Forget Arrandale, SB Huron River Platform on the Way

Very nice. It seems at least Lenovo, Acer, ASUS, MSI and HP already have Sandy Bridge laptops configured -- and it is still November! It can be out a lot faster than I thought.

 

Interesting find!! Looks like a nice machine!! The entry level quad i7-2630qm coupled with a HD6570(is this the successor of the HD5650?) at a price tag of 1033$, hmm...looks like the SB laptops will reach us sooner than we previously expected.

 

It's probably a re-branded MR HD 5750 or 5770 (with GDDR5 support), actually.

 

That's bad speculation. The core i7-760 is made on 45nm , SB is on 32nm. That's where the extra 500 MHz are coming from, it's from the production process.

Arrandale is already on 32nm so you won't get the extra 500 Mhz. Only the mobile quads will get the extra power as they are now made on 45nm.

As for actual performance increase from the architecture, it seems it's not that big as we imagined. Here is a link: Google Translate

About 10% in average seems to be the performance increase due to SB arhitecture, so that's how much you should expect from SB compared to Arrandale. Frequencies should go up a bit too, due to improvements of the 32nm process and of the integrated GPU going 32nm opposed to 45nm as it is now. So maybe we will get another 100MHz bump at the same price point from this.

In conclusion, at the same price I would say you will get about 20%, maybe 25% more performance at most (SB over Arrandale).

If you really want a more informative view of SB, here is a whole thread on the matter: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/456023-intels-upcoming-huron-river-platform-8.html

 

What is bad speculation? I was talking about desktop parts. And yes, Arrandale is unlikely benefit much in performance (battery is another matter...), but I'm mainly interested in quad core CPUs now.

That would be disappointing, but it seems to depend on the application. We'll see.

That sounds about right, but as I said, I'm mainly interested in the gain over Clarksfield. That should be 25% from clock speed alone and even if the architecture only gives another 10%, you're still nearly 40% better at the same price point and TDP.

 

It seems that you can already buy a Sandy Bridga laptop and have it by mid-December if you really want to.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/com...dge-models-have-surfaced-being-auctioned.html

 

As long as there is switchable graphics with the quad core. I don't care if its manual switching. I just want more than an hour of battery life. lol.

 

Well if they switch to Integrated, there should be an option to disable cores on the quad.

 

True, good idea. Have it run like a dual core. I like it already.

Reminds me of the Hemi MDS feature (four of eight cylinders shut down to save on gas).

 

Intel processors already do that, shut down idle cores. ^ ^ You could also bypass that through software and set how many processors you want to be used through msconfig -> boot options, or if you want to be real hardcore, just disable multiprocessing in the BIOS (if that option is available to you).

 

I'd rather it be done on the fly using built-in intelligence in the chipset or chip. Too many issues crop up doing it manually.

 

Does anyone know what GHz speed the new Sandy Bridge i7 quads will be at? Some sources say the lowest i7 will be 2.8 GHz w/turbo boost 3.4 GHz while other sources say a 2.2 or 2.5 GHz base. I'm talking about mobile quads.

 

They're listed in the table in the very first post, the first 3 processors in that table.

 

i7 running at 2,8ghz & 3,4ghz with turbo kicking in, that'd be the i7-2620m. That's a dual core actually, the naming scheme is a bit misleading. All quad cores are labeled i7-2xxxqm.

 

Intel and NVIDIA get friendly on Sandy Bridge

 

Optimus?

 

You know the old adage. If you can't beat them, join them.

 

Laptop vendors will hold back on Intel's Huron River:
Techeye
Slashgear
via Digitimes

 

Meh. First there was a general shortage on Arrandale CPUs, now they don't know how to dispose of inventories, that's laughable.

 

urgh..i guess i can order my new laptop now instead of next month since it wont have the newer huron river..so sad

 

Those damn manufacturers. At it again, just like when they cried and moaned to Intel that their Core 2 Duo stocks were still high and they didn't want to switch to Arrandale, and actually convinced Intel to hold off on it. This kind of crap really pisses me off.

 

*sigh* Well, I have some recommendations to retract...

 

Electronista says it is because of the iPad:

 

Yeah sure. It's just like the oil companies always coming up with excuses why prices are increasing. I think it's a bunch of bull.

 

So does this mean that Dell will be pushing back it's release of the new Latitude e6520 using the Sandy Bridge cpu?

 

I do find it quite interesting that Intels new integrated graphics keeps up with a dedicated Radeon HD 5450.

