Intel to launch Core i5 ULV processor in June, MSI X Series to snatch it up
By Joanna Stern 
posted April 30th 2010 7:59PM
posted April 30th 2010 7:59PM
Well, it looks like Intel will finally be delivering that ultra low voltage Core i5 chip this summer. Though it was revealed back at CES, MSI's saying the Core i5 520UM CPU will be ready by June, and that it'll be subbing the 1.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 CPU and ATI discrete graphics in its X-Slim Series for the more electrically efficient processor. Acer also appears to be doing the same with its Aspire TimelineX 1830T. While MSI didn't provide us with firm benchmark scores, they did pass on word that the Windows rating score is higher on the i5-powered X360 than the previous version, and the endurance is quite good -- they expect 7 to 8 hours with an eight-cell battery. The company hasn't determined pricing on the X360 but predicts that it will go for around $700 to $900 depending on the config when it hits shelves in the June / July time frame.
awsome...only wish I had the money...
How many computer come with an 8 cell battery standard?
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
None, that will be the fat extra $$ battery. The standard on this unit is 4 cell I believe so it will probably be 3-4 hours, which isn't terrible for something this thin but not great.
@ScienceProUSAcom Well considering those figures are bloated like ever other estimate on battery life, aren't there a ton of options for this battery life already? 1.3ghz isn't that fast (my laptop has a t9300 2.5ghz dual-core that gets 2 hours at full screen brightness).
@ScienceProUSAcom Actually, my computer came with an 8-cell battery standard, and the high capacity battery that you can purchase for it is 12 cell. Although it really doesn't count in this case as it's a desktop replacement (Hp pavilion dv7), so it only lasts about 4 hours anyways.
Awesome, now I want to see the HP Envy 13 and MacBook Air updated to include these puppies.
@ScienceProUSAcom how abt hp touch tablet tm2t???
how come ASUS isn't mentioned? They are gonna have this in the UL30Jt
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=dh1loes9V1IGKwCA
also in the UL80Jt, PL30Jt, and PL80Jt
@Peytral interesting.... A while back at CES it was shown that it would be running an i7-640um/620um. All the other specs are/were exactly the same.
I wonder what kind of performance difference there will be.
So when is this coming to the m11x?
@geegee When is i7 coming you mean... Lol although I agree i5 is a good price/performance idea for m11x I'm just waiting for the CPU upgrade to buy
@Madmax333 Don't buy the i7-620m, the only dual core i7, it sucks. Hotter, draws more power, and is more expensive than the i5-540m, and it's only 10% faster AT MOST. It usually performs at about 105% of the 540m.
@Broderbund
This coming from someone who can't tell the difference between standard voltage and ULV chips.
Oh good...there's hope yet that we'll get something better than those placeholder MacBook Pros that were just released!
@pettybooshwah This processor is less powerful than the Core 2 Duo in the 13.3" MBP.
@pettybooshwah These things are supposed to be the replacements of the SU's in ULV laptops like the MBA's or the Ul80jt
@N900 Hmm. I see. I haven't kept up on the specs, but the i5 / ULV rating would have led me to think they were better performers while possessing a lower TDP. Oh well. Thanks for the education, but were you, like me, a little underwhelmed at the last releases?
I think the 13.3 battery life is brilliant, and I'll likely pick up another (made the mistake of buying the unibody w/o removable battery). However, still underwhelmed.
@pettybooshwah Well I was a little disappointed in the 13.3, but they said it was for the conservation of battery life. So I guess as long as the Duos are working fine, it's no biggie. Personally, I'm a fan of the i5's more than i7's: cheaper, capable, and they don't burn 'ya. ^^
@N900 The battery life is nice, but I'm quite sure the reason for staying with Core 2 was only minimally the battery life. Consider this: What would they have done with the graphics? The 13" doesn't use discrete graphics, but the architecture of the Core i5 doesn't really allow for integrated graphics. (It's possible, but the graphics would now be 2 connections away from the RAM instead of 1.) With the Core 2, NVIDIA could just create an upgraded version of an existing chipset. I doubt NVIDIA or ATI have anything that would really fit with what Apple wants for the 13" if they switched to Core i5 right now.
@jayayess1190
lol doubt it, Arrandale owns. I wouldnt be surprised if an Arrandale ULV beat a mid range 35W C2D.
@chaos215bar2
If ASUS and them can fit 310Ms in their thin and light chassises Apple can fit it in their 13".
@jayayess1190: thanks to you, also, for the heads up on the specs...I go gripe about underwhelming MacBook updates silently in the corner now. :)
I'm STILL waiting for the Asus UL30t.
Come on, it's been over 3 months now!
:/
Just ordered an Asus ul30vt thinking these were still a ways out and I don't want to spend more than about 750. Wonder if I should cancel?
X Slims are nice, I've used the Neo ones (solo and dual), but their battery life lets them down so badly. I don't know how power consumption compares between the i5 ULV and the Neo, but if I only get 2 hours on the neo, it doesn't look great.
@Oli D
You'd probably get between 3 and 4 hours with a CiN ULV.
AMD has great performance per dollar, but their power consumption is still terrible.
I want to see this in the Asus UL series. I was going to purchase one this week, but I guess ill hold off until they upgrade it.
I was planning on HP tm2t tablet with culv 1.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 CPU and ATI discrete graphics, but will wait for this puppy to come out after Mother's day. Hope there is new motherboard/chipset accompanying this cpu, as the current 7300 has just 800 FSB. I believe this will be 1067 FSB and have usb 3.0 built-in as in the ENVY series.
Joanna Stern! any idea on this making into HP next month; are my expectations too high for HP, especially after they killed their slate???