The Modern Core - basedMacBook Proshave arrived , a few months after Intel insert the 2010 Core processor at the Consumer Electronics Show . The fresh Core processors are used inside the 15- and 17 - inch model . And while we ’ll still need to bleed thorough tests on these unexampled organization , the processors that power the recent MacBook Pros could perchance usher in a fresh standard in Mac laptop performance .
The basics
The $ 1799 15 - inch MacBook Pro uses a 2.4GHz Core i5 520 M central processing unit , while the $ 1999 15 - in model and the $ 2299 17 - in role model both use a 2.53GHz Core i5 540M. A 2.66GHz Core i7 620 M processor is find oneself inside the $ 2199 15 - in MacBook Pro ; the same processor is available as a build - to - order of magnitude ( BTO ) option on the 17 - inch model for an extra $ 200 .
Both the Core i5 and i7 processors boast Intel’sTurbo Boosttechnology . With Turbo Boost , the C.P.U. can boost its clock frequency when necessary as long as the power , temperature , and current are running below the processor ’s limit . With the 2.4GHz Core i5 520 M , Turbo Boost can increase the clock speed up to 2.93GHz . The 2.53GHz Core i5 goes up to 3.06GHz , while the 2.66GHz Core i7 has a Turbo Boost upper limit of 3.33GHz
The Core processors also useHyper - Threading . By using four virtual cores , Hyper - Threading allows each of the two Congress of Racial Equality on these splintering to process twothreadsat once .
Manufactured using the 32 - nanometer process , the Core processors are smaller and more power - efficient than the 45 - nanometer Core 2 Duo chips .
There ’s actually a third class of central processing unit in the Core descent , theCore i3 . Considered a “ first level ” C.P.U. by Intel , the Core i3 is a dual - substance processor available at 3.06GHz and 2.93GHz , and come with Intel HD Graphics build in . Apple , however , determine not to use the Core i3 in its 13 - inch MacBook Pro , instead sticking with the Core 2 Duo processors at 2.4GHz and 2.66GHz , and Nvidia GeForce 320 integrated graphics . An Apple representative said that the Core i3 does n’t match the combining of features found in the novel 13 - column inch MacBook Pro ’s Core 2 Duo chip .
Performance: What to expect
Chances are that the new Core i5 and i7 MacBook Pros will outpace their predecessors . But by how much ? Apple says that the young 15- and 17 - inch MacBook Pros can be up to 50 percent faster than the former Core 2 duad - based MacBook Pros . That ’s a moderately hefty claim that we ’re presently test in our lab .
Though it use different chips , a look at the iMac could give us some brainwave as to the Core i5 and i7 ’s performance versus the Core 2 Duo . The desktop version of the Core i5 made its debut in Apple ’s product line when the 27 - in 2.66GHz Core i5 iMac ( ) was release last November .
When we reviewed the Core i5 iMac , it enter a Speedmark 6 score of 209 , the fastest score we ’ve ever read for a standard - shape Mac . The Core i5 iMac was 29 percent faster than its 27 - column inch sib , which habituate a 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo processor .
With the iMac comparison in mind , it ’s well-heeled to get sex by the possibilities of the Core - base MacBook Pros . But do n’t get too excited yet — there ’s a central dispute between the Core i5 processor used in the MacBook Pros and the 27 - inch iMac . The MacBook Pros use the mobile version of theCore i5andCore i7 , both of which have two cores and support for four thread . The iMac , on the other hand , uses thedesktop version of the Core i5 , which has four essence but does not support Hyper Threading . ( The build up - to - order Core i7 option for the iMac is also four - core and supports Hyper - Threading for up to eight practical cores . )
There are other differences between the young MacBook Pros and their predecessors that will regulate operation . The Core processor has an mix memory controller — there is no longer a front - side bus like the one used by the elderly Core 2 Duo - based MacBook Pros ( and the new 13 - inch MacBook Pro ) . The integrated remembering accountant should allow for faster access to memory . The Modern MacBooks also featurenew nontextual matter subsystems , which not only boost operation , but also extend battery life .
Macworld Lab is working on testing the new MacBook Pros . Keep an eye out for Speedmark 6 solution and our full inspection and shiner ratings of all six unexampled systems come soon .
[ Roman Loyola is a Macworld senior editor . ]
update at 4 p.m. PT to correct information about the desktop Core i5 .
