2.93 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo

I realized while browsing through Apple's site that they are offering the new 17" with this processor, yet I don't see it listed on Intel's site.

What are the differences of the 2.93 Ghz in the 17" and the 2.8 Ghz found in the 15"?

To anybody's knowledge do they have plans of updating the 15" to accomodate the 2.93 Ghz?

Is this a different platform that I don't know about?

 

it is t9800,quite powerful,but the difference between it and t9600 is very small

 

the only real difference between T9600 and T9800 is 130 mhz and a lot more expensive price for T9800

 

Oh but is there.

I will always feel that Apple is doing it's customers a disservice by not including Intel's assigned Processor # along with the Ghz. It's like the company doesn't want you to research the specific specs. In the case of the "2.53Ghz Macbook Pro", many were surprised when they found out that it's the T9400, instead of his cooler running brother the P9500.

The T9800 is replacing the T9600 in some lines, as the bulk prices are identical, but I doubt Apple will make the same move.

 

Are there any new platforms due out in the Spring/Summer?

I'm interested in the Unibody MBP, but want to make sure I'm purchasing at the right time so I don't mind a wait.

 

The next major platform switch from Intel is mobile Nehalem and it isn't scheduled until Q3. I believe PC OEMs have requested Intel postpone its introduction since they need more time to clear inventory of existing products so you're probably looking at late Q3 after Back-to-School and in time for Christmas rather than the summer.

In the meantime, Intel will be introducing a new 3.06GHz T9900 Core 2 Duo in Q2 which will replace the current 2.93GHz T9800 which in turn already replaced the 2.8GHz T9600. The reason why the 2.93GHz T9800 wasn't used in the 15" MBP was because it wasn't available at that time, and Apple didn't bother adding the option since they would have to renegotiate the existing 2.8GHz T9600 supply contract.

Apple may do a Q2 speed bump depending on what Intel's telling them about mobile Nehalem's timeframe. The bump will most likely standardize both the 15" and 17" MBP on the 3.06GHz T9900 Core 2 Duo as the BTO (since high-end 15" and 17" are usually in sync to reduce costs), the 2.8GHz T9600 standard for the high-end 15" and 17", and the 2.66GHz P8800 (3MB L2 which is disappointing) for the low-end 15". These processors will be available in Q2 at the exact same price points as the processors Apple currently uses.

 

I'm definitely interested in the type of gpu apple will use in their next revision of macbook pros. And the 17" comes standard with a 3mb l2?? That's very lame on their part charging such a premium.

 

The 17" MBP and high-end 15" MBP have 6MB of L2 cache. Only the low-end 15" model has 3MB of L2 cache. I wish Apple would give all MacBook Pros 6MB L2 caches, if only to separate the line from MacBooks.

And if Apple is only doing a speed bump in Q2 then the GPU is basically guaranteed to remain unchanged. Even for mobile Nehalem there might not be a change. Apple has previously used the GPUs for 2 generations, both for the X1600 and 8600M GT. In this case they may be justified since nVidia doesn't have anything new. The 9600M GT is really just a die shrink of the 8600M GT and clocked higher. nVidia has been unable to introduce mainstream versions of the GT200 on desktops much less for notebooks. Instead on desktop they've taken to renaming 9xxx series GPUs (which were basically shrinks of the 8xxx series) as the GT1xx, and now seem to be renaming them as mainstream GT2xx series parts too. If there isn't much new in Q3 Apple will probably just keep the same GPUs.