost upon us, we're left wondering what Apple is going to do. If you remember, Core 2 Duos hit PC laptops around July/August, but Apple's MacBook Pros only got them late October. Will we have to wait nearly three months for Centrino Pro? Maybe not. More »

Dealzmodo: Refurbished Core 2 Duo MacBooks at Apple

Apple is offering savings up to $200 on Core 2 Duo MacBooks from their "Special Deals" store. Check out the goods: More »

Sony Announces Upgraded VAIO C in New Colors, Sends Them to a Pyjama Party

Yes, it's a new-but-not-really Sony notebook, the upgraded VAIO C series with chic and totally superfluous new colors like "espresso black, shell white, coral pink, summer sky blue, urban grey and fresh green," probably chosen by Hello Kitty and the Teen Girl Squad while on tour in Japan, where they will be available in April. More »

Intel Holds $1M Design Contest for Coolest Living Room PC

When it comes to living room PCs, you can't top the Mac Mini. At least that's what Intel thinks, which is why they're dishing out $1m to the person who can design a living room-worthy Viiv Core 2 Duo-based PC that tops Apple's angel. Seven of the semifinalists have been chosen and can be seen/voted on before a winner is announced next month. More »

Core 2 Duo Dancing Dork

Down at the Intel booth they set up a green screen that lets you star in their Core 2 Duo Commercials. You know the one where it's a bunch of copies of one person dancing around on the screen. More »

Panasonic's Toughest Toughbooks, Now Faster and Brighter

The most hardened versions of the Panasonic Toughbooks have been updated with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and brighter touchscreens. Since most of these laptops will be used in broad daylight, that extra screen brightness will certainly be welcome. More »

AMD Rolls Out New Brisbane Processors

AMD's first 65-nanometer Athlon 64 processors have arrived. Codenamed Brisbane, the dual-core chips mark the company's transition from 90nm CPUs to 65nm. Essentially this means AMD's chips will be more energy efficient and better suited for small form factor PCs. The four processors launching today range from the 2.1GHz 4000+ ($169) to the 2.6GHz 5000+ ($301). Despite the range in performance, all of the processors will have a 65W TDP and they'll each have a 2x512KB L2 cache. AMD is still playing catch up, however, as Intel continues to enjoy the lead with their Core 2 Duos. – Louis Ramirez More »

Systemax Pursuit: Core 2 Duo Under a Grand

Envious of all your workmates rubbing their fancy new Core 2 Duo notebooks in your face? Fret not, as Systemax has a Pursuit line of notebooks that even your thrifty wife will accept. More »

Dealzmodo: MacBook Core Duos Are Cheaper Now

Just like when the MacBook Pros went Core 2 Duo, the upgrade of Apple's MacBook line means the old leftover laptops get a bit of a discount. For example, the 1.83 GHz model that used to be $1099 is now $899, and the 2.0 GHz black model that used to be $1499 is now $1099. Quite a steep drop thanks to their newborn brothers pushing them out from under their mother's teat. More »

Apple Macbooks Get Core 2 Duo Chips, I Yawn

Before the first cup o joe, Apple dropped the word on fresh Macbooks. The major improvement come in the form of Core 2 Duo chips clocked at the same 1.87 and 2.0 GHz speeds as the old Core Duo CPUs. They claim they're 25% faster than the old Macbook's chips, but lets see...When the Macbook Pros were said to be 39% faster after the upgrade from Core Duo to Core 2 Duo, they turned out to only be 10% faster. So, I am expecting these chips to be little more than the typical speedbump-like refreshes that PC laptops go through. My guestimate? In overall performance, we see less than 5% in speed jump. More »

MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo Benchmarks Are In: How Much Faster Are They?

Are the updated Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros really 39% faster than their Core Duo predecessors? MacWorld takes a look to see how much the speed boost and additional L2 cache really helped. More »

Dealzmodo: Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros Mean Cheap Old Ones

Looking to get a deal on a MacBook Pro? Hop on over to Apple's refurb shop where they have yesterday's Core Duo MacBook Pros for 22-37% off their old retail price. Just like what happened when my second child was born and we gave the first less attention, the new Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros are making the older models look like dog doo. More »

Trigem Little Lluon+: Big Things in Small Packages

In case you didn't notice, those fabulous babes are holding some exceptionally slim PCs from Trigem, and they're calling them Little Lluon+. They offer a choice of either a 1.7GHz or 2GHz Core 2 Duo processors, up to a 320GB SATA hard disk and 512MB of RAM. More »

Apple: What Took You So God Damn Long?

