Intel said to be prepping 1.46GHz Core i7 ULV processor for this Fall
By Donald Melanson 
posted April 28th 2010 3:53PM
posted April 28th 2010 3:53PM
There's already been some rumors circulating that Intel would be rolling out a 1.33GHz Core i7 ULV processor this summer, and it now looks like that will be followed by an even faster low-voltage processor later in the Fall. That's when, according to Fudzilla, Intel will be launching a 1.46GHz Core i7 680UM processor, which reportedly has the same 18W TDP rating and 4MB of cache as its slower counterpart, and can clock all the way up to 2.53GHz in Turbo Boost mode. Unfortunately, there's not so much as a hint of pricing or any actual laptops that will use the processor, and Intel itself is of course keeping quiet on the matter for the time being.
M11x is patiently waiting.
@Leindurstit
I couldn't agree more. I really want to get an m11x, but not if it uses a slower processor than my 2.5 year old Dell's 1.66GHz C2D.
And before you say that this Core i7 has a slower clock speed than my Dell as well, please note the Turbo Boost speed of 2.53GHz.
Put this ULV i7 into the m11x, throw Optimus into the thing, keep the price similar to what it is now, and Alienware can have my money.
@Leindurstit
for a cosmetic makeover?
Not really cosmetic. As I've complained before, the overall design of it is nice, but they just need a less-cramped keyboard layout and a matte finish on the outside.
@Leindurstit I hope this is also what the Dell XT2's successor is waiting for! I guess this processor would be awesome for convertible tablets.
Do the i7 ULVs utilize triple channel RAM and do without a FSB? Sounds like this could make a powerful, yet quite portable and efficient laptop :D
@Twisthem488
This seems silly. The difference in performance between the double and triple channel desktops parts is very small on a clock for clock basis. What would the point of using triple channel in a mobile part be? Keep in mind that these run at half the clock speed of the desktop i7s, so having "only" 2/3 the memory bandwidth wont hurt at all.
@TurtleBay Still would be nice for them to ditch the FSB for QPI once and for all.
Will this go in netbooks?
@TheSunman89
what ever this goes in wont be called a netbook, I guess.
I'd rather have ULV i5 with turbo boost in a laptop, if there's such a thing, plus an external video card to go with my external monitor if I want to play those GPU demanding games.
@htd I'd honestly guess phones, or other ultra mobile devices.... depends on the size/heat, but I can't see this being very useful for much else.
@TheSunman89 It will go into "large" netbooks and Ultra-Portables. Look at the current line of CULV/ULV products for a good idea of what to expect:
Acer 1410
Acer 1810t / 1810tz
Lenovo U150
ASUS UL20A
ASUS UL30A / UL30VT
I'm using an Acer 1410 with a 1.2 GHz dual core SU2300 CULV processor. It handles 1080p out via HDMI fine. Hulu runs full screen fine with low res (not 480p though). If a 1.46 GHz i7 ULV processor comes out in a similar form factor as this netbook, I'm definitely upgrading, it will be awesome.
Nice
Is this dual or quad core? Not all mobile i7s are quad core and I always find it confusing as they tend not to mention the core number.
I want to see something like this in a MBA.
@reallynotnick
NVM, it's dual core, I thought it might be quad because of how high it could turbo.
@reallynotnick No, it's quad.
@reallynotnick
I assume all i7's are quad
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
no it's dual core, all the i7 ULV processors are dual core
@reallynotnick
No no no.... You all have it wrong! It's Octacore!!!
@Me,
All kidding aside, if you click the source link, you will clearly see that it's Dual Core.
@reallynotnick
For the most part ignore the series number (i3,5,7), and focus on the chip number.
3xx +
4xx +
5xx +
6xx = dual core
7xx +
8xx +
9xx = quad core, or hex for the 9xx
@jon Thank you for adding yet another layer of confusion to this string of comments :)
@sshole He's right though (at least so far).
@commenter7 Don't assume that lol! There's not much structure over how Intel will divide i5, i7 ... some are Bloomfields, some are Arrandales....
I wonder if these will replace the SU3700's.
@N900
The 520UM should replace the SU7300 chips.
These will replace the SU9600s.
Maybe included in new Thinkpad X302 ?!
Wow, I can almost hear my lap screaming in despair.
PUT IT IN THE ENVY 13!!!!
Saving for the next gen 13 in macbook pro right now
@yulebellow
what makes you think Apple will put this in?? Considering the most popular macbook pro is STILL using Core2Duo, it will be a loong wait for you
@yulebellow
Only if Intel and Nvidia settle their differences.
@kingofwale
What's so bad about that if you can also get i5 or i7 should you need that? Chances are Apple will use these if they're any good, don't see why not. Next MBP refresh should be around christmas I guess, so the timing is right too.
@kingofwale
I think I read somewhere that Intel is going to stop making the Core 2 Duo's this Summer, so Apple will have to switch to something else (i7 ULV or A4) or drop the 13" line.
@yulebellow
going by Apple's past refresh schedule I'd guess we more likely see this in the fall for a MacBook Air refresh. If Intel does stop making C2Ds this summer then I would expect the 13" MBP to go to an i3 or lower end i5. I'm surprised already that they stuck with the c2d for this cycle as opposed to an i3. I would also expect the Mac mini to get a processor refresh in the fall to transition all of the models to the Core 2010 series.
Intel better make sure their processors don't go in any "Laptops". If there are any heat issues, you better call your device a Notebook.
Apple fan boys valiantly defend Macbook overheating with that ridiculous argument, so Intel should be ready to wield it as well.
New M11x plz? Ugh, that would be an insta win, better start saving for it
Hooray for ULV!
Macbook Air?
@Goaliegeek Can I second that vote?!
@Goaliegeek
Just wait a long while after they pop up in other lappies. Then you may see them.
-glares at Apple-
i'd love to buy ULV for everything. desktops, laptops, whereever. the clockspeeds are good enough for most tasks, and they can be run passive, silent, everywhere. awesome chips they are.
I'm waiting for the day I can buy a phone with a Core i7 processor in it! Now that one should get the moniker 'Supersonic'!
bad ass
I'm skipping this round of 13" MBP updates, because I wanted to see a little more. I wonder how this compares to the C2Ds that are used now... And if Apple would put it in the MBA or 13" MBP.
at what point is it worth the trouble and effort to de-gigahertz something down so much, when you could just get a i3, i5 or atom instead... when this comes out i want benchmarks and cost analysis!
@the derek well, find an i3 or i5 which uses 18W at 100% cpu usage.
and from own experience with a core2duo ULV at 1.2ghz i can say these chips are awesome. gigahertz are so overrated. an ulv system with lots of parallel power + an ssd == silent, very fast machine that consumes about no power.
atoms are ridiculous crap compared to this.
and i guess this i7 dances around my c2d. faster clock, hyperthreading, and esp. the turboboost sounds like this cpu adapts, if needed, to big jobs very well.
cost effective? not really. but worth it? yes indeed.
@davepermen Core i3-330UM, Core i5-520UM/540UM. ;)
ULV quad please. =D
Given the secrecy, I'm expecting these to show up in MacBook(Pro)s sometime. Those things have serious thermal/heating issues.