sandybridge
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New iMacs 25 percent faster than previous generation
A few days ago, we reported on Macworld's benchmark results for the new Sandy Bridge-equipped iMacs. Macworld found them to be, on average, about 16 percent faster in the Speedmark 6.5 test than the previous generation. Now Primate Labs has put together a report detailing the iMac's speed increases based on user-submitted Geekbench 2 results. According to Primate Labs, the new Sandy Bridge iMacs are up to 25 percent faster than their Lynnfield predecessors. 25 percent isn't earth-shattering, but it's a nice bump for the newest models. When Primate Labs pitted the Sandy Bridge iMacs against the two-generations-old Wolfdale Core 2 Duo iMacs, however, the newest iMacs ran a whopping 70 percent faster. Time for an upgrade, Core 2 Duo iMac owners?
Eight-core Intel Sandy Bridge E chips listed on, pulled from eBay
What's this? A listing for an unreleased Intel chip on eBay? This purported eight-core, hyper-threaded Sandy Bridge E-series processor is apparently a third party tester unit, hence the cloak and dagger "Intel Confidential" stamped in the middle of the thing. The "E" in the series, as previously stated, stands for "Enthusiast," especially fitting in the case of a $1,360 dollar piece of near-future tech with a strict no refund / return policy. Not surprisingly, the sale has been shutdown prematurely. Whether it was pulled by the seller or at the strong urging of Intel will have to remain a mystery for now, as will those blazingly fast speeds we've read so much about -- at least until it pops up again on Craigslist. Update: To be clear, the "ES" on the chip stands for "Engineering Sample" but the "E" in the series name stands for "Enthusiast." [Thanks, Lars]
Dell's stylish new XPS 15z laptop surfaces
We just heard talk of a new 15.6-inch Dell laptop yesterday that was said to be thin and streamlined, and Mobile Review has now scored some pictures of what may be that very same laptop. While there's unfortunately not much in the way of details, the laptop is apparently dubbed the XPS 15z, and it's said to pack support for Sandy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 processors. As previously hinted at, this particular laptop is also said to be just part of a series, with both 14-inch and 17-inch models also on the way. Hit up the link below for few additional shots.
HP Pavilion dm4x with Sandy Bridge goes on sale, starts at $730
Those Sandy Bridge refreshes just keep on coming. Today, it's HP's turn, whose 14-inch Pavilion dm4 (which we reviewed last year) now comes standard with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M CPU. Curiously, it's now the dm4x -- a suffix you don't usually see on HP notebooks. For that $730 starting price, you'll also get Radeon HD 6470M graphics with 1GB of memory, 6GB of RAM, a 640GB 5,400RPM hard drive, and a six-cell battery. If money's no object, you can trick yours out with a 2.7GHz Core i7-2620M processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 750GB 7,200RPM HDD. Oh, and for $25 you can opt for a "dark umber" color instead of "steel grey" (pictured). Not too shabby, but we just hope HP also fixed that wonky touchpad. [Thanks, Sourabh]
Dell's ultra-thin laptop will have a 15.6-inch screen, tread lightly on your wallet?
This is Dell's Vostro V13. It looks like a dream, and it's cheap -- but there's not much raw muscle here, and no battery life to speak of. No, this descendent of Dell's iconic Adamo didn't prove a suitable MacBook Air rival, but we know one that might -- Dell's oft-teased, never-seen thin-and-light. Now, CNET's anonymous sources have come forward with news that Dell will introduce the thinnest 15.6-inch laptop we've ever seen, and with Intel's latest Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge processors inside. Those sources also report that the laptop will be made of special materials, and yet won't be "a one-time product" like the Adamo -- it will allegedly be a consumer product with a sub-$1,000 price. It's a juicy rumor, but we're inclined to believe it's true. Why? Dell's in-house blogger Lionel Menchaca confirms that Dell's working on just such a 15.6-incher, and says there are "more models to come."
