Just as with McDonalds vs. Burger King or Boeing vs. Airbus, the battle for top dog in the PC microprocessor world rages on as upstart AMD takes on the establishment in Intel. The two have been battling in the marketplace and in the courts since they ended their partnership on IBM processors in the mid-1980s. Representing pretty much 100% of the microprocessor market between them…is it any surprise that the fate of these two are tied so tightly together? Indeed, Intel itself has had a love-hate following that is the hardware equivalent of the controversial Microsoft. Why? As the 15th world's most powerful brand (source: Millward Brown Optimor), Intel's position is frequently seen as the dominant player at the heart of the PC. Indeed AMD CEO Hector Ruiz exploits these strong feelings every chance he can and has pulled no punches in calling Intel's power illegal and monopolistic. The courts have largely ruled otherwise. But perhaps Ruiz has a point about the value of competition? AMD/Intel hyper-competition has carried over into extremely innovative product design at the two companies. Indeed, the two companies have propelled processor design forward allowing for others in the industry to develop more and more powerful applications. But these two protagonists are not that different. Like sports teams playing to not lose in an overtime match, the two companies have mirrored each other on features, benefits and largely on the technology to achieve them. Indeed just a look at both companies' notebook solutions…AMD's Turion 64 X2 and Intel's Core 2 Duo processor…one finds more high level similarities than differences. Both processors use the same core technologies dual core and L2 caching as their development paths have mirrored one another. With such product similarities, you'd expect their competitiveness to extend to distribution…and it does. Serious brand-name PC makers are also fans of both processor lineups. HP Compaq adds AMD's Turion processor to its powerful 6515b lineup (for example HP Compaq 6515b KA445UT Business ) …while the Toshiba Portege R500-S5004and the Sony VAIO VGN-CR490EBNhave chosen the Intel Core 2 Duo. Websites and retailers continue to play both sides. In fact with just under 20% of US notebook sales (source: IDC), AMD still garners a disproportional amount of representation at retail and on the internet. Indeed, a trip through a self-help jungle of a Best Buy in Southern California by CNet showed that exactly half of the company's PC notebooks have AMD chips. So that's all good and fine, but who actually makes the fastest processor…AMD or Intel? Frankly, it's not an easy question to answer as in part, the answer depends on when you're asking it. That's because technology products like these have a pronounced lifecycle and newly released, more advanced products will give its side a leg up. Indeed, that's the way the last year unfolded. AMD saw its fortunes improve substantially in the summer of 2007 just after the launch of its Turion chip. Driven by this introduction and continued market demand for Microsoft's low power XP platform, AMD gained market share from Intel. Even an updated premium Duo 2 chipset by Intel did little to slow AMD's gains. But after six months in the market and by the fall of 2007, Microsoft Vista started to drive demand for more expensive systems. That meant a surge for upscale Intel processors. Much of the market share gains AMD had wrestled away…were lost back to Intel over the winter of 2007/2008. Actual performance in the form of processor speed has also been hard to nail down. For starters, both companies' chipset nomenclature remains difficult to decipher. There has been no easy to understand replacement for the misleading gigahertz rating. Second, direct comparisons have been hard to come by. Historically, AMD has not been shy about asking Intel to performance duels, yet these sanctioned challenges have not occurred. So what about 3rd party standardized performance tests? Well I hate to say it…only several extensive studies have been carried out, but each has then been subsequently discredited. Typically these studies have been poorly conducted using different PC platforms and thereby limiting any apples-to-apples comparison. Likewise, there haven't been calls from AMD for speed comparisons for some times…which leads one to believe that AMD doesn't have the confidence in head-to-head tests that it once did. This wouldn't be too surprising as AMD is frequently priced slightly lower than Intel. This is a natural market position for the #2 player in a technology category…a performance-value position. Meanwhile, Intel's CEO Paul Otellini says that Intel plans to 'walk away' from low end mobile computing market due to a lack of profitability. Intel has that luxury. So where does all this shake out for someone looking to upgrade her or his PC? In 2008, we would recommend going with Intel if you are a serious power user. Several application areas where there could be a difference would be intensive graphics, heavy multimedia or top end gaming. On the other hand, the processors perform pretty much the same for all other applications. Our experience is that both processors will operate typical current and future software…including Microsoft Vista…very well. Regardless of which way you go, the continuation of the battle between Intel and AMD makes all of us consumers winners.
Intel issues X25-M G2 SSD firmware fix for BIOS
Eagerly waiting to change that drive password within the system BIOS on your fancy new X25-M G2 solid state drive? Good news, storage junkies -- today you can. After Intel saw its next-gen SSD launch party hit a snag with an off-the-wall quirk that could cause data corruption for those who altered or disabled a drive password within the system BIOS, the company has finally come forward with a firmware update that solves the dilemma, along with world hunger, "the economy" and an undisclosed amount of other universal pains. Hit the read link for instructions on how to update your drive, but don't blame us if every precious memory you've ever collected goes down in flames during the process. Just kidding.
Intel Delivers Security and Manageability for Business PCs
IT managers today are struggling to manage and secure the notebooks and desktop PCs in their organization. Several factors combine to make this a significant challenge for technology managers.
In addition to a geographically dispersed workforce, many organizations are seeing an increased demand for IT services—especially for mobile PCs—that strains budgets that are already under pressure. There is financial and legal pressure to accurately inventory the IT assets in an organization, which means knowing where the machines are and how they are being used. Lower Costs, Better ROIIntel Centrino 2 and Intel Core 2 processors with vPro technology set a new standard for intelligent business computers by driving lower costs and faster ROI. Which is something both IT and finance can agree on.-->
On the security front, the last several years have seen a dramatic increase in data breaches, identity theft, malicious attacks on PCs, and computer theft. It falls to IT managers to ensure PCs and notebooks are secure and users are employing the proper steps to keep them that way.
In order to keep the business running, IT managers also need to reduce user downtime caused by malicious attacks, IT maintenance work, diagnostics and repair, updates, upgrades, and other IT tasks.
There's no shortage of security and management solutions available that help IT managers confront these challenges. But the typical security and management solutions are software-based, which means IT cannot typically protect or manage a PC whose power is off, if the operating system is unresponsive, or if management agents are missing. They also can't securely manage or protect a notebook or desktop PC in certain types of remote locations, such as over an open wired LAN outside the corporate firewall.
There is an increased need to establish secure, well-managed environments for both mobile and desktop PCs; however, the cost of managing PCs has become a significant percentage of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of technology. A critical capability that has proven to help IT do more with the resources they have is the ability to protect and remotely manage both notebook and desktop PCs, regardless of power state, wired or wireless state, the state of the OS, or the location of the PC.
Intel vPro technology delivers the hardware-based capabilities IT organizations need to meet the increasing demands for their services. It is designed for business computers, both notebook and desktop PCs, and can be found in Intel® Centrino® 2 with vPro™ technology for notebooks and Intel Core™2 processors with vPro technology for desktop PCs.
Notebook and desktop PCs with vPro deliver even more powerful security, maintenance, and management capabilities. These PCs also offer full, secure remote deployment to help IT managers eliminate desk-side visits during large roll-outs.
The hardware-based capabilities of Intel vPro technology let authorized technicians remotely access PCs that have traditionally been unavailable to the management console. Technicians can use Intel vPro technology to manage the wired or wireless notebook or wired desktop PC even if PC power is off, the operating system is unresponsive, hardware (such as a hard drive) has failed, or management agents are missing. Using a secure tunnel for communications, technicians can remotely maintain, update, and repair both notebook and desktop PCs outside the corporate firewall, on an open wired LAN, or at sites that don't have a proxy server.
PCs with Intel vPro technology are designed with an advanced, energy-efficient package with 64-bit multi-core performance and 64-bit integrated graphics support.
Organizations eagerly awaiting the launch of Windows 7 will find that the combination of Windows 7 Professional and Intel vPro technology brings increased PCs responsiveness while driving down management costs.
Notebooks and desktop PCs with Intel vPro technology help meet IT's security challenges and ensure compliance down-the-wire. Intel vPro technology can help remotely identify viruses, worms, and other threats faster; and stop those threats more effectively. It supports 802.1x, Cisco Self-Defending Network (Cisco SDN), or Microsoft Network Access Protection (Microsoft NAP), so IT can maintain and manage these PCs even in secure network environments. Intel Anti-Theft Technology (Intel AT) for notebooks can help prevent unauthorized access to encrypted data if a notebook is lost or stolen.
Intel vPro technology helps IT technicians meet their maintenance challenges by helping to streamline processes, increase automation, and dramatically improve technician efficiencies for monitoring and maintenance of all PCs with Intel vPro technology during a scheduled maintenance cycle.
Remote problem-resolution is simplified with Intel vPro technology because it allows IT to accurately diagnose hardware problems and troubleshoot and resolve more software and operating system problems, including OS rebuilds, without leaving the service center.
The remote inventory and discovery features of Intel vPro technology help IT eliminate manual inventories, improve compliance with government and industry regulations, and reduce management costs.
Remote configuration options allow IT to remotely configure both notebook and desktop PCs during deployment without a desk-side visit.
Companies that use Intel vPro technology are also finding that it is helping deliver substantial power savings by letting IT be more effective in power management. IT can use Intel vPro technology to securely and remotely power systems up for maintenance and management anytime, so PCs can be powered down when not in use. Combined with third-party management applications, the new generation of Intel vPro technology allows IT administrators to simplify maintenance, eliminate a significant number of desk-side visits, reduce overspending on existing resources, and minimize interruptions to business.
Notebook and desktop PCs with Intel vPro technology use the same management console and communication mechanisms as other PCs. You can manage both notebook and desktop PCs with Intel vPro technology from the same IT console. Leading management software companies such as HP, LANDesk, Microsoft, and Symantec have optimized their software to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of Intel vPro technology.
With the ability to remotely wake, power up, maintain, and manage a PC anytime, technicians can ensure that IT tasks are performed when needed for security, and also performed at advantageous times for mobile and remote users—without requiring user participation.
Intel Sued Over Trade Mark Infringement By Using Duo Core Naming
Intel is alleged of infringing the name of a US-based company by using the Duo Core naming on its newly released processors. The company with the name of DualCor has filed a legal case against Intel to stop it from continue using Duo Core wording in its marketing campaign and all the related business collaterals. Although the name is not exactly the same, but the pronunciation may cause the confusion to the consumers.
