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Intel to Launch Core i5, Core i3 Notebook CPUs in January 2010

Paul Lilly — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:45:36 -0600

Citing anonymous sources from notebook heavyweights, news and rumor site DigiTimes says we can expect Intel to launch four 32nm dual-core Arrandale CPUs (Calpella platform) by the second week of January 2010. These will include the Core i5 520M and 430M, and Core i3 350M and 330M.

Details weren't available on all four chips, but it looks like the Core i5 430M will come clocked at 2.26GHz and include Intel's Turbot Boost Technology, which could bump the clockspeed up to 2.53GHz for a single core. The Core i3 350M will also boast a 2.26GHz clockspeed, but no Turbo Boost.

The Core i5 will feature a graphics clock running at 500MHz and up to 766MHz with Turbo Boost, whereas the Core i3 will also run at 500MHz, but top out at 667MHz. All four chips will support DDR3 memory, come equipped with 3MB of L3 cache, and come rated with a TDP of 35W.

Image Credit: hardwarezone.com

HP Envy 14 Comes Well Equipped, Could Be a Core i5 Candidate

Ryan Whitwam — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:05:40 -0600

HP may have jumped the gun a bit when they listed an “Envy 14-1000” on a support page recently. The Envy line of laptops currently come in 13 and 15-inch varieties. The PCs bear a striking resemblance to Apple’s MacBook Pro line with chiclet keys and large trackpads. The Envy 13 packs a Core 2 chip, while the Envy 15 is equipped with a Core i7. Might we see a Core i5 in the new Envy 14? It certainly would fit nicely in the lineup.

No specs were actually listed on the support page. Mobile Core i5 CPUs are expected to make the scene in the first quarter of next year. So, watch for an Envy 14 announcement around then.

Intel Launches their Core i7 Custom Challenge

Jason Barry — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:37:49 -0500

Intel has kicked off a PC Mod contest to help generate some publicity and enthusiasm over the new Core i7 and Core i5 processors. Not that Intel needs to drum up any excitement about the processors; most enthusiasts have been anticipating them for quite some time.

The contest involves building, or modding, a computer with the new technology and submitting photos of your build to Intel. There will be a preliminary judging by Intel and sponsors and the top mods will be sent to the People’s Choice finals where the public can vote on the mod they like the best.

You can get more details at the Intel Core i7 Custom Challenge site. The deadline for submissions is November 16th and voting begins November 23rd.

Dell Rolls Out Sub-$700 Vostro 430 Mini Tower, Configurable with Core i5 and i7

Paul Lilly — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:10:46 -0500

Proving that a mini tower can pack a punch, Dell this week released a new Vostro desktop for small businesses that makes use of Intel's latest processors.

Released yesterday, Dell's Vostro 430 desktop comes standard with an Intel Core i5 750 processor (2.66GHz, 8MB L3 cache), 1GB of DDR3-1333 memory, an 80GB hard drive spinning at 7200RPM, an ATI Radeon HD 4350 videocard with 512MB of onboard memory, and Windows Vista Home Basic. From there, virtual system builders can opt to add more muscle in the form of an Intel Core i7 870 processor (2.93Ghz, 8MB L3 cache), up to 4GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and an Nvidia GeForce GTS240 videocard with 1GB of memory.

At $700 and up, the new Vostro is a little more than what small business owners are accustomed to paying for Dell's Vostro line, which typically run between $300 and $400, but the 430 is the only one to be built around Intel's latest architecture.

Image Credit: Dell

Intel Lynnfield Shipments May Outpace P55 Motherboard Availability

Paul Lilly — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:29:29 -0500

Some sources are saying that, at least internally, Intel is talking about shipping one million Lynnfield processors for desktops by the end of 2009. Should Intel meet its goal, it would put the pressure on motherboard makers to keep up.

Asus and Gigabyte are each on pace to ship 400,000 P55-based mobos by the end of the year, leaving 200,000 units for other manufacturers to pick up the slack. MSI, ECS, and ASRock are expected to ship around that many mobos, but all it takes is for one manufacturer to miss its goal for there to be more CPUs than there are mobos.

Asus looks to be the most active for the rest of the year. According to company VP Joe Hsieh, Asus' expects to ship between 5.5 to 6 million motherboards in the third quarter, 6 million in the fourth, and 22 million total. Going forward, Asus says P55-based boards will account for 10 percent of all shipments.

Image Credit: en.expreview.com

No BS Podcast #116: Deconstructing Lynnfield

The Maximum PC Staff — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:45:23 -0500

This week, the gang gives the scoop on Intel's Lynnfield processor, sorting out the differences between the new Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs. To go along with that discussion, we announce a gaming PC giveaway (details here). We also preview Microsoft's new Windows 7 avertising campaign, and give our reactions to Apple's Fall keynote. Gordon dishes out a rant about the next generation of Star Wars fans, and we answer a bunch of listener questions (including one reader's happy ending).

Do you have a tech question? A comment? A tale of technological triumph? Just need to get something off your chest? A secret to share? Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our 24-hour No BS Podcast hotline at 877.404.1337 x1337--operators are standing by.

Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337

iBuyPower Offers Overclocking Service on New Paladin E-Series Lynnfield-based PCs

Paul Lilly — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:43:34 -0500

iBuyPower on Wednesday announced its new Paladin E-series Gaming PC built around Intel's "Lynnfield" processors and new P55 chipset. Three rigs in all -- Paladin E720, E780, and E870 -- come equipped with one of Intel's new socket 1156-based Core i7 800 series or Core i5 processors, but what iBuyPower really hopes will give it an edge over the competition is an optional "Power Drive" overclocking service.

iBuyPower will overclock your processor up to 10 percent for free (Power Drive Level 1), up to 20 percent for $49 (Level 2), and up to 30 percent for a dollar shy of a C-note (Level 3). Depending on which level you choose, you'll also need to configure compatible components iBuyPower says are certified for a particular OC (Gigabyte's GA-P55-UD6 is certified for a level 3 OC, whereas the GA-P55-UD3R is certified for level 1, for example).

The Paladin E-series is available now starting out at $649.

Image Credit: iBuyPower

Asetek Launches Liquid Cooling for Intel Core i5

Paul Lilly — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:46:43 -0500

Stock cooling is for chumps, but until cooling manufacturers either update their existing coolers with socket 1156 brackets or come out with new products that support the Core i5 platform, you might not have much choice. Enter Asetek, who just launched a liquid cooling system capable of cooling every major Intel socket currently available.

“Asetek’s robust liquid cooling can now easily be configured for any Intel desktop motherboard. A single mounting ring enables flexible manufacturing in both high and low volume PC manufacturing settings,” said Gary Baum, Asetek's SVP of Marketing. "The new retention ring helps our OEM customers reduce inventory costs by providing a single solution to support Intel's entire mix of socket types."

The one-size-fits-all mounting bracket features a single mounting ring and multiple screw inserts so there's no fumbling around the box to find the correct part.

No word yet on price or availability, but if past products are any indication, expect to see Asetek's new liquid cooler used primarily in OEM systems.

Image Credit: Asetek