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Apple's 2.4GHz 24-inch aluminum iMac gets benchmarked
Although we certainly noticed that Apple's latest iMac felt snappy enough, the folks over at Primate Labs have cranked out a few numbers for the data freaks in the crowd to chew on. Granted, these benchmarks do not include the Core 2 Extreme iMac nor are they the most complete set of tests we've ever seen, but they do seem to give those on the fence a decent look at what level of performance increases they'll be dealing with. Put simply, the new 2.4GHz 24-inch iMac posted "modest gains" across the board compared to the previous iterations that clocked in at 2.33GHz / 2.16GHz, and while the results don't seem earth-shattering, those who rely on "memory-intensive applications (like Aperture or Photoshop)" would likely benefit most from the improved "integer, floating point. and memory / stream performance." As you'd expect, the full skinny on the test results await you in the read link.[Via AppleInsider]
Intel announces simplified product-naming scheme
It looks like Intel has come to the realization that its product naming scheme has gotten a little out of hand and, as Ars Technica reports, it's now taking some measures to simplify things a bit. Apparently, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 Solo will all simply be known as "Core 2" starting on January 1st, 2008 (presumably with some other means to differentiate then), and Intel Viiv Processor Technology and Intel vPro Processor Technology will henceforth be known as Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Viiv (or vPro). Further on down the line, Pentium D and Pentium Dual-Core will both be shortened to just "Pentium," while the server-centric Itanium 2 gets demoted to plain old "Itanium." According to Ars, Core 2 Extreme, Celeron, and Xeon will all stay as they are. Simple, right?
Intel's Wolfdale processor gets benchmarked
Calm down, you haven't overslept by a couple of months or anything, as the Wolfdale we're talking about here is in fact simply a 2.33GHz engineering sample of the forthcoming dual-core processor. Nevertheless, HKPEC labs was able to pit it against the 2.33GHz E6550, and the results weren't too shabby. In a slew of tests including PC Mark, CineBench, Science Mark, SiSoft Sandra, and individual application trials, the Wolfdale managed to best the E6550 in every single facet. Of course, it didn't exactly blow the current Core 2 Duo out of the water, but increasing performance by nearly 11-percent in Doom 3 and Far Cry, 5.53-percent in PC Mark, and around 8-percent in Office applications isn't anything to sneeze at. Still, we've got quite a ride ahead before seeing a finalized Wolfdale, but feel free to humor yourself with the preliminary benchmarks below.[Via The Inquirer]
Apple refreshes Mac mini, now with Core 2 Duo
While we certainly had a fairly solid idea that Apple would be unveiling a new breed of iMacs and a snazzy new set of keys, you can color us mildly surprised to see a Mac mini refresh thrown in for good measure. Available today, the newly revamped minis arrive in two basic configurations, the first of which includes a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of RAM, and an 80GB hard drive for $599, while $200 more will buy you a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, the same 1GB of RAM, and a 120GB hard drive. Both units come with Front Row and an Apple Remote, iLife '08, OS X 10.4, a DVI-to-VGA adapter, and the same cute box we've come to know and love. Those looking to CTO can toss in an extra gigabyte of RAM, bump the HDD to 160GB, and throw in one of those oh-so-sexy keyboards while you're at it. Best of all, they're slated to ship within 24 hours.
Fujitsu's LifeBook N6460 launches in US
It was but a few weeks ago that we caught Fujitsu's LifeBook N6460 showing off in Singapore, and now it looks like the beastly machine has made its way stateside for all of us Americans to enjoy. This 17-incher touts an XGA+ panel, Intel's 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 CPU, ATI's Mobility Radeon HD 2600 graphics set, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 400GB of hard drive space, an optional Blu-ray drive, integrated fingerprint scanner, a remote control, 56k modem, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, and a plethora of ports including five USB 2.0 connectors, FireWire, a multicard reader, and an ExpressCard opening to boot. Granted, you can certainly opt to customize the aforementioned specifications to fit your budget, but pre-established configurations range from $1,499 to $2,599 and look to be shipping right away.[Via PCLaunches]%Gallery-5318%
Asus Santa Rosa-based F8S coming soon
Asus appears to be adding a new laptop called the F8S to its fairly crowded lineup (although we're almost certain this one isn't gigantic and made of wood). The new model is a Santa Rosa-based, 14.1-inch widescreen offering, built around an Intel PM965 chipset, with a Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and either an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600, or NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics chipset. Word on the street is that the F8S will additionally sport 802.11a/g/n, a TV tuner, built-in webcam, fingerprint reader, and will hit for around €2000. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.