DualCor was established in 2000 with the name of GCVI Inc. and had changed its name to DualCor Technologies
in 2003. According to the filing, the company accused that Intel would have aware of its name but still decided to name its new dual processors as Duo Core since the initial launching back to 2006. In this case, it may have the intention to cause deception to the end consumers of its well established brand. Although DualCor is just a small company, but it has proprietary technology emphasizing on multiple CPUs integrated together that enhance the processing efficiency significantly.
in 2003. According to the filing, the company accused that Intel would have aware of its name but still decided to name its new dual processors as Duo Core since the initial launching back to 2006. In this case, it may have the intention to cause deception to the end consumers of its well established brand. Although DualCor is just a small company, but it has proprietary technology emphasizing on multiple CPUs integrated together that enhance the processing efficiency significantly.
Besides requesting the court to stop Intel from using the Duo Core naming, the company is also demanding for a million dollars of compensation for the alleged infringement. Intel has not responded to this officially but we believe that the chance of renaming its Duo Core processor is almost impossible. Anyway, DualCor would be able to gain good publicity during this alleged action, even though it may lose at the end.
Intel X58 Extreme DX58SO motherboard review
Product:Intel Extreme motherboard DX58SO
Manufacturer:Intel
SKU code:DX58SO
Information:Intel
Street price:299 USD - 249 EUR
Manufacturer:Intel
SKU code:DX58SO
Information:Intel
Street price:299 USD - 249 EUR
So then, not only did Intel release a really impressive processor series today, to support it, they also had to build a new infrastructure for it. This review is going to cover the basics of Intel's X58 mainboard chipset. The key features of course bringing support to QPI, triple-channel memory and Socket 1366 thus Core i7 processors. Before we start I need to say, this is in fact a reference review with supplied memory, cooler etc. We have another X58 review for you guys where we use multiple multi-GPU graphics cards, snazzy OCZ memory, 3rd party X58 mainboards, new cooling etc .. you know true Guru3D style. But this is the reference X58 Intel board, the first of many X58 reviews to come.
Though you have learned this chipset to be named X58, some of you might recognize the "Tylersburg" as well which was the developers codename.
This new chipset will use the same ICH10(R) "South bridge chipset" as the Intel P45 (Eaglelake) chipsets, but the X58 chipset overall obviously will be drastically different.
The X58 Express will use the new LGA1366 socket (also known as Socket B).
No more memory controller
Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) the interconnect between the Core i7 processor and the X58 Express.
There's another feature about the X58 chipset that will appeal the enthusiast crowds like myself as well. This will be the first (besides Skulltrail) non NVIDIA chipset based mainboard which supports SLI and Crossfire making THE choice of weaponry for future high-end upgrades as you are no longer limited towards an NVIDIA supporting SLI chipset of for that matter a Crossfire bound infrastructure.
But to get SLI support activated, the mainbord series has to be submitted (by manufacturer) and certified by NVIDIA, after which they'll open up support through their drivers. To get multi-card graphics cards support Intel obviously had to include support for at least two x16 PCI Express 2.0 slots with the option for four x8 slots to support quad-graphics cards (CrossfireX).
All in all, plenty of stuff to talk about. Over the next pages we'll take a brief look at the chipset architecture, then a photo shoot and then obviously a test or two to get these geek juices flowing.
2009 Intel China Research Institute of the Open Day was held in Beijing
Today, October 12, with "melt-hui in China, a better tomorrow" as the theme of "2009 Intel China Research Institute Open Day" held in Beijing, shows the Intel China Research Institute (Intel Labs China) nearly 30 forward-looking research projects and results, both in collaboration with Intel, the global research system and technological achievements and Intel China Research Institute over the past year research project from the main innovation, as well as to join hands with the local academic community to carry out frontier research projects, mainly divided into four Dell INSPIRON 9400 Laptop Battery exhibition:
Enterprise-class computing technology zone - in order to best meet the needs of users to play the maximum potential of the Intel platform, Intel China Research Institute for business computing conducted a series of enterprise-class computing technology, optimization and improvement, including the underlying hardware technology innovations, such as the pre-design tools, system speed up the technology, input-output technology; platform, system-level innovation, play the advantages of Intel's integrated software, hardware, and other factors to consider in order to achieve global optimization, like clouds computing, high-performance computing.
Terminal Technology - the Internet era, people's needs and demands of individual equipment, increasing demand not only small size, low power consumption, but also high-performance, easy to use, high security and so on. In response to this important demand trends, Intel China Research Institute organized a number of research groups, from support for multi-core and heterogeneous platforms, software tools into the future 3D applications and personalization applications, easy to use, etc., to terminal technology innovation, is committed to bring about a better end-user experience.
Mobile Computing Technology - As wireless technology continues to progress, the whole mobile computing devices become increasingly change the way people live, work and play. Intel China Research Institute of starting from the application to the user experience as the core, through the framework of the future of wireless technology, innovation, and constantly challenging technical limits, so that the Intel architecture provide people with better mobile performance.
Academic Cooperation Zone - Intel has always attached great importance to research and academics in Dell INSPIRON 8000 Laptop Battery technology fields. After more than ten years of hard work, Intel China Research Institute and local universities, research institutes, scientific research cooperation has entered a more far-reaching, wide stage. Areas of cooperation involves a number of leading edge of technology, including the most advanced computer architecture research, super-computing technology and multimedia technology and mobile computing technologies, including many long-term large-scale collaborative research projects, and carries many of the world in the forefront of China's future technology, the core of leadership.
The following guide will help you in-depth understanding of the technology demonstration research projects. Full optimization of enterprise-class computing technology business computing: Light Peak and third set of prototype verification platform
The project successfully developed the first set of Light Peak prototype verification platform, the Light Peak on the host DisplayPort protocol, the transmission bandwidth of up to 10Gbps, video resolution, far exceeding 1080p HDTV. System integration of IO interface to the introduction of optical transmission, to provide higher bandwidth, thus greatly reducing the number of peripheral interfaces.
Quick IA Intel Architecture prototype verification platform of new technology
Quick IA technology is to achieve the FPGA on the Intel processor core (Pentium, Atom, etc.) in the Xeon server running BIOS / OS, is the Intel Architecture processors and SoC prototype verification platform. Quick IA can mainly be used to validate the new processor architecture for SoC prototype verification, testing new instructions, heterogeneous system architecture studies, Dell LATITUDE D620 Laptop Battery computing research, and cycle-accurate simulation.
Cloud model: cloud computing performance modeling
The future of cloud computing challenge is how to understand the characteristics of cloud computing applications and accurate estimates of resource requirements. This study through the application of sampling and analysis required for effective forecasting of cloud resources and operating performance, using micro-oriented system modeling method is accurate and to find the bottleneck of the system depends, and Hadoop / HDFS has achieved better results.
Terminal Technology gives you a more intimate computing devices: MYO: a simple programming model of heterogeneous CPU
The programming model is shared between different types of CPU memory, a software prototype for seamless sharing of complex data structure that contains pointers and to avoid grouping and data management. The model is a simple programming model refinement can support different memory consistency model, can easily be extended to the language C / C + +. It is a visual computing and throughput for the calculation of a unified memory model, a significant increase in the number of accelerated applications, can greatly enhance the competitive advantage of Larrabee in support of complex dynamic data structures, such as for software, collision and share " Scene Graph "(scene-graphs) and so on.
The three-dimensional model for ordinary users to create
The technology can use a group of users to shoot photos, automatically create realistic three-dimensional SONY VGP-BPS2 Laptop Battery, thereby enhancing the virtual world immersion of the user experience. The technology will be the first to enable ordinary users do not have the three-dimensional scanner with expensive or complex three-dimensional modeling tool, you can quickly and easily build a virtual world of three-dimensional model, but also the first time camera-free frame of reference parameter estimation, greatly simplifying the three-dimensional modeling process.
3D face modeling and customization
The technology for the first time face of the parametric generation technology can be used to enter the real portrait PC camera, automatic control of robust and accurate expression. The technology is available from the 3D face database to learn "and variable type of" three-dimensional human face model, for a given a frontal face photo, automatically reconstruct the corresponding three-dimensional human face, with the slider you can easily customize the need to face the three-dimensional features, including shape, gender, expression and color.
Polymerization of I / O Subsystem synergies between MID and the calculation of HPIA
This technology enables applications to MID and to migrate seamlessly between the PC or laptop (such as 3D gaming, web video conferencing), the migrated applications by aggregating I / O logic, continue to visit MID on the peripherals, and through the device to wear permeability and polymerization I / O virtualization capabilities enabling peripherals to effectively increase efficiency. Migration of high-performance applications to high reliability and security is guaranteed. In which aggregate I / O logic allows the peripheral device with a grid-based features, better adapted to the needs of cloud computing is a new MID, and PC usage patterns work together.
Mobile computing technology "traveling light Changxiang life":
Three-dimensional image of the world to create and navigation technology
The technology can help ordinary users to participate to quickly create photo-realistic image of HP PAVILION ZE4400 Laptop Battery, based on sensors and high-precision three-dimensional navigation vision technology can support mobile devices, augmented reality functionality.
Multi-channel, your choices
The technology uses a distributed concurrent design in order to ensure synchronization between the different hosts, but no additional overhead control, channel allocation of its innovative design to ensure effective use of multi-channel balanced, with 802.11 with the traditional single-channel media control layer compatibility
Google Android running on a prototype of a video conferencing system
The rapid development of high-definition video technology to the integration of Intel's CPU capacity and transmission capacity 3G technology raised demand, while the use of H.264/AAC codec video conferencing is a great potential for application technology. In this context, the prototype developed in H.323/PCM applications based on Google Android demonstration system for the future integration of Intel platforms and provides the technical foundation for 3G transmission.
Local academics to join hands to explore cutting-edge technology:
Advanced mobile computing technology research center
In the promotion and support of Science and Technology, Intel China Research Institute and Tsinghua University jointly established the "Tsinghua University - Intel's advanced mobile computing technology research center." The center has a model for the next generation of mobile computing hardware and software required for infrastructure and service agreements as the main direction, is mainly engaged in on-demand mobile service agreement, adaptive streaming software technology and mobile collaborative computing technologies. In the direction of their products is to provide the user experience and business model-centric mobile computing solutions, as well as hardware and software optimized system design for mobile devices.