Apple iMac hands-on, with dual 30-inch displays! (video)
One Thunderbolt port on your new MacBook Pro? Pah. The new 27-inch iMac has twice that many -- two. When we got ours out of the box we just had to do the natural thing: fire up as many pixels as possible. Two 30-inch Dell displays and a couple of dual-link DVI display adapters later and we have what you see above: a wide swath of LCD covering 11,878,400 pixels. Sure, any average desktop can do this, but how many all-in-ones can push that many dots? The iMac's 27-inch, 2,560 x 1,440, LED-backlit IPS panel is definitely a highlight, but flanked by another two monsters the combination is, honestly, a little overwhelming. We tried working this way but only made it about 30 minutes before retreating to smaller fields of view. Other tid-bits we've learned about the updated iMac: those who'd rather swipe than drag can now choose to order theirs with a Magic Trackpad instead of a Magic Mouse, though we're sure Apple would surely be happy to sell you both. Additionally, the 21.5-inch model can now be configured with a 256GB SSD, just like its big bro. The bigger news, of course, is what's on the inside, with updated Radeon HD graphics featuring GDDR5 memory and Sandy Bridge processors all-round. We'll be back with a full review later to get a feel for just how powerful this thing is, but until then dig all those pixels in the video below. %Gallery-122731%
Apple iMac refresh official: Thunderbolt and next gen quad-core processors
The last time Apple updated its iMac line we were treated to Intel Core 2010 processors. So it's no surprise -- really, no surprise at all -- to see Apple refreshing the lineup today. Prices start at $1,199 (as usual) for the 21.5-inch (1,920 x 1,080 pixel IPS panel) model with new 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and 512MB of AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics. Prices soon jump to $1,999 for a 27-inch (2,560 x 1,440 IPS) model with 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 CPU and 1GB of AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics, or optional 3.4GHz quad-core Core i7 proc and 2GB of HD 6970M graphics if you so desire. We're talking Intel Sandy Bridge, of course, but Apple never goes into specifics. New owners will also be treated to a Thunderbolt jack (one on the 21.5-inch model and two on the 27-incher) and FaceTime HD camera with 24 hours shipping. Yeah, it looks the same, but it's the insides that count. %Gallery-122705%
Apple store goes down, iMac refresh on high alert
Details are spotty but Apple special forces have apparently swept into its data center, temporarily disrupting the company's ability to sell anything online. We're expecting official word of the operation from company CEO Steve Jobs, at about 08.30 Eastern Time. With any luck, a new iMac will emerge unscathed by the Nehalem menace, sporting a brand new Sandy Bridge microarchitecture -- or as we like to call it: freedom. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
LG P430 and P530 Blade laptops bedazzle with slim bezels, aluminum bodies, and Core i7
We heard of a bezel-hating LG Shuriken display sneaking its way onto Acer laptops recently, but the Korean company has wisely opted to debut that cutting-edge technology in its own portable computers first. The 14-inch P430 and 15.6-inch P530 mark the start of LG's new Blade series of laptops, which are the result of some obsessive slimming work at the LG labs -- display thickness is 4.5mm and 4.7mm, respectively, while the bezel on the 14-inch model is so narrow as to fit its screen within the dimensions of a traditional 13.3-inch laptop. Weight, at 1.94kg on the P430 and 2.2kg on P530, is also said to be on par with machines offering significantly smaller screens, but that's not at the sacrifice of construction materials as brushed aluminum is used to strengthen LG's new slimsters. A Core i7 CPU and GeForce GT520M GPU will provide the internal firepower, though the rest of the hardware specs are as yet unannounced. The P430 will launch in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America at the end of May, to be followed by the P530 in June. Full PR after the break. Update: LG has now listed the full specs sheets on its Newsroom website.
Dell's 17-inch Precision M6600 workstation laptop goes on sale early in the UK (update: US too)
We were promised we'd get Dell's latest Precision powerhouses on May 10th, and that may still be the case for the US, but the company's UK outlet is ready to let you customize and buy an M6600 today. The 17.3-inch laptop offers options for a multitouch display with stylus functionality, a 2.5GHz quad-core Core i7-2920XM CPU, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, up to half a terabyte (2x 256GB) in solid state storage, and NVIDIA Quadro 4000M graphics. Prices start at £1,549 ($2,590) excluding VAT and shipping, though the spec we've listed above would set you back a neat £4,714 ($7,880). Still, a pretty sweet rig if you can afford it. [Thanks, Stephen] Update: The Precision M6600 is now also on sale in the States, and it's been joined by its buddy, the M4600! [Thanks, RajG]
Acer Aspire Z5763 all-in-one comes with 3D screen, promises Kinect-like gesture control over movies
Sure, it may look just like any of Acer's other all-in-one desktops, but this one's got a few tricks up its sleeves -- the Acer Aspire Z5763 spits out stereoscopic 3D images to a set of NVIDIA 3D Vision specs, and uses its 2 megapixel webcam for a Kinect-like gesture recognition system that Acer's calling "AirControl." As you'll probably know if you've recently spent any time considering a 3D-ready computer, that means it's got a 23-inch, 120Hz LCD screen that displays content at 1080p, and here you'll find it accompanied by Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processors, NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 or 435M graphics, a Blu-ray drive, up to 2TB of storage and 16GB of DDR3 memory, as well as built-in stereo speakers with several flavors of virtual surround sound, an optional TV tuner and loads of connectivity. What you won't find is any pricing or availability for the USA, but if you're living in merry old England you can pick up the rig next month for £999 (about $1,650).
