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dual core posts

Filed under: Hardware, iMac

Apple and Intel weren't kidding about "low power"

Tom Yager over at InfoWorld has performed some power tests on a 20" Dual Core iMac to discover that these machines in fact do not meet Apple's bold low-power specs - they surpass them.

Apple lists the maximum power consumption of a 20" Dual Core iMac at 120 watts, while Tom's tests - even with both  2.0 GHz cores maxed at 100% CPU usage, 1 GB RAM, WiFi, BT, 128 MB graphics card and (oh yea) a 20" LCD - found the iMac drawing a steady 95 watts of power. Assuming that the typical LCD draws around 32 watts of power alone, that means the iMac - even at full throttle - is running as 63 watt personal computer. By comparison, Intel's old Pentium 4 architecture that still ships in many computers needs anywhere from 300-400 watt power supplies - and that's just for the computer itself, sans-display. I should know, I used to build them for a living.

Ultimately, this should boil down to great news for the computing industry. Tom Yager's even so excited about the results that he's issued a friendly challenge to the PC market to find a machine that can claim the same stats. The one question that still bothers me about these new chips, however: why hasn't Apple placed at least an estimated battery life rating on the MacBook Pro?

[via MacSlash]

Filed under: Hardware, OS, Peripherals, Software

Intel Macs can boot from USB drives

Last week Dan posted about the new complications of Intel OS X drives not being bootable on PowerPC Macs, and vice-versa. The report came from Jon 'Wolf' Rentzsch, who recently updated the originating post with some specifics about booting and partition schemes, with one fairly positive detail: Intel based Macs can boot from USB2 drives.

While many in the Mac community prefer FireWire over USB2 for various reasons, this will nevertheless open the doors for OS X to be bootable from more external hard drives. What are the chances I can bring a slimmed down OS X installation along with me on a 2 or 4 GB USB2 flash drive? I guess a geek can dream.

Filed under: Hardware, How-tos, iMac

Intel iMac: Easiest RAM install ever

So you purchased a new Intel-based iMac and now you want to upgrade its RAM? Well don't worry about it. According to Gear Live, it's easier than it has ever been on a Mac. The process amounts to no more than flipping the iMac over, opening a very small panel and inserting the chip. Now installing RAM on an eMac is pretty easy, but this looks even simpler. And to think of all the time I actually drew my own blood on a 7100.

Thanks, Andru!

Filed under: Hardware

34 design flaws found in Intel's Dual Core chip

Uh oh. It appears that in the first twenty days of launching the Intel Dual Core chip in Apple's iMac, 34 design flaws have been found in the chip itself. While Slashdot, where I found this, points out that design flaws in Intel's chips aren't exactly a new thing (which could be good or bad), it is significant that Intel apparently knew about the flaws before releasing the chip. Check out the report at Geek.com for more deets and stay tuned for more information on the severity and impact of this hiccup in this new chip's launch.

Filed under: Hardware, Apple

iMacs cost $898 to make?

MacSlash has come across a report from analyst firm iSuppli that claims the materials used to build the latest Intel iMac cost Apple roughly $898. This includes an estimated price of $265/Intel Dual Core chip, which is based on prices from Intel's site that are $294/chip in orders of 1000. The estimate, however, does not include other elements such as the mouse, keyboard or advertising. I won't regurgitate the rest of the price breakdown though, so check it out for yourself.

While I'm no professional analyst, most of the pricing in that report sounds just a little bit high to me. I'm sure Apple is *probably* buying Dual Core chips in batches that are slightly larger than 1000, and $265/chip sounds nuts. Heck, a computer that costs $898 in mere parts (nevermind designing, building, advertising, shipping, etc) that sells for only $1299 sounds pretty nuts to me too, even for a company like Apple who could probably benefit from news like this hitting the streets.

Just in case this report is right, though: that is one expensive computer, and one heck of an expensive chip. Here's hoping this big transition is ultimately worth it.

Filed under: Rumors, iMac

New iMac in Apple Stores on the 17th?

According to the automated answering system in the Westchester Apple Store in White Plains, New York, the new Intel Dual-Core iMacs will be arriving on January 17th. That's Tuesday.

I also spoke with one of the employees when I was in the store on Wednesday, and he said they will most likely be arriving late in the afternoon on the 16th. I'm not sure if this is happening with all the Apple Stores or just this particular one (since it is one of the "flagship" New York stores).

Anyway, I'm buying one as soon as I can get in there and grab it. If you live in my area, please leave one for me. I seriously debated not posting about this, just because I wanted to ensure it would be there.

Update: After reading comments from readers that iMacs are beginning to show up in some Apple Stores, I called the Westchester again and discovered that they too have the new iMacs in, but only in the 17" size. I'm gunning for a bigger iMac so I'll hold off. They only had 4 when I called, so you may want to run and get it if you're in the area and looking for a 17".

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