Personal High Performance Workstation
Intel China Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Computing Technology with the cooperation of the high-performance workstations, personal research. Personal use of low-voltage high-performance workstations, Intel Xeon processors, can be very low power consumption and heat dissipation to provide supercomputing performance, high computing performance, low power consumption, small space use of the environment an ideal solution. Individual high-performance workstation software can effectively reduce management complexity, and to promote the wide range of high-performance computing applications, its advanced programming environment provides a user-friendly parallel programming tools.
Private Cloud Storage Middleware Key Technology Research
Intel China Research Institute of Peking University as a collaborative research project with one of COMPAQ PRESARIO R3000 Laptop Battery focuses on distributed metadata management, distributed data block storage, parallel data transfer, distributed system, fault handling, the community data-sharing strategy, cloud services interface and cloud service level management, key technical issues; and developing high-performance, easy expansion and easy management of enterprise private cloud storage middleware, the entire development work will take advantage of Tsinghua University, have been deployed to verify the data sharing platform Corsair optimized.
Enterprise-class computing technology zone - in order to best meet the needs of users to play the maximum potential of the Intel platform, Intel China Research Institute for business computing conducted a series of enterprise-class computing technology, optimization and improvement, including the underlying hardware technology innovations, such as the pre-design tools, system speed up the technology, input-output technology; platform, system-level innovation, play the advantages of Intel's integrated software, hardware, and other factors to consider in order to achieve global optimization, like clouds computing, high-performance computing.
Terminal Technology - the Internet era, people's needs and demands of individual equipment, increasing demand not only small size, low power consumption, but also high-performance, easy to use, high security and so on. In response to this important demand trends, Intel China Research Institute organized a number of research groups, from support for multi-core and heterogeneous platforms, software tools into the future 3D applications and personalization applications, easy to use, etc., to terminal technology innovation, is committed to bring about a better end-user experience.
Mobile Computing Technology - As wireless technology continues to progress, the whole mobile computing devices become increasingly change the way people live, work and play. Intel China Research Institute of starting from the application to the user experience as the core, through the framework of the future of wireless technology, innovation, and constantly challenging technical limits, so that the Intel architecture provide people with better mobile performance.
Academic Cooperation Zone - Intel has always attached great importance to research and academics in Dell INSPIRON 8000 Laptop Battery technology fields. After more than ten years of hard work, Intel China Research Institute and local universities, research institutes, scientific research cooperation has entered a more far-reaching, wide stage. Areas of cooperation involves a number of leading edge of technology, including the most advanced computer architecture research, super-computing technology and multimedia technology and mobile computing technologies, including many long-term large-scale collaborative research projects, and carries many of the world in the forefront of China's future technology, the core of leadership.
The following guide will help you in-depth understanding of the technology demonstration research projects. Full optimization of enterprise-class computing technology business computing: Light Peak and third set of prototype verification platform
The project successfully developed the first set of Light Peak prototype verification platform, the Light Peak on the host DisplayPort protocol, the transmission bandwidth of up to 10Gbps, video resolution, far exceeding 1080p HDTV. System integration of IO interface to the introduction of optical transmission, to provide higher bandwidth, thus greatly reducing the number of peripheral interfaces.
Quick IA Intel Architecture prototype verification platform of new technology
Quick IA technology is to achieve the FPGA on the Intel processor core (Pentium, Atom, etc.) in the Xeon server running BIOS / OS, is the Intel Architecture processors and SoC prototype verification platform. Quick IA can mainly be used to validate the new processor architecture for SoC prototype verification, testing new instructions, heterogeneous system architecture studies, Dell LATITUDE D620 Laptop Battery computing research, and cycle-accurate simulation.
Cloud model: cloud computing performance modeling
The future of cloud computing challenge is how to understand the characteristics of cloud computing applications and accurate estimates of resource requirements. This study through the application of sampling and analysis required for effective forecasting of cloud resources and operating performance, using micro-oriented system modeling method is accurate and to find the bottleneck of the system depends, and Hadoop / HDFS has achieved better results.
Terminal Technology gives you a more intimate computing devices: MYO: a simple programming model of heterogeneous CPU
The programming model is shared between different types of CPU memory, a software prototype for seamless sharing of complex data structure that contains pointers and to avoid grouping and data management. The model is a simple programming model refinement can support different memory consistency model, can easily be extended to the language C / C + +. It is a visual computing and throughput for the calculation of a unified memory model, a significant increase in the number of accelerated applications, can greatly enhance the competitive advantage of Larrabee in support of complex dynamic data structures, such as for software, collision and share " Scene Graph "(scene-graphs) and so on.
The three-dimensional model for ordinary users to create
The technology can use a group of users to shoot photos, automatically create realistic three-dimensional SONY VGP-BPS2 Laptop Battery, thereby enhancing the virtual world immersion of the user experience. The technology will be the first to enable ordinary users do not have the three-dimensional scanner with expensive or complex three-dimensional modeling tool, you can quickly and easily build a virtual world of three-dimensional model, but also the first time camera-free frame of reference parameter estimation, greatly simplifying the three-dimensional modeling process.
3D face modeling and customization
The technology for the first time face of the parametric generation technology can be used to enter the real portrait PC camera, automatic control of robust and accurate expression. The technology is available from the 3D face database to learn "and variable type of" three-dimensional human face model, for a given a frontal face photo, automatically reconstruct the corresponding three-dimensional human face, with the slider you can easily customize the need to face the three-dimensional features, including shape, gender, expression and color.
Polymerization of I / O Subsystem synergies between MID and the calculation of HPIA
This technology enables applications to MID and to migrate seamlessly between the PC or laptop (such as 3D gaming, web video conferencing), the migrated applications by aggregating I / O logic, continue to visit MID on the peripherals, and through the device to wear permeability and polymerization I / O virtualization capabilities enabling peripherals to effectively increase efficiency. Migration of high-performance applications to high reliability and security is guaranteed. In which aggregate I / O logic allows the peripheral device with a grid-based features, better adapted to the needs of cloud computing is a new MID, and PC usage patterns work together.
Mobile computing technology "traveling light Changxiang life":
Three-dimensional image of the world to create and navigation technology
The technology can help ordinary users to participate to quickly create photo-realistic image of HP PAVILION ZE4400 Laptop Battery, based on sensors and high-precision three-dimensional navigation vision technology can support mobile devices, augmented reality functionality.
Multi-channel, your choices
The technology uses a distributed concurrent design in order to ensure synchronization between the different hosts, but no additional overhead control, channel allocation of its innovative design to ensure effective use of multi-channel balanced, with 802.11 with the traditional single-channel media control layer compatibility
Google Android running on a prototype of a video conferencing system
The rapid development of high-definition video technology to the integration of Intel's CPU capacity and transmission capacity 3G technology raised demand, while the use of H.264/AAC codec video conferencing is a great potential for application technology. In this context, the prototype developed in H.323/PCM applications based on Google Android demonstration system for the future integration of Intel platforms and provides the technical foundation for 3G transmission.
Local academics to join hands to explore cutting-edge technology:
Advanced mobile computing technology research center
In the promotion and support of Science and Technology, Intel China Research Institute and Tsinghua University jointly established the "Tsinghua University - Intel's advanced mobile computing technology research center." The center has a model for the next generation of mobile computing hardware and software required for infrastructure and service agreements as the main direction, is mainly engaged in on-demand mobile service agreement, adaptive streaming software technology and mobile collaborative computing technologies. In the direction of their products is to provide the user experience and business model-centric mobile computing solutions, as well as hardware and software optimized system design for mobile devices.
Personal High Performance Workstation
Intel China Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Computing Technology with the cooperation of the high-performance workstations, personal research. Personal use of low-voltage high-performance workstations, Intel Xeon processors, can be very low power consumption and heat dissipation to provide supercomputing performance, high computing performance, low power consumption, small space use of the environment an ideal solution. Individual high-performance workstation software can effectively reduce management complexity, and to promote the wide range of high-performance computing applications, its advanced programming environment provides a user-friendly parallel programming tools.
Private Cloud Storage Middleware Key Technology Research
Intel China Research Institute of Peking University as a collaborative research project with one of COMPAQ PRESARIO R3000 Laptop Battery focuses on distributed metadata management, distributed data block storage, parallel data transfer, distributed system, fault handling, the community data-sharing strategy, cloud services interface and cloud service level management, key technical issues; and developing high-performance, easy expansion and easy management of enterprise private cloud storage middleware, the entire development work will take advantage of Tsinghua University, have been deployed to verify the data sharing platform Corsair optimized.
Intel announces Q2 financial information
Intel is the biggest CPU maker in the world and is routinely far ahead of AMD, its closest rival, in sales. The poor global economy has meant that PC sales are down and that means that Intel’s CPU sales are down as well.
Intel announced the financials for Q2 2009 and reported a net loss of $398. The quarter also reports the $1.45 billion fine by the European Commission. Intel has revenue in the quarter of $8 billion and without counting the EC fine. The company had an operating income of $1.4 billion and a net income of $1 billion.
Taking the fine into account Intel has an operating loss of $12 million and a net loss of 7 cents per share. CPU sales were higher compared to Q1 and revenue for the Atom processor was $362 million, up 65% sequentially.
Intel Plan 600-MHz Pentium III For September Release
Intel plans to release a 600-MHz Pentium III processor in September with a 133-MHz system bus and 256 kilobytes of integrated Level 2 cache, according to an Intel price sheet examined by Computer Retail Week. The 600-MHZ Pentium III, the first high-end Intel chip to be united with its secondary cache, will be priced at $761 in quantities of 10,000. Integrating the L2 cache onto the processor die tends to significantly increase processing power. Current Celeron processors with 128 KB of integrated L2 cache can closely match performance of a Pentium II with 512 KB of L2 cache on the Slot 1 module, for example.
The new processor also bumps up clock speeds significantly, helping Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel distance its processors from rival Advanced Micro Devices' CPUs. At the same time, Intel will reduce pricing on its existing Pentium III processors. The 500-MHz Pentium III, initially released in March, will drop about 50 percent, from $625 this month to $299 in September.
