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Intel's 2nd Generation Core processor family announced, includes 29 new CPUs and enhanced graphics
They're here! That is, Intel's Sandy Bridge mobile and desktop processors herein known as the 2nd Generation Core processor family or more simply as Intel Core 2011 processors to us. After months of teasing and on-stage demos, Chipzilla is finally unleashing the details of its new Core i3, i5, and i7 processors, and considering there are 29 new CPUs in total as well as new integrated graphics options (now known as processor graphics) there's quite a bit to digest. Hit the break for our rundown of the new platform and a look at some of Intel's newest performance and graphics-focused features. %Gallery-112306%
ASUS U33Jc-A1 Bamboo series review
Pandas, East Asia, wood. Nope, "laptop" hasn't ever been on the list of words we typically associate with "bamboo," but ASUS sure has us willing to tack it on with the introduction of its U Bamboo Series. The company's newest 13-inch U33Jc is covered in one of the most durable and recyclable materials on earth, and its internals are made of equally strong parts. Sure, the laptop looks incredibly traditional, but the $999 machine actually packs an incredible amount of new technology, including a fresh Core i3 processor, NVIDIA Optimus enabled graphics, USB 3.0 and Intel's wireless display technology. It's truly one of the most impressive laptops we've heard about in the last few months, but a few gripes hold it back from being the killer laptop it could be. Intrigued? Bamboozled? Hit the break for our full review. %Gallery-98391%
Acer TimelineX 4820T review
Pulling the 14-inch Acer TimelineX 4820T from its box, one thing went through our mind: this could be the perfect thin and light laptop. The $717 system is about an inch thick, weighs only 4.7 pounds, and still has an onboard DVD drive. And unlike the past Acer Timelines and their sissy ULV processors, it has a standard voltage Core i3-350M CPU, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. Oh, and it promises over seven hours of battery life. Sound like the perfect no-compromise ultrathin laptop to you too, right? Well, even after our unboxing, the TimelineX 4820T did live up to many of our expectations, but disappointed in some unfortunate others. We'll explain it all in our full review after the break. %Gallery-97183%
Sony VAIO EC Series review (VPCEC25FX/WI)
Sony's always had a knack for making some of the best multimedia laptops around, and the VAIO EC Series is all about continuing the trend. The desk-dominating 17.3-inch laptop is a monster of a machine, and has the internal guns to match – it's got a Core i3 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics card, 4GB of RAM, 500GB of storage and a Blu-ray drive. For $949.99, there are definitely more affordable desktop replacements on the market, but can Sony's usual superior manufacturing build, design and multimedia prowess elevate it above the others? Hit that 'read more' link to find out in our full review. %Gallery-96938%
HP TouchSmart tm2t review
Let's not forget that before "tablets" were all the rage there were, well, tablets. While most tablet PCs were -- and still are -- aimed at the business market, the HP TouchSmart tm2 (which began as the tx2000) was one of the first tablets for the average Joe. And despite rumors of a slate product and future WebOS devices, HP hasn't given up on the tm2, and rightfully so. Just updated with a brand new Core i3 ULV processor, the convertible has a 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, a new TouchSmart layer for laptops, an onboard stylus for taking notes, and a striking design with a rather stellar chiclet keyboard. There's no doubt the form factor still appeals to students or those simply looking for the power of a PC with a touch experience, but we wish HP paid a bit more attention to a few key features before shipping. Find out just what those are in our full review. %Gallery-96332%
Tranquil PC iXL takes you up to 2.93GHz sans fans, has equally lofty price
We told you Intel's 32nm Clarkdales were power efficient, right? Well, Tranquil PC's slapped one of those chips, a 2.93GHz Core i3-530 to be precise, into its all-new iXL Power PC and now boasts a total system juice consumption of a measly 30W at idle. That means this HTPC can get away with living the quiet, fanless life, while HDMI, a trio of eSATA ports, a multicard reader, and a Blu-ray option flesh out a comprehensive package. Naively, we thought we'd throw the Blu-ray drive in with a 500GB hard disk to see what this might cost us, and were stricken with grief at the sight of a £742 ($1,100) price tag. Should four-digit entry fees not scare you off, you'll want to know that the iXL is shipping now. For everyone else, hit the source link for a bunch of glamor photos.
