Calpella? questions for a noob

So I heard that Calpella based laptops will get rid of the northbridge, and bring better battery life, faster processing, and other useful features. This is enticing to me.

Do laptops currently run this platform, or will we only start to see them come Q1 of 2010?

And lastly, how useful is this platform over the current platform? I will be buying a laptop soon, and wonder if this will should be taken into consideration.

 

Calpella is already out and there are a multitude of notebooks selling that are equipped with the new platform.

 

Calpella is already out, any laptop with a "Core i" processor uses it. For now the laptops that use it use variations of the top end Core i7 quad core. Coming on January 7th is the launch of the dual core "Arrandale" processors. They are 32nm with a 45nm Intel graphics gpu connected while the current quad cores are 45nm and need ATI or Nvidia discrete graphics to run.

These are the main dual core versions coming in January will be one of these three:

Core i3 have 3mb l3 cache and Hyper Threading only.
Core i5 have 3mb l3 cache, Turbo Boost, and Hyper Threading.
Core i7 have 4mb l3 cache, Turbo Boost, and Hyper Threading.

M is standard 35W versions (for example, the Core i7 620M will replace a processor like the Core 2 Duo P8600).
LM is Low Voltage 25W versions (example: the Core i7 640LM will replace a processor like the Core 2 Duo SL9400).
UM are Ultra low Voltage 18W versions (example: the Core i7 640UM will replace a processor like the Core 2 Duo SU9600).

These will replace most Core 2 Duo's. There will also be Pentium and maybe Celeron versions.

Also see Serg's guide.

 

Performance really depends on what you're doing on it. For most people, you won't see any difference in performance. Battery life should be better in most notebooks due to switchable graphics. Just keep in mind that it takes some time (can easily be a month or more of waiting) before you'll get your laptop in your hands, even if it is "released" in Jan.

 

Looks like i3 DOES have Hyperthreading. The other sites have it incorrect: http://diy.pconline.com.cn/cpu/reviews/0911/1926714_1.html
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/kaigai/20091127_331818.html

This makes more sense than before.

Mobile Core i7 minus 1MB L3(for a total of 3MB) = Core i5
Take Turbo away from the Core i5 = Core i3
Take Hyperthreading away from Core i3 probably makes a Pentium
Taking additional 1MB L3 away from Pentium(total=2MB) makes it a Celeron

Because if you think of it, Turbo mode is less of an importance compared to Hyperthreading. You can't really simulate Hyperthreading like you can with Turbo Mode(overclocking).

 

can't really say capella is out... considering the new laptops don't have the 6000 series wireless cards... they're just laptops with core i7 for now...