"That's a pretty fast drop for a high-end chip," said Bill Bryant, general manager of Datel Systems, a retail chain based in San Diego. Also scheduled for release in September is a 533-MHz Pentium III with a 133-MHz system bus at $415. A 550-MHz Pentium III with a 100-MHz system bus is slated for May at $730, dropping to $696 in July and $520 in September. Pentium II processors receive similar price reductions, culminating in identical pricing schemes for the Pentium II 450-MHz and the Pentium III 450-MHz from May to September.
In addition to high-end desktop CPUs, Intel's pricing road map shows plans for the first Pentium III mobile chip with Geyserville, a code-name for a technology that reduces power consumption in high-speed processors. That 1.6-volt part will be released at 600 MHz or higher with 256 KB of on-chip L2 cache at $761. Geyserville processors are dual-mode, operating at higher clock speeds when plugged into a wall outlet and automatically switching to lower frequencies when running on a battery. The idea is to deliver desktop-equivalent speeds when drawing electrical power and dropping down to typical portable speeds when using limited resources of batteries.
Bryant said he expects Geyserville notebooks to initially appeal to businesses purchasing high-end notebooks. "Top-of-the-line notebooks run about $4,000, and by the end of the year, you are still going to be spending in that range," he said. "Those CPUs will be significant next year when the price comes down low enough that they will be in the mid-price range."
Other mobile Pentium III chips also will be released in September. Intel is scheduled to ship 1.3-volt 450-MHz and 500-MHz mobile Pentium IIIs, priced at $341 and $520, respectively.
Additional highlights in Intel's price road map include a 667-MHz Pentium III Xeon with 256 KB of integrated L2 cache set to ship in September at a $1,040 price point. The Celeron 333-MHz (with 128 KB of L2 cache on die) will drop from $81 this month to $61 in July, and a 500-MHz Celeron is slated to ship in September at $185. At the low end, Intel is expected to release shortly its new chip set, model 810, which integrates fairly high-end audio and video functionality in an effort to reduce overall system prices.
Installing an Intel 1366 Core i7 LGA Processor
Processor and Socket
Traditionally processors have always featured a pin and socket packaging system that allows you to easily interchange processors. Some required that they be pressed into place while later versions used a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket which uses a lever to slide part of the socket in place and lock the processor down with friction.The Intel LGA processor package is a little bit different. As of this writing the LGA socket has been around for a couple of years and so far proved itself to the hardware community. AMD is even using the package on their high end Opteron processors. However when it was first released everyone did what they could to try and discredit the change saying it was un-necessary and fragile. In terms of necessity the new package helps Intel with warranty claims due to bent processor pins. We cannot speak to the frailty of the LGA system although we have yet to hear of any claims related to bent socket pins or any other related damage that was not due to improper use.The purpose of this article is to illustrate the proper way to install a Core i7 LGA 1366 processor. Overall the process is really not difficult and once you understand the mechanics you'll be a pro in no time. Let's start out with the parts.
Here is the processor, this happens to be a Core i7 920 D0 using the 1366 socket type. Features of this package include an integrated heatspreader that helps to protect the processor core and serves to help align the processor for installation. There are of course no pins to bend but still exercise caution as it can still be damaged like any other electronic device.For those of you familiar with the 775 socket type this processor will look very familiar, in fact aside from the higher pin count and larger overall size the 2 processors are virtually identical.The socket is very unique and consists of 3 major parts.
The pin base, this is where the processor will sit. As the photos show the pins are integrated into the socket with one for every dot on the bottom of the processor. The other 2 parts are the retention clip and latch that holds everything together.
Traditionally processors have always featured a pin and socket packaging system that allows you to easily interchange processors. Some required that they be pressed into place while later versions used a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket which uses a lever to slide part of the socket in place and lock the processor down with friction.The Intel LGA processor package is a little bit different. As of this writing the LGA socket has been around for a couple of years and so far proved itself to the hardware community. AMD is even using the package on their high end Opteron processors. However when it was first released everyone did what they could to try and discredit the change saying it was un-necessary and fragile. In terms of necessity the new package helps Intel with warranty claims due to bent processor pins. We cannot speak to the frailty of the LGA system although we have yet to hear of any claims related to bent socket pins or any other related damage that was not due to improper use.The purpose of this article is to illustrate the proper way to install a Core i7 LGA 1366 processor. Overall the process is really not difficult and once you understand the mechanics you'll be a pro in no time. Let's start out with the parts.
Here is the processor, this happens to be a Core i7 920 D0 using the 1366 socket type. Features of this package include an integrated heatspreader that helps to protect the processor core and serves to help align the processor for installation. There are of course no pins to bend but still exercise caution as it can still be damaged like any other electronic device.For those of you familiar with the 775 socket type this processor will look very familiar, in fact aside from the higher pin count and larger overall size the 2 processors are virtually identical.The socket is very unique and consists of 3 major parts.
The pin base, this is where the processor will sit. As the photos show the pins are integrated into the socket with one for every dot on the bottom of the processor. The other 2 parts are the retention clip and latch that holds everything together.
Intel Put Graphics Into Pineview Atom CPUs
Intel is planning to launch the successor to the current Atom lineup in Q4 2009 with 45nm Pineview dual core processor based on Lincroft architecture. The single core version will come along a quarter later in Q1 2010.
Intel is planning to integrate northbridge functions such as the memory controller and graphics core into the CPU to reduce the footprint further to allow even smaller form factor nettop and netbook. Intel is touting a 70% reduction in total kit package size and a 50% reduction in total kit TDP.
This new platform is known as PineTrail-D that comes with the Tigerpoint chipset supporting up to DDR2-800 DIMMs and will certainly prove a serious challenge to the Nvidia ION, AMD Yukon and VIA Nano platforms later this year.
Installing an Intel 1366 Core i7 LGA Processor
Processor and Socket
Traditionally processors have always featured a pin and socket packaging system that allows you to easily interchange processors. Some required that they be pressed into place while later versions used a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket which uses a lever to slide part of the socket in place and lock the processor down with friction.
The Intel LGA processor package is a little bit different. As of this writing the LGA socket has been around for a couple of years and so far proved itself to the hardware community. AMD is even using the package on their high end Opteron processors. However when it was first released everyone did what they could to try and discredit the change saying it was un-necessary and fragile. In terms of necessity the new package helps Intel with warranty claims due to bent processor pins. We cannot speak to the frailty of the LGA system although we have yet to hear of any claims related to bent socket pins or any other related damage that was not due to improper use.
The purpose of this article is to illustrate the proper way to install a Core i7 LGA 1366 processor. Overall the process is really not difficult and once you understand the mechanics you'll be a pro in no time.
Let's start out with the parts.
The Intel LGA processor package is a little bit different. As of this writing the LGA socket has been around for a couple of years and so far proved itself to the hardware community. AMD is even using the package on their high end Opteron processors. However when it was first released everyone did what they could to try and discredit the change saying it was un-necessary and fragile. In terms of necessity the new package helps Intel with warranty claims due to bent processor pins. We cannot speak to the frailty of the LGA system although we have yet to hear of any claims related to bent socket pins or any other related damage that was not due to improper use.
The purpose of this article is to illustrate the proper way to install a Core i7 LGA 1366 processor. Overall the process is really not difficult and once you understand the mechanics you'll be a pro in no time.
Let's start out with the parts.
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Here is the processor, this happens to be a Core i7 920 D0 using the 1366 socket type. Features of this package include an integrated heatspreader that helps to protect the processor core and serves to help align the processor for installation. There are of course no pins to bend but still exercise caution as it can still be damaged like any other electronic device.
For those of you familiar with the 775 socket type this processor will look very familiar, in fact aside from the higher pin count and larger overall size the 2 processors are virtually identical.
The socket is very unique and consists of 3 major parts.
For those of you familiar with the 775 socket type this processor will look very familiar, in fact aside from the higher pin count and larger overall size the 2 processors are virtually identical.
The socket is very unique and consists of 3 major parts.
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)
The pin base, this is where the processor will sit. As the photos show the pins are integrated into the socket with one for every dot on the bottom of the processor.
The other 2 parts are the retention clip and latch that holds everything together.
The other 2 parts are the retention clip and latch that holds everything together.
INTEL TFL Summer Fragfest 2005 Report
Introduction:
Toronto's gaming community was treated to one final summer blast as the TFL presented its Summer Fragfest 2005 sponsored by Intel. This year's event was held at the Primrose Best Western Hotel on August 21st-22nd, 2005. Like previous TFL events, the theme presented this year was fun with the inclusion of professional gaming tournaments ranging from the ever-popular Counter-Strike to the latest release Battlefield 2. Event participants would have a chance to win up to $25,000 in prizes donated by the event sponsors. MODTHEBOX was invited down to participate in the event along with a few other sponsors which included Beantech, Corsair, Daiwa, DFI, D-Link, ECS, Leadtek, Neo Maxim, OCZ, Razotech and Vantec.
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The weekend started off with great weather with temperatures ranging approximately 24�C-25�C. I hopped into my car and made my way to Toronto's downtown core. It wasn't hard to spot the Primrose Best Western Hotel since the location is a block away from Toronto's historic Maple Leaf Gardens. |
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| Prior to kicking off the two day event, the TFL staff was already busy preparing one of several convention center rooms. The main LAN area was aligned with tables and chairs that were stacked up on either side of the room with Ethernet cabling available for gamers to hook into the TFL network. Sponsor banners and posters were hung in the main entrant hallways to let everyone know which sponsors were participating in the event. |
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| The LAN admins were busy setting up the network center area using Gigabit switches donated by D-Link. This area would also include the TFL tournament servers as well as live webcams to stream a portion of the event. To make sure that the event ran smoothly, the TFL also arranged to have a portable diesel generator available kindly donated by Sprint (Rogers). |
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| Upon entering the event all spectators and visitors are required to sign-up at the TFL registration booth. From the registration booth you would be able to purchase food supplied by the Primrose Best Western Hotel or proceed directly into the main tournament and BYOC area. |
Intel's Centrino
In early 2003, Craig Barrett (Barrett), CEO of Intel was reviewing the prospects for his company's new mobile technology, branded as Centrino. The Intel Centrino brand represented a microprocessor (formerly code-named “Banias”), related chipsets and Wi-Fi[2] wireless networking capability. This
was the first time Intel branded a combination of technologies under one name. Centrino enabled extended battery life. Intel believed the product was ideally suited for a range of thinner, lighter notebooks that delivered outstanding performance to satisfy the needs of mobile computing. Barrett wondered how the market would receive Intel's latest offering.