Sony VAIO EA and EC Series excite with colors and Core i3
You've really got a thing for florescent these days, don't ya Sony? Just like its colorful 15.5-inch EB series, Sony's new 14-inch VAIO EA and 17.3-inch EC Series are available in colors that can only remind us of 80's workout attire, including bright green, blue, and pink. Though (thankfully!) for us more conservative types, the two new lines are also available in a matte white, brown and black. The budget systems ring up at around $700, and both feature a Core i3 350M CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. There is a Blu-ray option and an onboard HDMI port. Sony's also gone and added its own instant-on OS, which is launched by hitting the WEB button above the keyboard. Our favorite part about the two machines? Funny enough it has nothing to do with the laptops themselves -- it happens to be the rubber keyboard skins that Sony will sell for $25 along side these lappies for keeping the chiclet keyboards safe from crumbs and everyday ware. Both models will be up for pre-order today, though will ship in July. %Gallery-94643%
Alienware M11x getting Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 upgrade next month, says Dell rep
Meet Pearce Clune, Dell's Head of Consumer Operations for Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Clune's gone ahead and given a pretty brief demonstration of Alienware's laptop lineup to Shuffle Magazine, include the mighty impressive M11x powerhouse in netbook clothing. It's all pretty standard fare until about 2:20 into the video, where the fine gentleman casually drops that the Core 2 Duo processor is about to get a modern upgrade with Core i3, i5, and i7 options. That's right, a Core i7 processor in a 11-inch form factor. We'll let that sink in for a second. But don't just take our word for it -- video after the break. Now, is Optimus en route, too? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Dell Latitude E4310 officially launches, brings E5410 and E5510 along for the ride
Being the eagle-eyed scouts that we are, we already alerted you to the new 13.3-inch Latitude E4310 and its fine looking product page, but Dell's putting all of its cards on the table today with pricing and availability. Starting at $1,149, the new 1.1-inch thick, corporate-looking laptop will be available later this month with Core i5 CPUs as well as your choice of SSD and hard drive options. That's above the $1,000 threshold, but we're told that's because of its durable tri-metal build and backlit keyboard, both of which sound delightfully delightful. We're curious to see the machine in person, but if you aren't into those extras, Dell's got you covered with its 13.3-inch Latitude E5410 and 14.6-inch E5510, which start at $759 and $789, respectively. While these two aren't the trimmest of the bunch at over 4.5 pounds, they can be configured with Core i3 or i5 processors, DDR3 RAM, and up to 320GB 7,200rpm hard drives. Not a bad bunch of options for the briefcase, but take sometime to peruse the press shots below and the PR after the break before you bust out the plastic. %Gallery-92753%
Samsung Q330, Q430 and Q530 slim laptops to invade Britain in July
Okay, so we can't say we're exactly enthralled about the styling of this here laptop trio -- Q330, Q430 and Q530 (Q430 not pictured) -- that Samsung announced in London today, but let's see if their specs can win us over. For starters, all three machines share the same 27mm thickness, anti-scratch chassis technology, and 1,366 x 768 screen resolution (but across the 13.3-, 14- and 15.6-inch screens). Similarly, you're limited to a Core i3-350M (2.26GHz), DVD burner, 6-cell battery, three USB ports and the same black / silver paint job across all three models. The differences? Look no further than the GPU options and weight -- you get an integrated Intel GMA HD and five-hour battery life on the 1.96kg (4.32 pounds) Q330; the slightly stronger NVIDIA GeForce 310M on the 2.05kg (4.52 pounds) Q430; and the GeForce GT 330M on the 2.33kg (5.14 pounds) Q530. Nothing too thrilling here to be honest, plus the faux brushed metal texture gave a weird touch to the trackpads, but the keyboards were surprisingly nice to type on. Anyhow, we'll hold our final judgment until the prices come out in two months' time.%Gallery-92771%
Lenovo IdeaPad U Series updated with Core i3, i5, i7 ULV processors
Well, thank you, Lenovo! Not only for updating the thin and light IdeaPad U Series laptops with new chiclet keyboards and ambient light sensors, but for finally giving us some details on Intel's new Core i3, i5 and i7 ULV processors. That's right, the new IdeaPad U lappies will be available at the beginning of June and will pack brand new Core 2010 ULV chips, which is in line with what we have heard about the release. Like the current U Series, the 11.6-inch U160, 13-inch U360,14-inch U460 and 15-inch U560 all measure less than an inch-thick and don't weigh more than 3.8 pounds. And according to the spec sheets, all will be configurable with your pick of ultra-low-voltage Core i7 (1.6GHz Core i7-640UM, 1.06GHz Core i7-620UM), Core i5 (1.2GHz Core i5-540UM, 1.06GHz Core i5-520UM, 1.2GHz Core i5-430UM) and Core i3 (1.2GHz Core i3-330UM) processors. There's no indication of discrete graphics options, but on the lower end there are also be Pentium and Celeron processor choices -- we're assuming the $679 starting SKU doesn't get the Core 2010 ULV love. We don't have any performance stats from Lenovo, but it does claim that the entire series continues to be all about portability and long battery life. Regardless, we're still extremely excited about the entire group, though something about that 11.6-inch U160 and the ability to configure it with a Core i7 UM processor has us exceptionally giddy. We're hoping to spend more time with these soon, but till then, be sure and check out the hands-on pics below. %Gallery-92605%
Intel to launch Core i3 ULV processor this quarter
We knew that Intel had a Core i5 ULV chip in the works for a June release, and now PC World is reporting on an Intel roadmap mentioning the aforementioned CPU, as well as a ULV Core i3. Due for release this quarter, the new 32nm processor should reach "laptops in the second half of the year," according to Intel VP Stephen Smith. The company was mum on release date, performance, and pricing, but don't fret -- keep your eyes on this space, and we promise you'll know as soon as we do.
