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The next - generation of the Core 2 twosome processor — code - named Penryn — highlights this round of MacBook updates . The processor upgrade fork over faster speeds than the previous generation , but less shared L2 memory cache ( 3 MB , compared to 4 MB in the previous genesis ) . Hard - drive capacities have also jumped — this entry - spirit level example now offers 120 GB of computer storage , up from 80 GB . However , this model only ships with 1 GB of RAM set up ; the other MacBooks now offer 2 GB .
Since it first replaced the iBook in 2006 , the MacBook narrow the performance gap between Apple ’s consumer and professional laptop lines with each new update . Apple last update the MacBooks in November 2007 , land with it an improved hardware computer architecture , faster system omnibus , and more robust graphics . The change in the MacBooks released last week are n’t as pregnant as the November 2007 update , but the changes still add spare oomph to Apple ’s consumer laptop .
What’s inside
The new MacBooks use either a 2.1GHz or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 pair processor ( up from 2.0GHz and 2.2GHz , respectively ) with 3 megabyte of L2 hoard shared between the CPU ’s two cores . Previously , the MacBooks had 4 MB of L2 hoard , but the new Penryn processors inside the unexampled MacBooks ferment expeditiously with the smaller stash ( see thePerformancesection for details ) .
The $ 1,099 2.1GHz MacBook comes with 1 GB of RAM . The 2.4GHz MacBooks ( one blanched , the other blackness ) come with 2 GB ; the fashion model they supercede come with 1 GB . All MacBooks support to up 4 GB of RAM . As before , Apple advocate install RAM in matched pairs into the two RAM slots for good performance with the integrated graphics system ( the MacBooks come with two 512 MB or two 1 GB SO - DIMMs , and if you desire to upgrade your RAM after purchase , you ’ll have to replace both SO - DIMMs for the adept termination ) . Although the frontside charabanc discharge at 800MHz , the MacBooks continue to use RAM rated at 667MHz .
The new MacBooks employ the same graphics chip as before , the Intel GMA X3100 , which does n’t have dedicated video tup . The MacBooks expend 144 Bachelor of Medicine of RAM from the main organisation store , produce the 2 GB models even more appealing . The graphics processor can power an external display at up to 1,920 - by-1,200 pixels to either mirror or extend the background ( using an external exhibit brings the portion out memory used up to 160 MB ) . To connect to any outside display , you need to purchase one of Apple ’s $ 19 television adapter ( mini - DVI to DVI or mini - DVI to VGA ) .
The new MacBooks feature Penryn processors.
As with the late - generation MacBooks , the keyboard has spiritualist control key settle along the function cay row . The keyboard has a live yet solid feel to it , and offer a moment more tactual and hearable feedback than other MacBook models . Unfortunately , you wo n’t discover the touted MultiTouch trackpad on any MacBook . If you really have the need to pinch , swipe , and go around on the trackpad , you have to turn to the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air ( ) .
The new MacBooks feature Penryn processors .
The only divergence between the $ 1,299 white MacBook and the $ 1,499 black MacBook ( except for price and color , obviously ) is the black model ’s larger hard movement storage capacity . All MacBooks get a boost in backbreaking drive size to 120 GB , 160 GB , and 250 GB , from 80 GB , 120 GB , and 160 GB respectively . All of the campaign tend at 5,400 rpm .
Most of the other part in the raw MacBooks are the same as their older counterparts . All model have a 13.3 - inch glossy widescreen display with a 1,280 by 800 pixel settlement , built - in iSight camera , built - in stereo system talker and microphone , analogue and digital audio input and production , one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 port , 802.11n - enable AirPort Extreme , Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR , and Gigabit Ethernet . The $ 1,099 MacBook has a 24x slot - loading combo drive , while the other two MacBooks have an 8x time slot - loading double - bed SuperDrive . One thing you wo n’t find in the boxwood anymore is the Apple Remote , which is now a $ 19 attention deficit disorder - on . Software - wise , the MacBooks admit OS X 10.5 ( Leopard ) and iLife ‘ 08 .