Background note
Centrino was Intel's new technology designed specifically for mobile computing with a built-in Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN) capability.
It also enabled extended battery life and sleek, easy-to-carry notebook computers. This was Intel's first integrated computing technology designed from scratch for wireless notebook PCs. Centrino had been tested and validated with leading wireless security hardware, and software, as well as with leading access-point providers[3].Centrino consisted largely of three parts: A new microprocessor called the Intel Pentium M processor, the Intel 855 Chipset Family and the Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 network connection. Software and specialized packaging were also included. The three components together attempted to deliver a significantly enhanced performance in wireless connectivity.
In developing the Pentium M, at its labs in Israel, Intel solved one of the historical problems with Pentium notebooks, power consumption. Despite new chip technologies and industry-wide efforts in the 1990s to increase overall notebook energy efficiency, growing screen sizes and faster chips wiped out many of the gains. Intel-based notebooks typically had a battery life of two to four hours. In late 1998, details began to emerge about Transmeta, a company, funded by high-profile investors such as Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and hedge fund guru George Soros. Transmeta was working on an energy-efficient processor that could run Windows with technical support from Linus Torvalds , the creator of Linux. Although company executives had said that the Pentium M was independently conceived, Transmeta imposed a sense of urgency on Intel. Intel's Israeli team decided to start from scratch. Although it ran the same Windows software as Pentiums, the chip had a different architecture. Among the new features was a program called Micro Ops Fusion, which combined routine instructions and tasks, thereby saving time and energy. Intel likened the process to a bunch of people at the airport sharing a cab, rather than taking separate taxis. The Pentium M lay at the heart of the Centrino technology.
Advanced Branch Prediction, another important Centrino feature helps the processor to better schedule tasks. Different parts of the chip such as the system bus and even the Wi Fi chips shut down when not in use. Energy-efficiency meant lower megahertz. The chip initially worked at 1.6GHz, far slower than the Pentium 4, which ran at 2.4GHz. Centrino used the latest generation of enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology, which optimized application performance and power usage. For less computing-intensive programs, Centrino automatically adjusted and “powered down” to preserve battery life whenever possible. This was facilitated by:
The Intel 80386 SX
Much has been said recently about the introduction of the Intel 80386SX or P9, but as usual little has been said about the real benefits of the 80386SX, and where it fits into the new generation of personal computers and PC based solutions that are coming our way.
What is it?
When IBM released the IBM PC back in August 1981 it was the first mass produced 16 bit personal computer. It was a big break away from the existing 8 bit Z 80, 6800 and 6502 based systems that then dominated the market. And yet at the same time the IBM PC was also an 8 bit machine.
Instead of choosing the Intel 8086 chip, IBM chose the Intel 8088 chip. The difference was that although both internally were full 16 bit processors with the same instruction set, the 8088 talked to the outside world via an 8 bit data bus, while the 8086 used a 16 bit data bus. The result was a 50% reduction in performance. But more significantly, it meant a relatively low cost new machine that could run a new generation of software.
The Intel 80386SX is to the 80386 as the original 8088 is to the 8086. Internally the 80386SX is a full 32 bit 80386 processor with the same instruction set as the real 80386. But as far as the outside world is concerned, it's a 16 bit 80286 like chip.
Why was it created?
Two reasons.
Firstly, Intel have licensed other chip makers to manufacture the 80286 chip. These other manufacturers have been gradually increasing the clock speed of the 80286 and lowering prices. Intel's share of the 80286 market has been gradually declining. By introducing a baby 386 chip Intel can increase sales and profitability.
Secondly, the 80286 is actually a flawed design. It's okay for use as a faster 8088/8086 but it doesn't support multi user multi tasking software as well as it could. The 80386 is much, much better at this.
Operating System/2 (OS/2) has a lot of code built into it to handle the multi user multi tasking and memory management instructions that are built into the 80386 chip. That code means increased overhead. Increased overhead means reduced speed.
Many software developers are already recognising this and producing 386 versions of their software to make use of the full potential and performance of the 386. It's quite likely we'll see a 386 version of OS/2 by the end of 1989.
The benefits and problems
The significance of producing a 386 with a 16 bit data bus is that it simplifies the chip. This means increased production yields. It also means simpler system design to produce a working motherboard.
With a 16 bit data bus there is no need for manufacturers to come up with yet another 32 bit bus design. They can use the cheaper 16 bit peripheral chips and circuitry. The lower number of pins on the 80386SX chip makes board design and manufacture a lot easier.
But there are some disadvantages. The 16 bit data bus means that full 32 bit memory accesses take at least twice as long. The high 16 MHz clock speed of the 80386SX means that many 80386 like speed up tricks have to be incorporated into the design. Static column RAM, interleaving and RAM caching are just some of the speed up tricks needed to allow the 16 bit peripheral chips to cope.
However, the performance difference between the 80386 and the 80386SX is not as great as that between the 8086 and the 8088. An 80386SX should only run about 10 percent slower than an 80386 running at the same clock speed. (This is because of the improved memory access design inherent in the 386 design, along with fewer wait states.)
The promise of the 80386SX
What the 80386SX promises is 32 bit processing at a speed not much below that of the 80386, but at a much lower price.
All of the special features of the 386 over the 286 remain. Manufacturers, software houses, and users can all upgrade more cheaply to 386 32 bit processing.
Intel Revisits Network Processors
Might be ready for another crack at the network processor market and at telecom-grade digital signal processors (DSPs), Light Reading has learned.
Notice the word might. Intel isn't announcing anything yet; even slideware wouldn't emerge from the company until at least next year, says Stephen Price, a marketing director with Intel's embedded and communications group. And Price warns that plans do change.
Still, it's a reversal for Intel to even think about such a move. The company's IXP network processors were a top seller, but as the telecom boom of 1999 faded, so did Intel's interest. The high-end branch of the devices is now in the hands of Netronome. (See Will Intel Trash Telecom?, Intel Licenses Netronome, Netronome Systems Inc., and Netronome Reigniting Intel's IXP.)
Now, it appears Intel's Xeon line of microprocessors has reached a level where the company has started thinking about them as the basis for a telecom revival.
"Our products are getting more aligned with telecom than what I've seen from Intel in the past," Price says. "We're looking for the share of wallet in some of these things done by DSPs and network processors."
(On the DSP front, he's talking about large, high-performance DSPs. Not the wussy kind that go into greeting cards. And, please, turn the volume WAY up when you click that link.)
What's crucial to the idea is that Intel wouldn't just "throw cycles" at the problem. That term refers to using a really big general-purpose processor to do a job that's meant for a smaller, specialized processor. You get the job done, but inefficiently; the general-purpose chip needs more brainpower to do it.
Price wouldn't give details of Intel's plans, but he suggests there's an ideal mix to be had of programmable chips (FPGAs), traditional DSPs, and Intel Architecture chips.
"You can imagine what we could do with a combination of big cores and small cores, to deal with anything that's lookaside or in-line, whether it's Layer 1 through 3, or up to Layer 7."
The company has a bit of a head start on the DSP front, too. Some customers are already offloading DSP work to Intel chips, Price says.
It's interesting to note that Cavium Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: CAVM) -- which competes with companies like Intel, Freescale Semiconductor Inc. , LSI Corp. (NYSE: LSI), and RMI Corp. for general-purpose sockets -- has similarly said its chips have gotten sophisticated enough to substitute for network processors. But Cavium says it's not interested in the network processor market. (See Cavium Sprouts More Cores.)
Meanwile, Intel's Xeon chips are finding their way into plenty of telecom applications, Price says. The chips are used as control-plane processors in telecom equipment, of course. They're also adept at pattern matching and encryption, making them suitable for security appliances or for Kasumi or Snow encryption in wireless networks.
Intel also believes WiMax and Long Term Evolution (LTE) base stations will need the kind of processing that the Intel Architecture provides. (Base stations for 3G and earlier, not so much.) Price said Intel would be giving service providers some WiMax and/or LTE demonstrations, in private, during next week's Intel Developer Forum, although he wouldn't give details about what those products are.
Intel to eliminate toxic lead from its microprocessor chips
Corp. has announced plans to stop using lead as a soldering agent in its microprocessors. Lead is a chemical element with widespread industrial use. It is particularly useful as a semiconductor, due to its specific electrical and mechanical properties. The element, however, is a highly potent toxin known to cause blood and nervous system disorders, including mental dysfunction, especially in children.
Intel began phasing out the use of lead in its products in 2002, with the introduction of a tin-silver-copper soldering alloy. This alloy had replaced lead as a soldering agent in nearly all Intel chip sets and processors by 2004, with the exception of 0.02 grams of lead that continued to be used inside each chip.
This lead will now be eliminated in favor of the tin-silver-copper alloy, beginning with the Penryn line of processors. The company plans to have its microprocessors be lead-free by the end of the year, and to phase out lead in its 65-nanometer-process chips in 2008.
The use of toxic metals in electronics manufacture has become a serious health problem worldwide. High rates of obsolescence have contributed to a global "electronic waste" problem, in which vast quantities of electronics have been ending up as garbage, particularly in Third World countries that are paid to dispose of First World waste.
Unregulated disposal of this waste, whether by landfilling, burning or even disassembly for parts, exposes local workers, residents and ecosystems to a heavy toxic payload. Lead in particular is known for its ability to contaminate soil and groundwater.
According to Solving the E-waste Problem, a United-Nations-led alliance between three U.N. agencies, 16 businesses and several government agencies and universities, electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing types of trash in the world, with levels rapidly approaching 40 million metric tons per year.
Intel began phasing out the use of lead in its products in 2002, with the introduction of a tin-silver-copper soldering alloy. This alloy had replaced lead as a soldering agent in nearly all Intel chip sets and processors by 2004, with the exception of 0.02 grams of lead that continued to be used inside each chip.