While all the other Mac worshipers dance in the streets and shout their hosannas at Apple's leisurly introduction of its Core 2 Duo-packing MacBook Pros, the rest of us surly chip watchers sit in the dark and dank back rooms wondering wtf Apple has been doing, taking two months just to swap out a processor. Check out the graph above for some context. Keep in mind, there are not any MacBooks with Core 2 Duo processors available yet, either. More »

Rumor: Core 2 Duo MacBook, MacBook Pros coming in November

Our blogging cohorts, Engadget, got some word about the release date of the highly anticipated Core 2 Duo Apple laptops. An IT guy at a Swiss University got the scoop on the Core 2 Duo MacBooks from some sales reps and word is that the laptops will be released in November. Not much other information is known about this Swiss IT guy, but it is still awesome that the Core 2 Duo-ness will be here sooner than expected, possibly. More »

Fujitsu Rolls Out Three LifeBooks, All Dual-Core Intel or AMD

Fujitsu announced three attractive lappies as part of its LifeBook line, the N6420 (pictured above) with its big 17-inch screen, the clean, white A3110 with its 15.4-inch display and the A6010, also a 15.4-incher. The 10-pound A6420 (starting at $1499) is a desktop replacement with an optional HD DVD player (for $460 extra), Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a remote, but no HDMI port. More »

Rumor: Apple Ramping Up Production of Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros

Now that we've seen how well Think Secret does with Apple rumors, here's one from AppleInsider. They've gotten reports that Apple is starting manufacturing of Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros for the holidays. More »

Sony Vaio C Series Core 2 Duo Notebooks Are Colorful and Light

How about a Sony Core 2 Duo notebook in some fancy colors? That's what you can get with these Sony Vaio notebooks whose screens hit that sweet spot between a large 15-inch screen and a slightly-too-small 12-incher—13.3 inches—just right for using on a plane but not bumping up against the back of that seat in front of you. More »

Apple and Intel Working Together on Top Secret Technologies?

Apple and Intel have joined forces to develop several new technologies together, it emerged this week. The partnership became apparent when an Intel executive gave an interview to InformationWeek and said, "... number of projects are under way with Apple on next-generation technologiess—but I can't detail those." Juicy industry gossip, how we love thee. More »

Apple To Release Updated MacBooks Before Christmas?

Yes, it's not exactly a state secret that Apple will update its MacBook laptops sometime in the future, but the key here is the timing, that is, before Christmas. Moles inside Apple have indicated that the 13-inch MacBook and the 15- and 17-inch MacBookPro have all been given the go-ahead to use Intel's Core 2 Duo processor and that it's just a matter of time until Apple hits the "go" button, much like the one in Endless Mike's car in The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Latest hints point to a release sometime around Thanksgiving, giving Mommy and Daddy Consumer plenty of time to shop. More »

Gizmodo Frankenreview: Dell XPS M1710 Core 2 Duo Laptop

This past month, the Core 2 Duo laptop announcements flew by hard and fast. Intel's new Merom chips got jammed between the legs of every notebook out there, and the morning-after reviews are finally upon us. More »

Apple Releases 24-inch iMac, Has Core 2 Duo

Apple has quietly released a 24-inch widescreen iMac that features the Intel Core 2 Duo processor and an nVidia 7300GT. While Apple's U.S. online store doesn't seem to have been updated quite yet, this new, giant iMac is all over many of the company's Euro stores. More »

Acer 9520 for Fun'n'Games

Unlike the other Acer laptop today, this one isn't built as much for portability, but rather for power. This 17-inch beast is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the NVIDIA GeForge Go 7900 GS or 7600. This laptop has an integrated digital/analog TV-tuner, HDMI-out, DVI ports, HDCP support and S/PDIF. Hot diggity damn, it is pretty much a high-end media center, especially with the included remote. More »

Mad Hatter's Quad Core 2 Duo Server Goes Sixteen Ways

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Surprise! Mac mini Core Solo CPUs Quietly Getting Duo'd?

Here's a report:mdash;a lone report, mind you, of a buyer's new Mac mini shipped with upgraded specs. He couldn't have been happier if a stripper jumped from the box. From SuperG's words found on hardmac.com: More »

Overclocking Core 2 Duo: Revving Up an Extra Giga-Hurt, Painlessly

Those who tinker with sophisticated cooling technology can often overclock processors to extraordinary speeds, but the guys at TechSpot took a more practical approach. Using a rock-bottom-priced ($180) E6300 Core 2 Duo processor and a few simple parts, they raised its clock speed from 1.86GHz up to 3.03GHz without compromising stability. As a result, they got better clock-speed performance with this low-priced processor than they would have using a $1000 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme 6800 chip. More »

Core 2 Duo Coming To Apple MacBooks Sept. 16?

File this under R for "Rumor", but another Mac site is speculating that Apple will release updates to their laptop line come Sept. 16. The annual Paris Expo could be just the time for Apple to stick the recently released Core 2 Duo processors in their MacBooks and MacBook Pros, joining Toshiba, Dell, and Samsung in the upgraded notebook party. More »