Rumor: Geekbench hints at a Core i7 MacBook Pro
A quick couple of tips from readers Ken and Jack, and this thread over at the MacRumors forums, point us towards an interesting results page at the Geekbench site (Google cached version, in case they get hammered), which aggregates benchmark results from thousands of users all over the globe. This particular page reports the performance of a previously unreleased MacBook Pro model (MacBookPro6,1) which claims an Intel Core i7 M 620 processor running the show. Real? Maybe, although at this point it's a bit suspicious that it's not running a dev build of 10.6.3 instead of an internal build of 10.6.2 as reported on the page; also, Geekbench results are frequently spoofed by hackintoshes (unless Apple built an AMD-based MacBook Pro and simply neglected to tell us about it). Fast? Heck yes; the benchmark score of 5260 handily blows by the speed of currently shipping machines.
The eventual appearance of the 6,1 version of the MBP has been a bit of a foregone conclusion since October of last year, when developer builds of OS X 10.6.2 were found to include support files specific to those model IDs. A laptop refresh in Q1 would be a very nice thing, but in this case I wouldn't get the checkbook sharpened quite yet.
Thanks to Ken and Jack for sending this one in.
Share
Categories
A quick couple of tips from readers Ken and Jack, and this thread over at the MacRumors forums, point us towards an interesting results...
Add a Comment
Dear Sir/Ma
We have in stock, the availability of the New / Latest phones ranging from All various models of Apple iPhones , Nokia , Motorola , Htc and Sony Ericsson Phones in stock,
Genuine Apple iPhones :
Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB at $250USD
Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB at $200USD
Genuine Apple iPad :
Apple iPad 3G 16GB - $250USD
Apple iPad 3G 32GB - $300USD
Apple iPad 3G 64GB - $360USD.
NOTE: All the phones are 100% UNLOCKED and can be used with any SIM card. No activation required (check carrier frequency requirements) Insert Your SIM CARD and start using the phone.
WHY BUY FROM US?
Your privacy is assured
Our prices are second to none
Secure transaction guaranteed
We ship Monday to Saturday.
Free shipping on qualified orders
We offer reasonable discount on bulk purchases
We ship same day after confirmation of payment
We offer a 90 day return policy and a 100% money back guarantee.
Warranty Terms:
1 Year international warranty from date of purchase for all costumer .
BONANZA:
Buy 2 units and get 1 unit FREE.
Buy 5 units and get 2 unit FREE including shipping.
Please contact us for more information and purchase inquiries:
Sales Manager : Mr Sheriff Hardik
Yahoo Contact : acessworld@yahoo.com
Contact E-Mail : acessworld@gmail.com
MSN Contact : acessworld@hotmail.com
Skype ID : acessworld
Phone Number : +44703 188 9282 .
@Joanna D: "I'm still waiting for a better GPU to put in my Mac Pro - will this ever happen? I made the terrible mistake of buying an LED Cinema Display and I'm paying the price now as I have to wait and wait for a card with mDP to come out."
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (Early 2009) has one Mini DisplayPort and one dual-link DVI port: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC002ZM/A
The ATI Radeon HD 4870 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (Early 2009 or Early 2008) also has one Mini DisplayPort and one dual-link DVI port: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB999ZM/A
GRRR!! If they come out with one in the next month I will be PISSED. I just picked up a 2.8ghz 15" MBP.
February 06 2010 at 12:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIf you really need to purchase the latest Apple product, you should check out the Buyer's Guide on MacRumors: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ It speculates on when the next updates will take place.
If I was going to buy a MBP at this time, I would buy a refurb from the Apple Store. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw Buying a refurb can save a few hundred dollars and they have the same warranty as the new computers.
I thought I should point this out....
Geekbench is hard to fake, since it pulls information directly from the hardware. If you have a hackintosh with a core 2 duo, but set it up so the OS thinks it's an i7, Geekbench will still report a core 2 duo. Same with other things like the motherboard and BIOS.
Finally, it probably isn't running a dev build of 10.6.3, because then the developer release would include more hints leaking the new MacBook Pro. So instead they just have a custom version, a lot like what's in the newer iMacs.
@spyker
Not really. Back in the days where I was in the hackintosh scene, it's relatively easy to fake that using system.kext and smbios.kext.
I don't see new laptops from Apple until after the launch of the iPad. I know they're not the same target audience. But Apple is smart enough to know that most people don't have unlimited money to spend on gadgets.