This lead will now be eliminated in favor of the tin-silver-copper alloy, beginning with the Penryn line of processors. The company plans to have its microprocessors be lead-free by the end of the year, and to phase out lead in its 65-nanometer-process chips in 2008.
The use of toxic metals in electronics manufacture has become a serious health problem worldwide. High rates of obsolescence have contributed to a global "electronic waste" problem, in which vast quantities of electronics have been ending up as garbage, particularly in Third World countries that are paid to dispose of First World waste.
Unregulated disposal of this waste, whether by landfilling, burning or even disassembly for parts, exposes local workers, residents and ecosystems to a heavy toxic payload. Lead in particular is known for its ability to contaminate soil and groundwater.
According to Solving the E-waste Problem, a United-Nations-led alliance between three U.N. agencies, 16 businesses and several government agencies and universities, electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing types of trash in the world, with levels rapidly approaching 40 million metric tons per year.
Intel Corporation: 2009 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50
Highlights of 2009 Winning Strategies
Retirees of Intel enjoy some of the same health benefits as current workers. In response to employee feedback on its 2005 eldercare survey, Intel now offers access to long-term-care insurance. Workers nearing retirement can take classes to help them plan for retirement. Retirees can return to Intel; the company rehires them in various work capacities. Retirees also have discounts on Intel products and can also use the Intel employee-discount program.
Workplace Culture and Continued Opportunities: During the past 12 months, 100 percent of employees took advantage of Intel’s professional-development programs, which the company offers to full- and part-time employees who work 20 hours per week or more. These learning opportunities include tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, online training, and certification classes. Over the past 12 months, the average number of hours each employee spent in training was 36.
Intel celebrates its employees' long-service anniversaries with announcements, awards, or parties.
In the past three years, Intel implemented Life Event Leave, which allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to manage family responsibilities or life events not covered by the company's family or personal leave benefits.
Intel also developed an eldercare/caregiving intranet site to cover related topics, caregiver training, and insurance information. Intel has used the results of its employee-opinion surveys to support new policies, such as providing long-term-care insurance and developing a Flexibility Report, which is a resource guide for managers and employees.
The company also offers workers several opportunities to gain new experiences and job skills through temporary assignments in other departments, team projects, and formal job rotations.
Intel accommodates employees with medical needs or disabilities through ergonomic assessments, workspace adjustments, and supplying employees with necessary equipment to do their job comfortably.
Benefits/Health: Intel employees who work full- or part-time at least 20 hours per week can enroll in the company's individual and family medical, prescription-drug, vision, dental, long-term-care, and short- and long-term disability coverage. Intel helps employees cover their out-of-pocket health-care costs through health reimbursement accounts (HRA), health savings accounts (HSA), and health flexible spending accounts (FSA). Retirees of Intel, both those under and above age 65, have access to some of the same benefits as current workers, including individual and spousal medical, prescription-drug, vision, and long-term-care coverage. Intel also established a sheltered employee retirement account for eligible retirees, where they can purchase specific medical services.
Benefits/Financial: Full- and part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in the company’s defined-benefit plan, 401(k) plan, and its stock-option, profit-sharing plan. Intel automatically enrolls all new hires in the defined-contribution plan. Employees can invest in life-cycle funds based on ages and closeness to retirement, and those ages 50 and older are able to make "catch-up" contributions.
Representatives of the firm that administers the 401(k) plan provide financial planning information and training to Intel employees. Specifically, the company offers five ongoing financial-planning workshops at each of its sites. Intel also hosts virtual training opportunities.
The company offers a class targeted to workers nearing retirement. The class teaches employees how to manage the risks they face in retirement and to build sound income plans. Intel allows an employee unpaid leave of absence to care for a child or family member.
Both full-and part-time workers at Intel can take advantage of its wellness benefits, including flu shots, health screenings, health-risk appraisals, a smoking-cessation program, fitness-facility discounts, physical-activity programs, a weight-loss program, stress-management training, and their Health for Life wellness program. In the past 12 months, 68 percent of all workers engaged in at least one wellness-related program or benefit.
In addition, between 2007 and 2008, there was an 18 percent improvement in the health-risk assessments of a group of employees whose progress was tracked.
Intel provides all of its employees referral services to help them find children, grandchildren, and eldercare. The company also offers backup services for child care and for grandchild care. Employees at Intel have access to near-site childcare centers and can get reimbursed up to $50 per day per year, up to $250, for backup childcare.
Benefits/Alternative-Work Arrangements: Flextime, job-sharing, and telecommuting are available to full- and part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week. Full-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week can work compressed schedules and have the opportunity to move to part-time work on a permanent or temporary basis.
Opportunities for Retirees: Intel currently has 3,021 retirees and a person on staff who has direct responsibility for relations with them. The company stays connected to its retirees through regular communications, a retiree Web site, and quarterly newsletters. Intel also offers its retirees discounts on organization products and maintains a contact list of retirees who are available to work. Retirees can take temporary work assignments and fill full- and part-time positions at Intel.
Retirees of Intel enjoy some of the same health benefits as current workers. In response to employee feedback on its 2005 eldercare survey, Intel now offers access to long-term-care insurance. Workers nearing retirement can take classes to help them plan for retirement. Retirees can return to Intel; the company rehires them in various work capacities. Retirees also have discounts on Intel products and can also use the Intel employee-discount program.
Workplace Culture and Continued Opportunities: During the past 12 months, 100 percent of employees took advantage of Intel’s professional-development programs, which the company offers to full- and part-time employees who work 20 hours per week or more. These learning opportunities include tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, online training, and certification classes. Over the past 12 months, the average number of hours each employee spent in training was 36.
Intel celebrates its employees' long-service anniversaries with announcements, awards, or parties.
In the past three years, Intel implemented Life Event Leave, which allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to manage family responsibilities or life events not covered by the company's family or personal leave benefits.
Intel also developed an eldercare/caregiving intranet site to cover related topics, caregiver training, and insurance information. Intel has used the results of its employee-opinion surveys to support new policies, such as providing long-term-care insurance and developing a Flexibility Report, which is a resource guide for managers and employees.
The company also offers workers several opportunities to gain new experiences and job skills through temporary assignments in other departments, team projects, and formal job rotations.
Intel accommodates employees with medical needs or disabilities through ergonomic assessments, workspace adjustments, and supplying employees with necessary equipment to do their job comfortably.
Benefits/Health: Intel employees who work full- or part-time at least 20 hours per week can enroll in the company's individual and family medical, prescription-drug, vision, dental, long-term-care, and short- and long-term disability coverage. Intel helps employees cover their out-of-pocket health-care costs through health reimbursement accounts (HRA), health savings accounts (HSA), and health flexible spending accounts (FSA). Retirees of Intel, both those under and above age 65, have access to some of the same benefits as current workers, including individual and spousal medical, prescription-drug, vision, and long-term-care coverage. Intel also established a sheltered employee retirement account for eligible retirees, where they can purchase specific medical services.
Benefits/Financial: Full- and part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in the company’s defined-benefit plan, 401(k) plan, and its stock-option, profit-sharing plan. Intel automatically enrolls all new hires in the defined-contribution plan. Employees can invest in life-cycle funds based on ages and closeness to retirement, and those ages 50 and older are able to make "catch-up" contributions.
Representatives of the firm that administers the 401(k) plan provide financial planning information and training to Intel employees. Specifically, the company offers five ongoing financial-planning workshops at each of its sites. Intel also hosts virtual training opportunities.
The company offers a class targeted to workers nearing retirement. The class teaches employees how to manage the risks they face in retirement and to build sound income plans. Intel allows an employee unpaid leave of absence to care for a child or family member.
Both full-and part-time workers at Intel can take advantage of its wellness benefits, including flu shots, health screenings, health-risk appraisals, a smoking-cessation program, fitness-facility discounts, physical-activity programs, a weight-loss program, stress-management training, and their Health for Life wellness program. In the past 12 months, 68 percent of all workers engaged in at least one wellness-related program or benefit.
In addition, between 2007 and 2008, there was an 18 percent improvement in the health-risk assessments of a group of employees whose progress was tracked.
Intel provides all of its employees referral services to help them find children, grandchildren, and eldercare. The company also offers backup services for child care and for grandchild care. Employees at Intel have access to near-site childcare centers and can get reimbursed up to $50 per day per year, up to $250, for backup childcare.
Benefits/Alternative-Work Arrangements: Flextime, job-sharing, and telecommuting are available to full- and part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week. Full-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week can work compressed schedules and have the opportunity to move to part-time work on a permanent or temporary basis.
Opportunities for Retirees: Intel currently has 3,021 retirees and a person on staff who has direct responsibility for relations with them. The company stays connected to its retirees through regular communications, a retiree Web site, and quarterly newsletters. Intel also offers its retirees discounts on organization products and maintains a contact list of retirees who are available to work. Retirees can take temporary work assignments and fill full- and part-time positions at Intel.
Intel Helps Boost Rural Informatization
Since February 1, 2009, computer is covered in the scope of "home appliances going to the countryside" in China. Rural residents in these areas can enjoy some discounts if they buy computers of some certain models in designated outlets. Such a move will substantially promote the rural informatization development, and make the rural informatization strategy implemented in China by Intel since 2004 have a new goal.
In 2007, Qian Yongyan, who lives in Baima town, Meishan city of Sichuan province, bought a second-hand computer at RMB1500 yuan for his own Minxing Agricultural Material Chain Store, and his view became much broader at once. Via internet, he keeps contact with professors of the agricultural science institute, instructs villagers to conduct scientific plantation, cultivation, and farm product processing, and searches for the quality of seeds and chemical fertilizers he sells and learns the market product information. In the first year, he found sales channels for the 230,000-jin oranges of the local 8 households and sold them at RMB150, 000 yuan. With the computer, Qian Yongyan's store gets closer to the farmers and the business gets better. Its sales amount grows from over RMB200, 000 yuan in the last year to over RMB600, 000 yuan. Qian Yongyan, who graduated from a technical school, told the respondent, "Sun, Manager of Department of the new market development of Intel Chengdu Agency is my friend, and if I have problems about computer, I'll ask him." Last year, Qian bought a notebook computer and specially selected one with Intel chip. Feeling his beloved subject, he told the respondent, "A rural computer with Intel structure is easy to operate. It enhanced the management efficiency of the agricultural material store and helped me better serve the farmers."