Sony quietly launches VAIO TP1 Living Room PC
If you can force your brain to remember back to January, you may recall Sony's curiously designed TP1 HTPC. Interestingly enough, it seems that Sony has indeed launched the device and didn't even bother to tell anyone, but that doesn't mean you can't be brought up to speed. Be warned, however, that Living Room PC does not equate to high-end AV center, as this modestly-spec'd machine lacks an HD optical drive and CableCARD option. Internally, you'll find a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chip, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 300GB 7,200RPM SATA hard drive, dual-layer DVD writer, ATSC / NTSC TV tuner, GMA 950 integrated graphics set, and HDMI / DVI / VGA outputs. Moreover, Sony included a 4-pin FireWire connector, audio in / out, four USB 2.0 ports, Memory Stick / SD slots, 802.11b/g, and Vista Home Premium to run the show. So if you're still intrigued by this ho hum (albeit Viiv-certified!) PC, you can snag it right now starting at $1,599.99.[Via CNET]
Intel cuts prices on quad-core chips
Intel is giving a lot of cheap speed-freaks cause for celebration today, as the company has just announced some deep price cuts to its line of quad-core CPUs (and a few other price snips here and there). The chipmaker has knocked down the price of the 2.93GHz Core 2 Quad QZ6800 with a 1066MHz FSB to $999, the 2.66 GHz Q6700 to $530, and the 2.4GHz Q6600 to $300 (shaving off almost half of its price). With these new drops, the Q6600 has become the cheapest quad-core chip on the market, thus making chumps of the people who bought it a month ago, but those who've been waiting for the cuts will be glad they did. Additionally, Intel has reduced the cost of some of its Core 2 Duo processors, taking around $20 off of the cost of the 2.2GHz E4500 and the 2GHz E4400. Be sure to check out InformationWeek's complex breakdown of the cuts, and where to find the best deals.[Via The Inquirer, thanks Tech L]
Intel roadmaps Penryn for mobiles
A recent leak from Intel has revealed the chip-maker's plans for its Penryn mobile processor line, detailing all the sweet news in a roadmap which has made its way into the waiting public's hands. On the sheet are the details of four new Core 2 Duo chips and one new Core 2 Extreme that Intel will be shepherding into the market in the near future (or so we hope). All of the chips feature the Santa Rosa-standard 800MHz frontside bus, with the C2Ds clocking in at 2.5GHZ and 2.6GHz with a 6MB cache, or alternately 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz with a 3MB cache -- the C2E delivers 2.8GHz with a 6MB cache. No word on pricing or availability, but you'll know as soon as we do.[Via Reg Hardware]
Hands-on with Sony's VAIO TZ superultraportable notebook
Obviously unaware that we're not exactly the classiest folks around (we were the only ones there wearing shorts and a T-shirt), Sony invited us to a decidedly swanky "product unveiling" at Rockefeller Plaza's 66th floor Top of the Rock observation deck, replete with such pricey fare as caviar, salmon canapes, crab salad, tuna tartare, and grilled shrimp, along with four varieties of champagne (from a 2000 Veuve Clicquot Reserve Rose to a 1996 Bollinger R.D., if you must know) to wash it all down with -- and as if that weren't enough booze, several bottles of well-aged scotch sat prominently atop a fully stocked bar. This whole luxury theme was meant to sway our coverage about reflect the high-end status of the company's 11.1-inch VAIO TZ, whose $2,200 minimum price tag gets you a waif of a Santa Rosa-based ultraportable featuring a carbon fiber exterior, 32GB SSD, WWAN in the form of EV-DO Rev. A, and a MacBook-style keyboard, among other goodies. Sorry to cut this short, but we're off to shower and shave with the pleasant smelling men's products that Sony stuffed in our gift bag (we gave everything else -- cigars, lip balm, four dollar bottled water, book on wine -- away to elevator operators and people on the subway), so this would probably be a good time to check out the gallery below. And, as a special, one-time only bonus, we've also included photos of the recently announced VAIO-branded LF-V30 LocationFree streamer, whose component jacks enable HD place-shifting, and with which the entire VAIO lineup will soon be compatible thanks to pre-loaded software... %Gallery-4973%
HP intros white dv6500 CT Special Edition laptop
'Round these parts, we can't help but show a little extra love for anything slapped with an oh-so-coveted "limited edition" label, and for folks in the market for a new HP laptop (and residing in Japan, by the way), here's one especially for you. The dv6500 CT Special Edition is said to be limited to 1,000 units and will reportedly sport a 15.4-inch LCD, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor, VGA output, several USB ports, and a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel -- but it sounds like everything else can be customized to your liking. The most glaring difference here, however, is the snow white casing and Special Edition badges, which will surely incite envy in those who didn't quite get their orders in on time. Prices start at just ¥119,700 ($979) for the most basic of configurations, but you may as well splurge on the CTO extras if you actually manage to secure a unit, no?[Via AVing]UPDATE: Seems like this machine may not be limited to Japan after all, huzzah!