HP TouchSmart tm2 getting Core i3 and i5 this summer?
This is just a rumor at this point, but it's definitely one we'd file in the believable column. According to NewGadgets.de, HP's planning to update its 12.1-inch tm2 convertible tablet with Core i3 and i5 processors in June. Considering we've heard that Intel will be releasing its Core i5 ULV processors around then, this certainly makes sense --- after all, we'd expect HP to swap out the current Core 2 Duo ULV processors for something more powerful, yet power efficient. Time will tell if the new chips make it into the multitouch laptop, but it's good to know that HP's still working on at least some sort of Windows 7 tablet.
HP Pavilion line made over with metal casing, new AMD and Intel processors
See that up there? That's the new HP dm4, and you better believe that this aluminum housed 14-inch laptop not only packs a Core i5 processor and plenty of sex appeal, but starts at $729. In a nutshell, that's basically the whole story of the four new HP Pavilions -- gone are the glossy lids and LED touch shortcuts, though remaining in tact are the affordable prices and mainstream power. The inch-thick dm4 happens to be our favorite of the bunch -- it's got a soft etched pattern along the lid, chiclet-style keyboard, on-board optical drive, and is available with different Core i5 CPU and ATI discrete graphics options. And if that 14-incher isn't for you, there's also the 14.5-inch dv5, which instead of the brushed aluminum lid, has a matte imprinted cover that's available in black, red and champagne. Starting at $649, the dv5 is available with Core i3, i5 and AMD's upcoming Turion II processors, and while it doesn't have discrete graphics options, the Intel versions will support Intel's WiDi technology. Going on up in size, the 15.6-inch Pavilion dv6 is all about choices -- you can configure it with either a brushed aluminum or HP Imprint finish, a mulitouch screen, and AMD or Intel Core 2010 processors. The AMD variant will start at $530 and the Intel Core i5 version at $649. Last but not least is the dv7 powerhouse, which now has a Beats Audio option. No surprises here, the 17-incher can be pimped with quad-core AMD or Intel CPUs and ATI discrete graphics. We're planning to review at least a few of these models before back to school laptop shopping season gets fully underway, but for now, feel free to head on past the break for the full press release and feast your eyes on some of these far-from-budget-looking lappies down in the galleries below. %Gallery-92222% %Gallery-92224%
ASUS U30Jc review
Core i3 laptops with no more than 2.5 hours of battery life... seen 'em. Intel ULV laptops that last for more than 5.5 hours... seen 'em. A Core i3 laptop with NVIDIA's Optimus discrete graphics that boasts 9.5 hours of battery life? Well, now that sounds new, and that's exactly what the 13.3-inch ASUS's U30Jc promises to be – that perfect chocolate vanilla swirl of portability and performance. But like us, you've got to be thinking there's got to be sacrifices here, right? We thought so too, but surprisingly enough they're extremely minimal considering the $900 pricetag. You aren't going to find out what they are up here -- hit that read more link for our full review. %Gallery-90291%
ASUS U30Jc on sale today, come get your Optimus-ized Core i3 in a thin and light package
Lusting for the ultimate compromise between a desktop replacement and an ultraportable computer? The ASUS U30Jc might -- in spite of its generic name -- be just the ticket for you, since it packs in a 2.26GHz Intel Core i3-350M CPU plus an NVIDIA GeForce GT310M graphics chip, which will be used in the most efficient fashion possible thanks to the addition of that newfangled Optimus auto-switching technology. ASUS also manages to fit in an optical drive, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 320GB hard disk (5,400RPM), HDMI-out, WiFi, and the usual webcam and mic. The 5,600mAh battery is rated to last 9.5 hours according to ASUS (sounds pretty optimistic to us) and the display's resolution is 1366 x 768. That last spec is the only thing we can find wrong with this package, and the $899 sticker and immediate availability should garner plenty of fans out there. If you need a little extra convincing, keep an eye out for our forthcoming review. Full PR after the break.