Nowadays, "online farmers" like Qian yongyan have been spread to over 18,000 agricultural material chain stores in Sichuan province. In 2005, after Sichuan province became the pilot area of the nationwide rural informatization of the "market project of numerous villages", Intel (China) Co., Ltd. started cooperation with Sichuan Telecom immediately on exploration of the informatization construction of the rural circulation system. Its content is introducing Intel-structured rural computers, ADSL network and chain management software to ensure the operation quality of agricultural material and perfect the rural circulation system on the basis of the agricultural material chain stores. In the future 2 years, the total number of agricultural material chain stores in Sichuan province will increase to 40,000, covering 90 percent of towns and over 70 percent of administrative villages in Sichuan. "Firstly, we guide the large families and professional leaders to use computers, and then promote other farmers. This is the important strategy of Intel to drive the rural informatization." Zhou Li of Intel (China) Co., Ltd. summarized.
Zhou Li, after working for Intel (China) Co., Ltd. for 8 years, was designated as the Manager of rural affairs of the company. The new institution is mainly responsible for the internal resource integration of Intel, and cooperation with related departments in China, so as to better deal with the rural informatization development. Calling himself the "director of rural office" of Intel, Zhou Li told the respondent that although the division of rural affairs was established just this year, Intel has become its exploration of Chinese rural informatization promotion since 2004. In 2005, Intel set up the channel platform group and design center focusing on newly emerging market businesses and developed special computer suitable for the Chinese rural areas, which can be applied to the rural families, village information centers, base management department and SMEs; in 2006, Intel sign the "Memorandum of joint promotion of informatization in Chinese rural areas, cities, enterprises and logistics and other fields" with the Ministry of the Information Industry at that time; from 2007 to 2009, Intel-supported agricultural informatization pilot project took the lead in allocating 6,000 rural computers in 5 provinces and cities, and trained 30,000 rural information assistants and 5,000 relevant technicians on computer operation.
Zhou Li said, "At present, 840 million farmers can get access to the internet, about a half of which use computer at home. Since February 2009, computer was included in the product lists of home appliances going to the countryside, and could enjoy price preferential, which will definitely improve the speed of the Chinese rural informatization construction greatly, and provide Intel with new ample scope for abilities."
As known to us, Intel is a renowned chip manufacturer. It does neither produce computer nor provide network access or content services. So what role such a company can play in the Chinese rural informatization construction, and how can it get profit? Zhou Li introduced that the major work of Intel is to conduct market survey and provide relevant information for related departments and enterprises. Moreover, what needs to do is to build a bridge and negotiate with related parties in China to provide better solutions for the rural informatization. For example, as to the computer type farmers need, Intel has done a thematic survey and found that they regarded computer as a piece of important "large furniture" for their families, so they pay more attention to the quality than the price. Intel fed back the information to computer manufacturers, so the latter can produce products more suitable for the rural market.
Yang Xu, Intel's Vice President and President of Greater China Region, believes that with the revealing of the "computer going to the countryside" activity, the year of 2009 will probably be the new starting point of the Chinese rural areas to get connected with the whole world. Different from other home appliance product, computer is a direct drive for the productivity improvement. Some of the his farmer friends have tried to use computer and internet to manage the farms including fodder inventory, supply and demand information, and product data management, and the benefit is obviously improved. But in more less developed regions in China, the informatization construction just begins, and there is still a lot of work undone to help the rural development with information technology. Yang Xu said that Intel will actively coordinate with various local governments and cooperate with industrial partners as broadband, software and service providers to jointly develop comprehensive rural information and service platform the numerous farmers can afford and use well, easily, and effectively. Currently, Intel is preparing various technologies and products with industrial cooperative partners for the "computer going to the countryside", for it is not enough to just send computers to the countryside. They should teach farmers how to fish besides giving fish.
Handheld Computing for Educational Leaders
The Pownell-Bailey Model of Handheld Computing Literacy can help you move from using your PDA as an organizer to using it to empower yourself and those around you.
The latest revolution in computing is coming from the decrease in the physical size of computing devices combined with increased processing power. Small computers that fit in shirt pockets are being used for many information-handling tasks. These small computers are also known as PDAs (personal digital assistants), palmtop computers, or handheld computers. 3Com's Palm and PalmPilot, introduced in 1996, are the most popular of the tiny computers. The Visor, just released by Handspring, also features the Palm operating system but uses a unique expansion module for adding options. Other handheld computers include those made by Psion and models based on the WindowsCE operating system.
Palmtop computers are changing the way people use and interact with information. The devices' small size allows users to take their most important information with them instead of being tethered to stationary computers. Until the past few years, we have gone to the technology, but with the new smaller and better machines, the technology is now going with us. The need for critical information at our fingertips is becoming even more important. Information is not useful unless we have timely access to it. Palmtop computers were first introduced as a kind of "electronic day planner" with schedule, address, and task list software. Now, Frauenfelder (1999) states that they are being seen as universal-access devices, able to ferret out essential information wherever it happens to be stored-on the desktop PC, the home-office server, or the Internet.
Indeed, many companies are looking at how these palmtop computers can be used with the Internet and are "repackaging" information to maximize the smaller screens and memory. Other developers are concentrating on making synchronizers to make the exchange of information between desktop computers, servers, and palmtops easier. Telecommunication companies are also working on wireless digital networks and integration with cell phones, which will lead to greater mobility and increased communications between users (Frauenfelder).
Handheld Computing and Information Literacy
In the coming century, the ability to identify, access, apply, and create information will be the equivalent of literacy (Bailey & Lumley, 1999). Information literacy is an information-age problem-solving process resulting in productive use of information. Users are able not only to use the desktop computer to access information and practice information literacy but also to apply handheld computers for interacting with information that resides on desktop computers and the Internet.
Four Characteristics of Handheld Computers
Four main factors set the handheld computer apart from the desktop computer: portability, accessibility, mobility, and adaptability.
The latest revolution in computing is coming from the decrease in the physical size of computing devices combined with increased processing power. Small computers that fit in shirt pockets are being used for many information-handling tasks. These small computers are also known as PDAs (personal digital assistants), palmtop computers, or handheld computers. 3Com's Palm and PalmPilot, introduced in 1996, are the most popular of the tiny computers. The Visor, just released by Handspring, also features the Palm operating system but uses a unique expansion module for adding options. Other handheld computers include those made by Psion and models based on the WindowsCE operating system.
Palmtop computers are changing the way people use and interact with information. The devices' small size allows users to take their most important information with them instead of being tethered to stationary computers. Until the past few years, we have gone to the technology, but with the new smaller and better machines, the technology is now going with us. The need for critical information at our fingertips is becoming even more important. Information is not useful unless we have timely access to it. Palmtop computers were first introduced as a kind of "electronic day planner" with schedule, address, and task list software. Now, Frauenfelder (1999) states that they are being seen as universal-access devices, able to ferret out essential information wherever it happens to be stored-on the desktop PC, the home-office server, or the Internet.
Indeed, many companies are looking at how these palmtop computers can be used with the Internet and are "repackaging" information to maximize the smaller screens and memory. Other developers are concentrating on making synchronizers to make the exchange of information between desktop computers, servers, and palmtops easier. Telecommunication companies are also working on wireless digital networks and integration with cell phones, which will lead to greater mobility and increased communications between users (Frauenfelder).
Handheld Computing and Information Literacy
In the coming century, the ability to identify, access, apply, and create information will be the equivalent of literacy (Bailey & Lumley, 1999). Information literacy is an information-age problem-solving process resulting in productive use of information. Users are able not only to use the desktop computer to access information and practice information literacy but also to apply handheld computers for interacting with information that resides on desktop computers and the Internet.
Four Characteristics of Handheld Computers
Four main factors set the handheld computer apart from the desktop computer: portability, accessibility, mobility, and adaptability.
- Portability refers to the physical device. Palmtops are small enough to be taken anywhere. They fit nicely into jacket pockets and purses or clip onto belts.
- Accessibility refers to the ability for users to get the information they need instantly. They no longer have to wait to get back to the office to check schedules or verify information.
- Mobility refers to the user who has the ability for greater movement and is not tethered to one place.
- Adaptability refers to the ability of the user to change his or her behavior because of this highly mobile technology. The Internet has transformed the way leaders receive information, and now the handheld computer will change the way they use and access it. Handheld computers are not only an extension of the Internet and the desktop computer but also an extension of the person and his or her information environment.
Apple Unveils New MacBook With Intel Core 2 Duo Processors
About Apple
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
CUPERTINO, California—November 8, 2006—Apple® today unveiled its new line of MacBook™ consumer notebooks that now include Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Just one-inch thin, the new MacBooks are up to 25 percent faster than the previous generation and feature a built-in iSight® video camera for on-the-go video conferencing, Apple’s MagSafe™ Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and iLife® ‘06, Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.
“MacBook has helped drive Apple’s notebook market share to over 10 percent in US retail, and the new MacBooks will be among this holiday season’s most exciting new products,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With Intel Core 2 Duo processors across the entire line, these new MacBooks are up to 25 percent faster than their predecessors.”
With prices starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup includes three models: sleek white 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook models, and a stunning black 2.0 GHz MacBook model. With Intel’s latest Core 2 Duo processors, the new MacBook is up to 25 percent faster than the previous MacBook and up to six times faster than the iBook®, making it even easier for consumers to manage and enjoy their digital content with iLife ‘06.* Consumers will also benefit from the added power in the new 2.0 GHz models, including double the memory and greater storage capacity than the previous generation, as well as a double-layer SuperDrive™ for burning professional-quality DVDs.
The new MacBook features a gorgeous 13-inch glossy widescreen display, ideal for enjoying videos, DVDs and photos with Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience. The MacBook is just one-inch thin and includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go with friends or family using iChat AV, recording a video podcast or iMovie® using iLife ‘06, or taking fun snapshots with Photo Booth.
Designed for the mobile lifestyle, the MacBook includes Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord to the MacBook and safely disconnects under strain, preventing the notebook from falling off its work surface. Apple now also offers a new MagSafe Airline Adapter that makes using a MacBook on an airplane even more convenient by connecting to in-seat power ports for continued productivity throughout the duration of a flight. The MacBook also includes Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor, designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall, and a simple and intuitive Scrolling TrackPad for scrolling through long web pages or panning across large photographs.