Evesham intros 17-inch Zieo NX600-HD laptop
Shortly after unveiling the Zieo N500-HD, Evesham is hitting back with a slightly more updated version for those lusting after a few more frames-per-second. The 17-inch Zieo NX600-HD looks to be aimed squarely at gamers, as the available 2.4GHz T7700 Core 2 Duo and 512MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 8700M GT provide all the FPS horsepower you'll (currently) need. Also packed within is a WUXGA panel, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, dual-layer DVD burner, a 56k modem, up to 250GB of SATA hard drive space, eight-cell Li-ion battery, 802.11a/b/g/n support, integrated multicard reader, built-in stereo speakers, gigabit Ethernet, and a smattering of ports including FireWire, USB 2.0, DVI, TV out, and an ExpressCard slot for good measure. Of course, such a well endowed machine won't come cheap (nor lightly), as this 8.7-pound beast will run you £1,399 ($2,813) before any of the highly desirable upgrades.[Via TechDigest]
NC Digitech's latest MegaBook: the 12.1-inch PR200-040KR
If the 17-inch behemoth that NC Digitech rolled out last month was a tad too large for your tastes, the ultraportable PR200-040KR may fit just fine. This 12.1-incher sports a black / silver motif, WXGA panel, Intel's T7300 Core 2 Duo processor and GMA X3100 integrated graphics, 2GB of RAM, 802.11a/b/g, a 1.3-megapixel webcam in the (far too thick) bezel, Ethernet, audio out, a number of USB ports, and HDMI for good measure. Best of all, this wee machine weighs in at just 3.97-pounds, and while the price doesn't seem to be readily available at the moment, it's entirely likely those outside of South Korea won't even have a chance to spend their allowance on it.
Dell gets official with Latitude D430, Precision M4300 laptops
At long last, Dell's ultraportable Latitude D430 is getting official, and just so it doesn't have to brave the new world alone, the Precision M4300 mobile workstation is tagging along. The 12-inch D430 will of course boast a widescreen WXGA display, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, Intel's GMA 950 integrated graphics, an Intel Core 2 Duo (or Solo) processor, an optional 32GB SSD, 802.11n WiFi, optional fingerprint reader, magnesium alloy casing, Strike Zone hard drive protection, and a slew of ports to boot. The beefier M4300 comes stocked with up to 2.4GHz of Intel Core 2 Duo power, a 15.4-inch display, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA's 512MB Quadro FX 360M graphics, up to 160GB of hard drive space, and 802.11n WiFi. Both units are available to configure as we speak, and while the 12-incher starts at $1,509 sans many luxuries, the M4300 rings up at $1,750 before you start bumping up the specs.
Alienware m9750: now with dual 512MB NVIDIA GPUs
We can just imagine the smiles creeping over the faces of FPS freaks everywhere as they dream about owning a laptop with twin 512MB NVIDIA GPUs, and thanks to Alienware's refreshed m9750, you can now replace those visions with an actual order. The newly revamped 17-inch machine still offers up a WXGA+ or WUXGA display, up to 400GB of internal HDD space in a RAID 0 array, Blu-ray support, and a plethora of connectivity options, but it now includes Intel's 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo and a delightful pair of 512MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX graphics cards for all the battery-drainin', high-rez gaming you can handle. The freshened up system is due to ship late next month, and while you can get your own for $2,099, the upgraded graphics rig alone will set you back another $600.