Walmart offers custom gaming PCs from iBuyPower, tube socks still only L or XL
How's this for unexpected: you can now pop over to Walmart.com and build yourself a custom gaming rig from iBuyPower. Systems start at $599 (though they're currently on sale for $578), come in a choice of five different cases and can be equipped with up to 8GB of RAM and a 2TB hard drive. Both Intel and AMD fans will find CPUs to make them happy, including Core i5 and i7 K-series chips, which have unlocked multipliers for all you thrift-happy overclockers out there. You can also choose from nine different AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards, all the way up to a 1.5GB GeForce GTX480. You won't find seriously heavy-duty hardware like Extreme Edition processors or three-way SLI setups, but you can pick up a pair of $3 flipflops to wear while you lounge around playing Portal 2. [Thanks, Mark]
Dell's new powerhouse Precision M4600 and M6600 workstation laptops on sale May 10
We got a dose of details on Dell's new Precision M4600 and M6600 workstations yesterday, and though impressed by their specs, we were left without answers to two very important questions: when can we get them, and how much will they cost? There must be some mind readers in Round Rock, because today Dell revealed that the machines will make their debut on May 10 with prices starting at $1,678 for the M4600 and $2,158 for its 17-inch big brother, though prices surely escalate quickly from there. Turns out, the laptops also have optional IPS and four-finger multi-touch displays for your viewing pleasure and RAID support for your (and your employer's) peace of mind. That's some stellar hardware for some serious coin, so interested parties should start brown-nosing the bossman immediately -- or maybe just get a second job. PR's after the break.
iMac rumor mill suggests new models could be coming next week
This one is obviously still very much in rumor territory, but a couple of separate reports have cropped up today that suggest Apple could be set to debut some updated iMacs as soon as next week. That includes a report from 9 to 5 Mac that iMac orders are being delayed until May 2nd, despite the fact that they're still listed as shipping within 24 hours on Apple's website, and a separate confirmation from a trusted source of the site, who says that Apple will stop shipping iMacs to retailers this week in advance of next week's supposed release. That's further backed up by a report from Mac Rumors, which cites another source who says that Apple will be changing the promotional materials in its retail stores for a launch on Tuesday, May 3rd. Details are comparatively light on the rumored new iMacs themselves, but the safe money seems to be on Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt ports.
Dell Precision M4600 and M6600 specs emerge in leaked manual
Since we first peeked the new Sandy Bridge-equipped Dell Precision M4600 and M6600 back in February we haven't heard much about these mobile workstations. We still don't have prices or a release date, but a leaked manual has finally delivered some specs -- and CAD enthusiasts won't be disappointed. Both the 15.6-inch M4600 and the 17-inch M6600 can be configured with up to a Core i7 Quad Extreme 2920XM and 32GB of RAM. The smaller, 6.3-pound M4600 comes standard with a 1GB AMD FirePro M5950 and can be upgraded to an NVIDIA Quadro 2000M with 2GB. The more beastly 7.5-pound M6600 starts with a 2GB FirePro M8900 and has options ranging all the way up to a 4GB Quadro 5010M. Both machines also come packing two USB 3.0 ports, a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, an eSATA jack, and an IEEE 1394 port, giving you plenty of room to plug in all the external drives, cameras, scientific instruments, and cat-shaped mouse cozies your little heart desires. [Thanks, Wolf]
Fujitsu LifeBook S761/C and P771/C replace optical drives with pico projectors, past with future
Optical disc drives may be passé nowadays, but the enclosures usually reserved for them in laptops need not go to waste. Fujitsu has just rolled out its latest line of portables and a pair of them pack a pretty awesome new extra: an integrated pico projector. The 13.3-inch LifeBook S761/C and 12.1-inch P771/C both fill their ODD slots with a small visualizer, and while the specs of its actual output aren't clear, the two machines have been fully specced and priced. The S761/C can offer you a Core i5-2520M CPU, a (presumably upgradeable) 1GB of RAM, 160GB of storage, and a 1366 x 768 resolution for a price of ¥219,450 ($2,675). Moving down in size class but up in price, the P771/C matches those specs, but for a squarer 1280 x 800 resolution, and asks for ¥255,150 ($3,110). Both will be available in Japan in mid-May, which is also when Fujitsu will release its LifeBook E741/C, whose claim to fame is the ability to authenticate users by reading the veins in their palms. Sexy!
