Jul 15, 2008 00:01

New Intel-Based Laptops Advance All Facets of Notebook PCs

New Intel(R) Centrino(R) 2 Processor Technology Brings 'HD-to-Go'; Adds Security and Manageability Features, Boosts Speed, Battery Life and Wireless Range
SAN FRANCISCO —(Business Wire)— Jul. 15, 2008 Intel Corporation unveiled its Intel(R) Centrino(R) 2 Processor Technology products for laptops today, powered by five new Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processors. Close to 250 innovative consumer and business notebook PC designs are on the way, including those equipped with the right combination of powerful processors, graphics and battery life to enjoy viewing stunning high definition videos and myriad other computer and Internet activities.

Intel also introduced the world's highest-performing dual-core mobile processor, the Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme processor running at a brisk 3.06 GHz, as measured by SPECint(1)_rate_base2006, an industry benchmark (http://www.spec.org)(2).

Rounding out a mobile-focused summer for the company, Intel said it also plans to unveil eight processors within 90 days that will include first-ever mobile quad-core products and second-generation products for ultra-thin and light notebooks. In total, Intel will bring 14 diverse new processors into the marketplace as laptop sales continue to outpace desktop PCs.

Formerly codenamed Montevina, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology and Intel(R) Centrino(R) 2 with vPro(TM) Technology improve upon every facet of a laptop's main features, including performance and battery life via new processors and chipsets, faster draft 802.11n wireless (with WiMAX arriving later this year), and new business-class manageability capabilities.

"When we first introduced Intel Centrino back in 2003, there were very few Wi-Fi hotspots, YouTube videos and social media didn't really exist, 'thin and light' only referred to weight goals and desktop PCs outsold notebooks by a very wide margin," said Mooly Eden, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of the company's Mobile Platforms Group. "Today, notebooks outsell desktops in the U.S., and we're paving the way to HD entertainment, rich online gaming, faster broadband wireless speeds and an easier and more secure way for businesses to manage, update and repair their notebook fleets."

Intel is introducing five dual core processors based on Intel's reinvented transistors (high-k metal gate formula) and advanced 45-nanometer manufacturing process. These processors come with a faster 1066MHz front side bus and up to 6MB of L2 cache, and three versions reduce laptop processor wattage about 30 percent, down to just 25 watts. Also featured is Deep Power Down Technology that turns off processing components such as core clocks and cache memory when the laptop is idle for greater energy savings.

Intel also unveiled its Mobile Intel(R) 45 Express Chipset and wireless Intel(R) Wi-Fi Link 5000 series that is shipping to customers now, with laptops arriving later in July and August. Delivering five times the speed and twice the range of older 802.11a/g technology, the Intel Wi-Fi Link 5000 series provides 802.11 draft-N support that delivers the fastest data rates possible today — up to 450 Mbps.

Switchable graphics, a new optional power-saving feature available on Intel Centrino 2-based notebooks, provides both integrated and discrete graphics on a single notebook, enabling users to easily switch between the two options. Switchable graphics delivers greater 3-D performance when needed while providing the option for greater power savings for the best of both worlds.

For consumers, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology delivers the horsepower and battery life to enjoy a typical full-length, Blu-ray(1) high-definition video on a single battery charge for the first time, plus the ability to play a variety of online games, download music or post videos faster than before.

For businesses, Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology offers enhanced manageability and security options. This is increasingly important as companies replace desktops with notebooks and need to remotely diagnose, update and repair systems over a wireless network. Improved manageability with AMT 4.0 has also been added that provides wireless manageability during system sleep states, ongoing remote configuration capabilities, support for next-generation management standards (WS-MAN and DASH 1.0) and the ability for an employee to initiate communications to IT from outside a company's firewall.

OEMs and Channel system builders will deliver close to 250 systems to market. For more information including Intel product pricing, visit http://www.intel.com/go/processor_pricing. For a full media version of this release including photos, videos, related blogs and other information, visit http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20080715comp_sm.htm and the Intel Centrino 2 technology press kit at http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/centrino2.