Intel's Core 2 Duo E6750 revealed, benchmarked
Intel's taken the wraps off of one of the four E6x50-series Core 2 Duo processors it first announced earlier this year, which are primarily notable for their new 1333 MHz front-side buses. The one getting all the attention at the moment is the next to top-end E6750, which clocks in at 2.66 GHz and is set to run $183 when it lands July 22nd. Coinciding with Intel's loosening of secrecy, the folks at The Tech Report got their hands on the processor to put it through their usual range of tests finding, not surprisingly, that the processor does indeed offer some modest performance gains over the previous E6700. The real gains, however, seem to be reserved for those willing to go the overclocking route, with Tech Report finding that they were able to push the processor all the way to 3.64GHz, making it the fastest dual-core processor they've seen to date.Read - DailyTech, "Intel Unveils Core 2 Duo E6750 Performance"Read - Tech Report review
Beastly Toshiba Satellite X200 laptop gets spotted
You already knew that Toshiba was doling out the HD DVD love to the X205, but a purported Satellite X200 machine has apparently been apprehended by a Frenchman (or woman) and revealed to the world. Reportedly, this "desktop replacement" starts off with a 17-inch 1,440 x 900 resolution LCD, and packs a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT, 2GB of RAM, a 200GB hard drive spinning at 4200RPMs, Harmon Kardon speakers, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, a DVD burner, 1.3-megapixel camera, hordes of USB 2.0 connectors, fingerprint reader, an ExpressCard slot, and even a numeric keypad thrown in for good measure. While we've seen nothing official, word on the street has this bad boy landing next month for around €1,599 ($2,147), but for now, click on through for the rest of the show.
Gateway's 14-inch 295 series tablet PC spied
Note to Gateway: don't pass along secretive information about unannounced tablets (even to students) unless you don't mind it getting out. That being said, it seems like a new 295 series of tablet PCs could be hitting the education market (and beyond) real soon, as the device was candidly spotted in numerous education order forms. Dubbed the E-295M by the University of South Dakota, the convertible apparently comes stocked with a 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 60GB 5400RPM hard drive, modular DVD burner, seven-in-one multicard reader, a PC Card slot, FireWire, a trio of USB 2.0 connectors, and Intel's GMA x3100 integrated graphics. You'll be staring at a 14-inch WXGA display and fiddling with the included stylus while ignoring lecturers, and the gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g WiFi should keep you well connected to the things that matter most. Of course, pricing details for the general public are likely to change, but those headed to USD can place their order for $1,699.
Intel Core 2 Extreme laptops in July?
According to what appears to be a leaked product roadmap, it's beginning to look like a hot summer if you're a laptop gamer, on-the-go video editor, or need to crunch some seriously large numbers while traveling. From the looks of the roadmap it appears Intel is planning updates and price cuts for laptop CPUs through September 2nd, including the introduction of a couple Core 2 Extreme chips (2.8GHz X7900 and 2.6GHz X7800, featuring 800MHz FSB/4MB L2 cache) as previously reported. All told, the processor overlords will apparently debut nine new chips and cut the price on four, with slight changes in pretty much every category. Of note is the addition of the budget Celeron M540 and M550, which according to "sources" are designed for the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset. Stay tuned, as we'll be bringing you more laptop-obsoleting news on this next round of chips as soon as we get it.[Via laptoping]
MSI intros Hetis 965 desktop and Media Center PC
MSI isn't stopping with a longevous DAP at Computex, as the firm is also taking the opportunity to announce a new desktop and HTPC. The compact Hetis 965 offers your choice of Intel's Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme, or Core 2 Quad processors, handles up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, touts Intel's GMA X3000 integrated graphics set, and also includes MSI's Specific Linear Fan Speed Control to intelligently vary fan speeds based on current cooling needs. For the AV crowd, the Media Center PC is powered by AMD64 dual-core processors, features AMD's Cool 'n Quiet and AMD Live! technology, and includes a mysterious NVIDIA integrated graphics set, HDMI output, 7.1-channel surround sound, 12-in-1 card reader, built-in DVD optical drive, and a host of USB 2.0 ports as well. Per usual, there's no word on price nor availability at the moment.[Via 64-Bit-Computers]Read - MSI Hetis 965Read - MSI Media Center PC