Finally Intel graphics will be fine for games such as WoW without it looking like a slideshow.

 

I don't know. Probably some companies will show off the new goods at CES then delay their release a few weeks, while others show the goods and release without waiting as planned.

 

Maybe, maybe not. I suspect some models will be pushed back, but others will be sold as announced. They can hardly make a press release saying that "Here is the laptop we will offer on January 9th" and then say "Sorry, you have to wait a couple of months". The Sandy Bridge notebooks will still be there, it's just that there might be somewhat fewer of them than expected.

 

Right. Because netbooks use Core i CPUs, right? Why is it that all tech-related media feels that praising Apple is required for every article written?

I think this might be our fault.

 

What they are saying is that people are buying iPad's for their computing needs over a Core i powered laptop.

 

Well, it mentioned netbooks in that paragraph. And I really think that the effect the iPad is having on full-powered notebooks is being exaggerated. It's simply not a good replacement for a notebook. The iPad is definitely a factor, but it's far from THE factor.

 

Those people are morons if they think a $500 iPad is more functional than a $700 laptop.

Apple = brilliant marketing and hivemind thinking.

 

The fault lies with intel completely screwing Arrandale's launch in H1 2010 and then announcing awesome products for january 2011, saying "don't worry we won't do this again, there'll be plenty of Sandy Bridge supply from the beginning", encouraging consumers to delay their purchases, and now they look like a bunch of morons.

At least I think it's safe to expect massive sales to liquidate Calpella notebooks, which might be good news for some, but not me, I want Huron River notebooks already.

 

Yeah, that might make an interesting dilemma for shoppers.

Should one buy a new Huron River notebook or go with a significantly discounted notebook that has the older Arrandale CPU?

 

Question:
Why can`t the manufacturers send the Arrandale CPUs back to Intel and get some sort of refund? That way we get rid of the old and get new refreshed technology?

This seems bloody unfair for us who are waiting for SB and refuse to buy Arrandale.

 

This has always been the case. Most common folk don't know that much or care that much about the details of the next revision of CPU.

 

Honestly sounds less like delaying manufacturers from launching Sandy Bridge notebooks entirely and more like making consumers pay a premium for Sandy Bridge.

The articles assume that availability will be low on the premise that notebook makers will buy lower quantities of Sandy Bridge CPUs without the discount. which is likely correct, but that doesn't mean Intel won't be offering less CPUs for sale. In truth the notebook makers will still buy some CPUs without the discount and then try to pass on the extra cost to consumers.

Vendors are upset by all this because they know they're going to lose sales both on Sandy Bridge's higher cost and to people not wanting to buy "old" Calpella notebooks with new tech out.

 

Well said Phinagle +1. That will suck though. I really want/need a new laptop but would much rather get a SB than current gen, because despite my history, I actually plan on keeping the next one at least two years. Previously I'd swap out laptops every 12-18 months.

 

First Intel next-gen laptops will be Quad Core

 

That is much more reasonable than delaying everything, at least. After all, quad-cores really are the big deal this time around.

 

Intel Anti-Theft Technology for Sandy Bridge:

 

Digitimes 13.3"/14" ultra thin's with Sandy Bridge.

 

Interesting news, especially from Acer. So if they discontinue the TimelineX series, does that mean their new ultra-thin notebooks will rely on the SB iGPU? Can't see them efficiently packing in a discrete GPU and cooling system.

Maybe I should stick with my 4820TG.

 

Posted this in the Asus forum, but I'll copy it here:

ASUS looks set to release five Sandy Bridge laptops, all with serious horsepower -- Engadget

 

The 2630qm is specced pretty awesome! Looks like a 920xm!

 

IIRC the 2630qm does not have hyperthreading

 

You don't recall correctly then. Also, the 920XM has an unlocked turbo multiplier while the 2630QM doesn't, and the 2630QM only has up to 2.9GHz turbo.

 

Yep but I have yet to see a mainstream 15" laptop being able to host a 920xm without temperature issues. Even 45W TDP Clarksfield run hot - too hot in fact for most slim notebooks.

 

From the news page, they've listed the G73SW, which apparently is a G73JW using an i7-2630QM... for around $2500. Looks like you'll get the performance, but at a bit of a premium.

 

Santech has a new Clevo barebones listed with Sandy Bridge options starting at +€429,00 for the i7-2720QM...figure the i7-2630QM has to be cheaper than that.

SANTECH SANTECH N67 - SANTECH Notebook