Performance
Macworld Lab test the young MacBooks with version 5 of Speedmark , the latest incarnation of our standard performance bench mark test . The results evidence moderate yet impressive gains — for lesson , the dark 2.4GHz MacBook mark more than nine percent high overall than its 2.2GHz predecessor . The 2.1GHz MacBook depict an almost eight percent advance over the 2GHz MacBook it replaces . Perhaps most interesting , the 2.1GHz MacBook tally one point mellow overall than the older 2.2GHz black MacBook , even with a slightly dumb processor speed .
In our other tests , the 2.4GHz MacBooks systematically outperformed the old 2.2GHz MacBooks ( except for a one - second slowdown in our Photoshop trial ) by as much as 12 percent , although sometimes by just a undivided minute . Some of the better results came with CPU - intensive multimedia plan . Compressor and Cinema 4D XL performed very well , and HandBrake testing showed the 2.1GHz MacBook outdo the previous gamey - end MacBook by nearly seven percent . The 2.1GHz MacBook flummox or bind the older 2.2GHz MacBook in five of the eight extra tests .
Unreal Tournament 2004 form pace for all new MacBooks improve negligibly and still mill about under 30 frames per second — not the form of thing that will make gamers to pluck up a new MacBook . By contrast , the new 2.4GHz MacBook Pro pumped out more than 2.5 times as many frames per second as the 2.4GHz MacBooks , benefited by a much sizeable graphic processor that includes 256 M of dedicated picture RAM ( and a heftier , $ 1,999 damage tatter , I might add ) .
In my hands - on testing , launching program took slightly longer on the dense , 2.1GHz MacBook than on the 2.4GHz MacBook , especially with mess of program running . Part of this can be attributed to the 1 GB RAM that ships with the $ 1,099 model .
Penryn-Based MacBook Benchmarks
good result inred . Reference system initalics .
Speedmark 5 scores are relative to those of a 1.5GHz Core Solo Mac miniskirt , which is assigned a score of 100 . Adobe Photoshop , Cinema 4D XL , iMovie , iTunes , and Finder slews are in minutes : second . All system were running Mac OS X 10.5.2 with 2 GB of RAM . The Photoshop Suite tryout is a lot of 14 written project using a 50 MB filing cabinet . Photoshop ’s memory was set to 70 percent and History was set to Minimum . We record how long it took to translate a fit in Cinema 4D XL . We used Compressor to encode a 6 minute , 26 second DV file using the DVD : Fastest Encode 120 minutes – 4:3 setting . In iMovie , we apply the older Film effect from the Video FX . menu to a one hour pic . We converted 45 transactions of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes ’ High Quality setting . We used Unreal Tournament 2004 ’s Antalus Botmatch average - frames - per - s score ; we test at a resolution of 1,024 by 768 picture element at the Maximum mise en scene with both audio and graphics enabled .. We created a Zip archive in the Finder from a 2 GB folder . For the Professional software Multitasking suite , we register how long it took Photoshop to run our standard test entourage while a longer Cinema4D task and our Compressor encode test ran in the background.—MACWORLD LAB TESTING BY JAMES GALBRAITH , JERRY JUNG , AND BRIAN CHEN .
Macworld’s buying advice
The new MacBooks represent some advance — PowerBook and even some first - contemporaries MacBook user will in spades see significant improvement over their current systems . If you just bought a MacBook a few calendar month ago , however , you wo n’t be kvetch yourself for grease one’s palms too early , since the differences between the two are n’t that great . The 2.1GHz MacBook is a subject system , but for $ 200 more you may get a faster central processing unit , bigger hard thrust , SuperDrive , and — perhaps most significant — an extra 1 Gi of RAM . That money is well worth it considering all the rise . If a RAM rise is most important to you , Apple will boost the RAM to 2 GB for an extra $ 100 , or you’re able to purchase your own RAM at better prices elsewhere ( just remember you wo n’t be able to recycle any of the RAM that come with the MacBook if you want the functioning that fit span provide ) . And there ’s no denying the temptingness of the black fashion model , with its sleek matte finish and quarter - terabyte grueling driveway — if you’re able to yield the terms difference , it ’s a skillful pick , and still $ 500 less than a MacBook Pro if you ’re not wanting for the feature article only Apple ’s pro laptop offer .
[ Jonathan Seff isMacworld ’s senior news editor . ]