The lightweight MacBook design includes built-in AirPort Extreme® and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), making it ideal to take anywhere consumers work and play—from the office, to the classroom and the local WiFi hot spot. With the latest high-performance connectivity options, each MacBook includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire® 400 port, combination analog and optical digital audio input and output ports and a mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
The MacBook comes with iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto®, iMovie HD, iDVD®, GarageBand™ and iWeb™, the latest iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click.** The MacBook also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS® X version 10.4.8 Tiger, including Safari™, Mail, iCal®, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on the Intel-based notebook.
Pricing & Availability
The new MacBook is available immediately through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter is available for a suggested retail price of $59 (US).
The 1.83 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,099 (US), includes:
- 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness;
- 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
- 667 MHz front-side bus;
- 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
- 60GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;
- Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
- built-in iSight video camera;
- Gigabit Ethernet port;
- built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
- Scrolling TrackPad;
- the infrared Apple Remote; and
- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:
- 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness;
- 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
- 667 MHz front-side bus;
- 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
- 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 6x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;
- Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
- built-in iSight video camera;
- Gigabit Ethernet port;
- built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
- Scrolling TrackPad;
- the infrared Apple Remote; and
- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
- 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness;
- 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
- 667 MHz front-side bus;
- 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
- 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 6x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;
- Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
- built-in iSight video camera;
- Gigabit Ethernet port;
- built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
- Scrolling TrackPad;
- the infrared Apple Remote; and
- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 80GB, 120GB or 160GB (5400 rpm) or a 200GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also include: pre-installed copies of iWork ‘06, Logic® Express 7, Final Cut® Express HD 3.5 and Aperture™ 1.5.
*Based on estimated results of industry-standard SPECint and SPECfp rate tests. SPEC is a registered trademark of Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC); see for more information.
**Internet access required, fees may apply. The .Mac service is available to persons age 13 and older. Terms and conditions apply.
Intel Core 2 Duo Test
3d Studio Max 7For 3D-studio max we used a rendering via the 3Ds internal engine (scanline). Developed by Studio PC this scene mainly uses radiosity. The result is more realistic in terms of lighting and is also slower. 80% of this scene is based on this type of effect.
The Core 2 Duo already shows its power because it is at the same level as the fastest Pentium and Athlon 64 FX and this from the E6400. In the end, the most efficient Core 2 Duo configuration is 38% faster than AMD and Intel´s existing solutions!
Compared to the Core Duo, the Core 2 Duo brings a performance gain of 8-10% at equivalent frequencies.
Compared to the Core Duo, the Core 2 Duo brings a performance gain of 8-10% at equivalent frequencies.
Maya 6We used a scene developed by Yann Dupont of 3DVF (whom we thank for its use) rendered via Mental Ray.
As Hyperthreading has a negative impact on performances with Maya, for Pentiums the 960 is in the lead. The Core 2 Duo is much faster and is in front starting with the E6300 at only 1.86 GHz. The resistance is much stronger than under 3ds for AMD because you need a E6700 to reach the performances of a FX-62…but the Core 2 Duo is announced as being half the price of this FX!
Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Intel core 2 Duo is Intel’s mainstream processor brand, and it finds its way into a wide range of devices, from gaming PCs to business laptops and even iMacs.
But it’s a broad label. The range currently runs to no fewer than 14 desktop chips with three different cores and significantly different characteristics. There are also 18 laptop CPUs, which fall outside the scope of this month’s Labs.
The first Core 2 Duo processors were the E6000 series, launched back in 2006, based on the 65nm Conroe core. These were arrestingly powerful CPUs for their time, and two of them – the 2.4GHz E6600 and the 2.66GHz E6700 – are still in production today. Their benchmark scores of 1.18 and 1.30 are still respectable too.
Last year, they were joined by the E6750 and E6850, based on the same core but using higher clock speeds and a faster front side bus (1333MHz rather than the original 1066MHz). They achieve better performance, yet currently sell at lower prices, leaving the older Core 2 Duos looking redundant.
The E6000 series also originally included some cheaper models – the E6300 and E6400 – with a reduced L2 cache (2MB instead of 4MB). These have since been replaced by the E6320 and E6420, with full 4MB caches, and are joined by an E6550 that supports a 1333MHz front side bus. But thanks to relatively low clock speeds, these chips still don’t match the performance of even their older brethren, and it’s hard to recommend any of them when $230 will get you a far more capable E6750.
The Conroe-based Core 2 Duos were followed last year by the E4000 series, based on the more recent Allendale core. This range is inferior to the E6000 series in several ways: clock speeds only go up to 2.4GHz, the front side bus runs at just 800MHz and, as with the original low-end Core 2 Duo CPUs, they only have 2MB of L2 cache. This does make E4000s significantly cheaper than the E6000s: the E4500 costs just $152 but achieves benchmark results not far off the $255 E6420.
But, as our graph on page 60 illustrates, neither range is particularly impressive. At the lower end of the performance scale, our benchmarks showed the lesser E4000 chips to be little better than Intel’s far cheaper Pentium Dual-Core processors. And while the higher-end E6000s aren’t lacking in power, an AMD Athlon will give you comparable performance for less money – albeit with almost twice the thermal design power (125W as opposed to the Core 2 Duo’s 65W).
hankfully, the Core 2 Duo range has a trump card: the new E8000 series, launched in January and based on the new 45nm Wolfdale core. The design expands on the original E6000 with 6MB L2 caches, 1333MHz front side buses across the board and clock rates up to 3.16GHz – the sort of speed normally reserved for the Core 2 Extreme range. TDP remains at 65W.
The benchmark results speak for themselves: even the low-end model scored a roaring 1.42, and the most powerful achieved a stratospheric 1.63. And the best part is the price: the E8200 can be had for just $200. It’s clear that Intel’s move to 45nm technology is paying off, as in terms of both raw power and bang for buck the E8000 wipes the floor with the E6000 series.
So on the whole, the Core 2 Duo range is a mixed bag. At the lower end, the E4000s deliver uninspiring performance for an unattractive price; it’s hard to see why you’d choose one over a Pentium Dual-Core.
The mid-range E6000s are distinctly more capable, but the relative pricing of the various models makes no sense. The best buy is the E6750, which gets you similar performance to an AMD Athlon 6400+ in a more energy-efficient chip, although the Athlon is slightly cheaper.
The high-end E8000s, however, are an unqualified success. They’re faster than anything AMD has to offer, and achieve similar benchmark scores to Intel’s own Core 2 Quad range for a lower price.
Of course, if you’re a power user demanding maximum performance, a quad-core processor may better suit your needs. But for a fast desktop or gaming PC, the E8000 series is ideal, with the E8200 and 8400 representing fantastic value for money.
But it’s a broad label. The range currently runs to no fewer than 14 desktop chips with three different cores and significantly different characteristics. There are also 18 laptop CPUs, which fall outside the scope of this month’s Labs.
The first Core 2 Duo processors were the E6000 series, launched back in 2006, based on the 65nm Conroe core. These were arrestingly powerful CPUs for their time, and two of them – the 2.4GHz E6600 and the 2.66GHz E6700 – are still in production today. Their benchmark scores of 1.18 and 1.30 are still respectable too.
Last year, they were joined by the E6750 and E6850, based on the same core but using higher clock speeds and a faster front side bus (1333MHz rather than the original 1066MHz). They achieve better performance, yet currently sell at lower prices, leaving the older Core 2 Duos looking redundant.
The E6000 series also originally included some cheaper models – the E6300 and E6400 – with a reduced L2 cache (2MB instead of 4MB). These have since been replaced by the E6320 and E6420, with full 4MB caches, and are joined by an E6550 that supports a 1333MHz front side bus. But thanks to relatively low clock speeds, these chips still don’t match the performance of even their older brethren, and it’s hard to recommend any of them when $230 will get you a far more capable E6750.
The Conroe-based Core 2 Duos were followed last year by the E4000 series, based on the more recent Allendale core. This range is inferior to the E6000 series in several ways: clock speeds only go up to 2.4GHz, the front side bus runs at just 800MHz and, as with the original low-end Core 2 Duo CPUs, they only have 2MB of L2 cache. This does make E4000s significantly cheaper than the E6000s: the E4500 costs just $152 but achieves benchmark results not far off the $255 E6420.
But, as our graph on page 60 illustrates, neither range is particularly impressive. At the lower end of the performance scale, our benchmarks showed the lesser E4000 chips to be little better than Intel’s far cheaper Pentium Dual-Core processors. And while the higher-end E6000s aren’t lacking in power, an AMD Athlon will give you comparable performance for less money – albeit with almost twice the thermal design power (125W as opposed to the Core 2 Duo’s 65W).
hankfully, the Core 2 Duo range has a trump card: the new E8000 series, launched in January and based on the new 45nm Wolfdale core. The design expands on the original E6000 with 6MB L2 caches, 1333MHz front side buses across the board and clock rates up to 3.16GHz – the sort of speed normally reserved for the Core 2 Extreme range. TDP remains at 65W.
The benchmark results speak for themselves: even the low-end model scored a roaring 1.42, and the most powerful achieved a stratospheric 1.63. And the best part is the price: the E8200 can be had for just $200. It’s clear that Intel’s move to 45nm technology is paying off, as in terms of both raw power and bang for buck the E8000 wipes the floor with the E6000 series.
So on the whole, the Core 2 Duo range is a mixed bag. At the lower end, the E4000s deliver uninspiring performance for an unattractive price; it’s hard to see why you’d choose one over a Pentium Dual-Core.
The mid-range E6000s are distinctly more capable, but the relative pricing of the various models makes no sense. The best buy is the E6750, which gets you similar performance to an AMD Athlon 6400+ in a more energy-efficient chip, although the Athlon is slightly cheaper.
The high-end E8000s, however, are an unqualified success. They’re faster than anything AMD has to offer, and achieve similar benchmark scores to Intel’s own Core 2 Quad range for a lower price.
Of course, if you’re a power user demanding maximum performance, a quad-core processor may better suit your needs. But for a fast desktop or gaming PC, the E8000 series is ideal, with the E8200 and 8400 representing fantastic value for money.