ThinkPad Edge E220s available now for $749, runs spreadsheets like the wind
Lenovo has been on a bit of a tear recently. Heck, it was only yesterday that the sleek and powerful X220 and X220T went up for sale online. Today it's the ThinkPad Edge E220s getting some "buy now" love. This more budget-friendly, 3.25-pound ultraportable is shipping to consumers starting at $749 with a 250GB hard drive, Intel HD 3000 graphics, a Sandy Bridge-class Core i5, and a paltry 2GB of RAM. You can bump that to 4GB and a Core i7, but any further upgrades will have to be performed after-market. We're sure you didn't expect to do a ton of heavy tasks, like video editing, on a 12.5-inch screen anyway. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Intel porting Honeycomb to its tablets, Medfield smartphones on the way
Corporate earnings calls can be tedious affairs. But sometimes, if you listen closely enough, you'll be treated to a nugget of product strategy in between those bursts of mind-numbing financial data. Intel's call was just such an affair, with chief Paul S. Otellini providing a quick update on Intel's tablet and smartphone plans. Regarding the emerging tablet market, Otellini said that Intel will have "quite a bit of tablet demonstrations" at Computex running MeeGo, Windows, and Android operating systems. "We're heads down on a number of designs on tablets on all three of those operating systems," he added. Regarding Android, Intel's fifth CEO said, "We've received Android code – the Honeycomb version of Android source code – from Google, and we're actively doing the port on that, and expect to be able to ramp those machines over the course of this year for a number of customers." Yes, we're looking at you right now Acer -- wink, wink. Regarding smarpthones, Otellini told reporters and analysts, "In terms of phones, obviously, we lost Nokia, which took a lot of the wind out of the sails for phones this year. We've redirected those resources onto a number of other major accounts focusing on carriers who want their own devices and also own handset manufacturers. They are all based on Medfield." With regards to timing, Otellini observed, "The limit in terms of them getting to market is going to be the interoperability testing of the networks at this point in time. I would be very disappointed if we didn't see Intel-based phones for sale 12 months from now." Us too Paul, us too... ARM's not exactly standing still.
ASUS' bamboo-plated U43SD laptop graduates to Sandy Bridge, so does plain-jane U41SV
When we reviewed ASUS' first bamboo laptop, we raved about more than just its unconventional looks -- we were also impressed with its solid performance. So we're pleased, although not at all surprised, that ASUS is refreshing the line with Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processors. The U43SD doesn't appear to stray from its predecessor's industrial design (save for its bigger 14-inch screen), but it steps up to the latest Core i3 and Core i5 processors, along with NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M graphics with 1GB of video memory. You can also choose from 5,400RPM and 7,200RPM hard drive options and either a six- or eight-cell battery. While the company was at it, it also quietly unveiled another Sandy Bridge laptop, the U41SV, which offers the same configuration options as the U43SD -- and a plainer design. No word on pricing, and a cursory search turned up no availability. For now, though, you can have a gander at some official photos lifted from ASUS' own product pages. %Gallery-121602% %Gallery-121603% [Thanks, Jon and Danijel]
iMac supplies constrained, indicating possible refresh soon
If supplies of certain iMac models are any indication, a refresh of Apple's all-in-one iMac may be in the works. This would be the first update of the iMac line since July 27, 2010, when the Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 machines first became available. 9to5 Mac is reporting that supplies of the desktop machine are constrained worldwide at this time. An anonymous tipster provided the blog with the screenshot seen at the top of this post, showing four standard versions of the iMac in constrained status with "no ETA" for new shipments. Not only are iMac shipments constrained, but even replacement parts are currently in short supply. Graphics processors and hard drives are particularly hard to get in the US. As we reported at the end of March, any upcoming iMac refresh would most likely migrate the platform to Intel's powerful Sandy Bridge processors, as well as the speedy Thunderbolt I/O standard that debuted in the recent MacBook Pro refresh. At that point, we speculated that the refresh would come in late April or early May, and that time frame looks more valid every day. If you're considering the purchase of a new iMac, you may want to put off that purchase for a month or so to benefit from any refresh of the line.