WiMAX Momentum

Later this year in the United States, Intel will begin shipping its first-ever combined WiMAX/Wi-Fi module, part of the Intel(R) WiMAX/Wi-Fi Link 5050 Series that is an optional feature for future Intel Centrino 2-based laptops. WiMAX is a 4G, Internet protocol-based broadband wireless technology that complements Wi-Fi networks.

WiMAX also provides much wider Internet and phone voice coverage, and unlike Wi-Fi has the ability to unwire entire cities or communities, connecting users even when they're on the move. Intel is working with service providers around the world to deploy WiMAX networks, with initial U.S. network availability starting later this year from Sprint XOHM and Clearwire.

We've also got 12 quad-core Xeons ranging from 2 to 3.2GHz with 1333Mhz or 1600MHz frontside bus options, as well as a triplet of dual-core Xeons that run up to 3.4GHz, but with half the L2 cache (6MB) of the other Penryns. The dual-cores also have a 30-day wait.

The cheapest Penryn you can score appears to be the $177 1.86GHz dual-core E5205 Xeon with a 1066MHz FSB. Quad-core wise, it'd be a 2.0 GHz E5405 Xeon for $209. All of those prices are given in bulk, too. So, race ya to Newegg? [Intel]

Further spec details are scarce, but Lenovo did mention that the D10 is outfitted with a 5400 Xeon processor and the S10 with a 3GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9650. They also noted that both computers would use NVIDIA graphics and dual Gigabit Ethernet and multiple slots, bays and USB ports for expandability. Expect the D10 and the S10 to be released this January for $1,739 and $1,199 respectively. [Press Release and Electronista]

And like we told you a few months ago, Asus has heard the call of the modder and is releasing the first truly upgradeable notebook—the C90. What we didn't know is that it won't even come with a hard drive or a processor. That's right, Asus has such faith in your bargain-hunting abilities that it scrapped two of the most integral parts of the computer. Not only that but they also have included Turbo Gear software to let you over-clock whatever processor you decide on, up to 20%.

This truly could be the next mobile gamers wet dream/nightmare depending on what parts you go with. To get started it will cost $950 (If you trust Red Barn Computers Prices).– Ben Longo

CPU Cooled with Liquid Nitrogen; 5GHz Overclock [Ministry of Tech]

Intel Core 2 Extreme for Gaming Notebooks [Laptoping]

On the other hand, some applications showed hardly any improvement at all for Toms testers, such as Photoshop CS2 and Quake 4, for which there is a quad-core patch forthcoming. However, as soon as software developers wrap their minds around the quad-core way of doing things, serious speedup will ensue. AMD is not going to be caught napping; expect that company's quad-core processor in a couple of weeks. Toms Hardware's Patrick Schmid's opinion, and lots more including Tech Spot's intense quad-core testing, after the jump.

Toms Hardware's Patrick Schmid: "Intel certainly beat AMD to the quad-core starting line, but this race is far from over. The market needs tight competition to assure reasonable performance at all price levels, so as we congratulate Intel on a job well done, let's also hope that AMD is able to catch up quickly."

Contrary to the results of Toms Hardware, the Tech Spot crew noticed significant speedups with Adobe Photoshop CS2, measuring 25% faster operations when compared to the Intel Core 2 Extreme x6800. The most jaw-dropping performance leap was in Pinnacle's Studio Plus video editing software, where the quad chip was 78% faster than its dual-core predecessor. Another massive performance gain was seen with Autodesk 3D Studio Max, which enjoyed a 60% speedup.

"Intel has done a fantastic job with their latest Core 2 Extreme QX6700 processor and while it was not all gleaming results, the QX6700 did excel where it had to. The thermal output of the QX6700 was very manageable at its default frequency of 2.66GHz though considerably higher than an equally clocked Core 2 Duo processor... As of now, the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 looks to be the most powerful processor on the market for use with power hungry Windows apps. When it comes to gaming, the Core 2 Duo E6700 is a much better choice, or for value the E6600 or even the E6300."

