core i7 SU on m11x?

at first sight i wanted the m11x but when i see its using the core 2 SU7300 im a bit worried about its power, even some reviews said its more powerful than it looked even on that processors. intel had launched the i3,i5,i7 SU's and other vendor are shipping their notebooks with it starting next month. will dell/alienware have its m11x with core i7 upgrades soon?hope so
does anyone know how the SU differs with ordinary processors in preformance?

 

Three or four threads exist encompassing the topic of this thread. So I get the feeling this one will be closed...

 

The ULV core i7 processors are actually barely more powerful than the C2Ds.

Especially as the C2D can be overclocked to 1.73GHz through a simple BIOS option that does not void the warranty.

Basically, it WILL differ but it depends what you use it for. For most games, it'll be sufficient, although a few will chug along with it.

 

The current ULV i7 on the market are not so great. But Intel is releasing a new ULV i7 in the fall and I believe when hyperthreading it reaches like 2.6 Ghz so until Intel makes quick on the release alienware M11x will be stuck with the horrid CPU it has. Imagine a Quad ULV woah that would be sick.

 

2.6ghz on a single core. that's what inte;'s turbo boost does - disables a core and bumps up the speed of one other one.

the pentium processor is darn well good enough for the m11x, and i haven't heard anyone go ahead and say the m11x's processor is "too slow". it's fine. by all means wait for a refresh, but it just means you won't get to enjoy the machine earlier.

there are several threads like this all over the forums - a simple search will bring a few up. i'd say get one now, and take advantage of any offers/rebates/whatever. it's good as it is now.

 

I understand what turbo boost does dude and the current CPU is the biggest bootleneck. I have read almost every alienware thread on here and a large number would agree that the CPU is its weakest component and is worth every bit of an upgrade to a soon to be released new i7 ULV and/or what not.

 

Intel's new CULV upgrades to the SU4100 and SU7300 will be the U3400 and U5400.

If Dell wants to keep the m11x cost where it is those will likely be the starting CPU options you get...with maybe the i5 and i7 ULVs as a more expensive upgrade option if Dell chooses to offer them to buyers.

 

the 128-bit memory bus on the GPU is probably a bigger bottleneck than the CPU

 

Well, for comparison, the ASUS UL30JT has a Core i5-520UM with support for both BIOS overclocking (ASUS calls it Turbo33) and Turbo Boost. ASUS' overclock is a 33% boost to BCLK, while Intel's Turbo Boost is a maximum of +4/+6 to the multiplier when running on 2/1 cores.

What that works out to is a maximum 1.6GHz on 2 cores and 1.866GHz on one without Turbo33, and with Turbo33 that becomes 2.13GHz on 2 and 2.489GHz on 1. Also keep in mind that Arrandale is faster clock-for-clock than Penryn, because of features like HyperThreading and other architectural improvements. For example, the UL30JT seems to have gotten 2,208 in PassMark in some tests here, as compared to 1,457 for the SU7300 at 1.76GHz.

In any case, if Acer and HP can get ~6 hours of battery life with a Core i5-520M or the like (i.e. the TimelineX and Envy 14), why can't Dell just use a non-CULV CPU in the M11x?

 

As mentioned by others, there are several threads discussing a M11x refresh. Please continue there. Thanks.