If they introduce new, faster MBP's now, consumers will need to make a choice between spending cash on Apple's latest "magical" device or using the money for a new MBP.
My guess is you'll see new Laptop's from Apple in June or later.
Intel is getting silly with its naming again - the i7 that is intended for battery life and lower heat is a 2-core, 4-thread processor, where the current (4-core, 8-thread) i7 is based on the desktop i7 processor and runs too hot and draws too much power for the MacBook line.
There's a table of the coming chips here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mobile-core-i5-arrandale,2522-2.html
If you want to guess at what will be in the new MacBooks, look for the chips with the 35W TDP in that chart. The i3-350M will go in the MacBook; the i5-430 and 520 will go in the 13" MBP; the i5-520 and 540 will go in the 15" MBP; the i5-540 will be the base chip in the 17" MBP; and the i7-620 will be offered as an option on the top-end 15" and the 17" MBP. The MacBook, both 13" MBPs, and the cheapest 15" MBP will all offer the new Intel integrated graphics only, with the other models offering a discrete graphics chip from either ATI or nvidia in addition to the integrated graphics.
The only thing that can't be predicted from that chart is the release date - I'd guess late Feb-early March, possibly along with the Mac Pro update to the new 6-core processors.
You'd want this chip over a C2D because it uses both hyperthreading (allowing two threads per core) and turbo boost (overclocking some cores while shutting down others when applications don't make good use of multiple cores). Also, the Mobile Core i3/i5/i7 line goes to 32nm manufacturing (lower heat and better efficiency) and integrates the memory controller, PCI Express, and integrated graphics into the CPU package, saving more power and eliminating a large-ish chip from the motherboard.
The integrated memory controller also contributes to much faster overall system performance - this is the same as the "Nehalem" Mac Pros that were introduced last year, which lead to 2.26GHz chips that were a fair bit faster than the previous 2.8GHz chips.
Oops, 1PW saved my entire last post as part of the login - didn't meant to repost that!
What I intended to say was this:
I'd be absolutely shocked if you are correct about this. Apple will not cripple their laptop line for several months to protect the iPad - they're different markets. All signs point to a refresh within the next two months.
I live in Hong Kong and have a contact with the factories in China. They are already producing Quad Core Macbook Pros.
February 06 2010 at 9:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHahahahahahaaa!
That's a good one! Hahahaha.
Clearly, you didn't read this article.
It's always like this towards the end of a product cycle - Dell updates constantly, and they're running a version of the i7 that Apple is never going to use because it's too hot and draws too much power. Apple updates twice a year, and there are entire generations of chips that they never use because they don't fall in line with Apple's update schedule.
Remember, Apple does not compete with Dell, HP, or any other Windows PC maker who is always chasing the price-conscious end of the market. Dell is probably making $10 on that $899 i7 box (they may even be losing money on it), and Apple won't play that game.
http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=43560,27256,
February 06 2010 at 8:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe mobile i7 MacBook Pro can't come soon enough. Hopefully, the performance increase does not kill battery life. Let's make the battery bigger too so that it can get a real full day in today's long work days (10 to 12 hours).
February 06 2010 at 7:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySeriously! I need to replace my aging 4 year-old MacBook Pro and none of the other i7 laptops will have a screen or design (seemingly best-in-class weight and dimensions on a 17") like the MBP. The rest are all really bulky. I can fit my current 17" MBP in a 15.4" backpack, but can't with any other 17" laptop. I'm not crazy about Snow Leopard on my current MBP (32-bit Core Duo), but maybe the new ones can change my mind.
February 06 2010 at 2:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMhh... weird... thought the i7 had actually 4 cores and 8 threads... ? Geekbench site only shows 2?... Explanation?
February 06 2010 at 6:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
Deals of the Day
more deals- Ventev UltraTHIN Hard Shell Case for iPhone 4 for $2 + $2 s&h, more
- Body Glove Matrix Case for iPhone 4 / 4S for $3 + $2 s&h
- Pogoplug Premium Personal Cloud for PC and Mac for $10 + free shipping
- olloclip 3-in-1 Lens System for iPhone 4 / 4S for $70 + free shipping
- Open-Box Nike Aero Neckband Headphones for $13 + $6 s&h
- Adobe CS5.5 Design Premium Student for PC or Mac downloads for $337
Software Updates
more updatesFeatured Stories
more stories
Popular Stories
TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
24 Comments