Core 2 Quadro Ready to Ravage the High-End [Toms Hardware]
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 review: Quad Core is here! [Tech Spot]
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 [Bit-Tech]
Intel core 2 extreme QX6700 Kentsfield Quad Core [hardcoreware.com]
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700: Four Cores to the Floor [Computer Shopper]

We're talking high-priced workstations here, where this HP xw9400 costs a cool $5999, certainly the territory of well-heeled movie producers and architectural engineers. But when we saw this pricey workstation having trouble beating that $3893 Dell Precision 390 with a single chip inside, we're starting to think AMD has a way to go before it can catch up to Intel's Core 2 architecture. Now we want to see what happens when you put this fastest Opteron against Core 2-packing Intel Xeons. – Charlie White

AMD Opteron vs. Intel Core 2 Extreme [Digital Video Editing]

Shuttle XPC Barebone SD37P2 [Shuttle]

The Omen series come in aluminum cases with too-cool-for-the-room designer cutouts and so forth. You know, the type of things that are cries for help. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [VoodooPC via Digital Trends]

Then there's our hands-on with a custom version of the Dell Precision Workstation 390. The machine was pumped so full of goods it was almost four times the price of the basic $1,050 configuration. The result? Fast and quiet.

Then there's the latest Alienware Area-51 PC, which will run you $5,000. If you're a little thriftier, there's the $2,400 Dell XPS 410 with a Core 2 Duo E6600. – Jason Chen

The single-socket chips will be plenty fast, however, with the processors bringing all kinds of new technology to the party. The extra speed and efficiency is thanks to Intel's 65-nanometer manufacturing process which crams more transistors onto each chip, a gigantic integrated cache that Intel calls the Advanced Smart Cache, and other coolness like wide dynamic execution and smart memory access. The result? Faster processors that run cooler and use less power.

PC manufacturers far and wide are all falling into line, announcing their Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme machines today. For a first look at the performance of these new chips, check out our scoop where we review one of the first Core 2 Duo workstations to come off the assembly line, the Dell Precision Workstation 390. – Charlie White

Intel Extends Core 2 Duo Line with 10 New Processors [GeekZone]
Press Release [Intel]

Nothing like some friendly co-opetition between Dell subsidiaries Alienware and XPS to keep the blood boiling, and the next shot inside of Michael Dell's bucket is the upcoming XPS 700. It'll feature an overclocked and hyper-cooled Core 2 Extreme CPU (affectionately known as Conroe), and will also offer the option of two NVidia GeForce 7900 GTX graphics cards strapped together in SLI mode.

At a meeting with the press, Dell Chairman Michael Dell lauded the upcoming processors from Intel, pointing out the various flavors which all receive a significant power boost by using Intel's Core architecture:

"Conroe is a great part. I think whether you look at Woodcrest, Conroe, Merom, that Core is a huge improvement in terms of performance and power from the prior generation, and we're very excited about what that's going to mean, all up and down the business in terms of the desktop market, mobile with Merom, [and the] Woodcrest servers that are already starting to go out. I think it's a real nice advancement."

Dell also hinted at a limited edition of the XPS 700, similar to the Renegade Edition of the XPS 600, a loaded-for-bear $10,000 PC that sold out in 36 hours. – Charlie White

Revised Dell XPS 700 to feature overclocked Intel Core 2 Extreme CPU [TG Daily]

Sure, there are a lot of other factors that contribute to chip speed, but if a processor can achieve these kinds of clock rates while consuming just a tiny bit of power and staying cool, then that elusive 4GHz barrier may be broken by this Core 2 Extreme processor before long.

Intel says a 3.2GHz Core 2 Extreme will be available by the end of the year, and then there are the quad-core desktop processors on the way, code-named Kentsfield, which will arrive in the first quarter of 2007. Can AMD keep up? – Charlie White

Intel Core 2 Extreme demonstrated with 3.5 GHz [TG Daily]

The higher-end Conroes will have a 4MB cache, and will be numbered 6600 and 6700. They will run at 2.39GHz and 2.67GHz, and will cost $316 and $530. The senior member of the group will be the Core 2 Extreme, otherwise known as the 6800, which will have a 4MB cache and run at 2.93GHz. While the other four newcomers draw 65 watts, the Extreme needs 80 watts and will cost $999. – Charlie White

Intel goes boom or bust on summer collection [the Inquirer]