Dell, Toshiba and Gateway Core i3 laptops get revealed early, joined by Pine Trail netbooks
And just like that, the CES 2010 on-switch has been well and truly pressed. After HP, Sony and Lenovo all exposed their hardware to the world prematurely, it was inevitable that other companies would "accidentally" follow suit. Thanks to CNET's snooping, we're now staring at a trio of new Core i3 models from Dell, Toshiba and Gateway -- highlighted by an unannounced ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 powering a 1600 x 900 15-inch display on the Gateway, which also squeezes 500GB of storage under a shockingly low $692 price tag. On the Atom front, the Mini 210 is joined by a Toshiba NB305 -- sporting the N450, 250GB HDD, up to 11 hours' claimed battery life, and a $438 sticker -- as well as Gateway's effort with a smaller 160GB HDD but also suitably reduced $285 asking price. Hit the links below to get freshened up on all the juicy details. Read - FutureShop.ca (Gateway NV5905H) Read - FutureShop.ca (Toshiba Satellite L500-00F) Read - Costco (Dell Inspiron 15) Read - FutureShop.ca (Gateway LT2102H) Read - FutureShop.ca (Toshiba NB305-00F)
Intel Core i3, mobile Core i5 processors coming January 7
Intel's Arrandale chips haven't been the best-kept secret around, and today Chipzilla made 'em official: the Core i3 and mobile Core i5 will launch on January 7, and we'd guess a bunch of new machines come along for the ride. Although the desktop Lynnfield Core i5 is a quad-core, both the new Core i3 and mobile Core i5 are dual-core -- and in a first for Intel, both of the new chips have an integrated GPU core that's being branded "Intel HD Graphics." The new GPU is supposedly good enough for "high-end" HTPC use, but manufacturers can add switchable discrete GPUs, so don't fret too much. Both Arrandale chips have Intel's latest hyperthreading tech, and the mobile i5 also has the Turbo Boost core-overclocking feature found in the desktop i5 and i7, which redirects power to a single core to boost performance when needed. We got to see a few Core i3 and i5 laptops and desktops in action at Intel's pre-CES briefing today, although we didn't get to run any tests. The mobile Core i5 systems on display were doing a fine job running Call of Duty 4, while the scaled-down Core i3 rigs were playing Blu-ray movies and World of Warcraft -- not a bad demo, but we'll let you know when we see some real numbers. %Gallery-80522%
Intel's Core i3 530 processor up for order, still unconfirmed by Intel
Remember Intel's budget-friendlier Core i3 line that we've been talking about since June? Despite recent leaks the company still hasn't made it officially official, but it's now unofficially officially thanks to a pre-order at a Canadian retailer. If you're getting a little déjà vu right now don't worry, it isn't a glitch in the matrix; this is exactly the same scenario that played out with the Core i5 back in August, about a month before that proc was finally given its coming out party. In other words, expect this 32nm chip -- with its 2.93GHz speed, 512KB of L2 cache, 4MB of L3, and $157 CAD asking price (a mere $10 lower in American) -- to be given the full press release rigmarole sometime around the new year.
Intel rebrands: Core i3, i5, i7 are in, Centrino on the outs
Intel's doing some spring cleaning on its branding structure, adding new Cores on the block. Joining the high-level Core i7 series will be the mid range Core i5 in the coming months and the lower-end Core i3's early next year. To be more specific, the Lynnfield chipsets will be either i5 or i7 depending on the feature set, Clarkfield mobile chips will be i7, and the 32nm Arrandale will at least at first fall under i3. Of course, with the new gang in town, some older monikers will be going wayside, and getting the slow fade out are Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, and Centrino, the latter being eventually marginalized for WiMAX and WiFi products only. Making the cut are Celeron, Pentium, and the ever-resilient Atom names. We're a bit sad to know there will never be a Core 2 Dodeca, but hey, it's only a name, right?. Hit up the read link for more details, including a video interview with Intel's VP of Marketing Deborah Conrad.[Via CNET]Read - Intel's New Brand Structure ExplainedRead - Fewer Brands, Greater Impact
