From Computerworld - Intel Corp.'s new Core i7 family of processors includes the company's most advanced mobile chips. First introduced in September 2009, the design was revamped this January. The latest version of the mobile Core i7, called Arrandale during its development, is built on a 32-nanometer fabrication process and offers base speeds that range from 1.06 GHz to 2.66 GHz.
Systems equipped with the new Core i7 can deliver between two and three times the performance of a Core 2 Duo notebook. In other words, these processors and the systems built around them are meant for users who demand high performance -- and are willing to pay for it. For example, the Core i7 Extreme Edition lists for a bulk price of $1,054, whereas the Core 2 Duo processors can cost up to $619 but tend to hover more in the $300 range.
Inside the Core i7
Intel's new processors contain 774 million transistors shuttling data back and forth on a sliver of silicon the size of a pinky nail. (In contrast, the Mobile Core 2 Duo and Atom processors found in mainstream notebooks and netbooks have up to 291 million and 47 million transistors, respectively.)
In addition, Core i7 laptops tend to be among the most expensive around. That's true in part because they're also among the best equipped; they're meant for those looking for heavy-duty multimedia machines for work or play. As a result, these systems can cost anywhere from about $1,500 to over $3,000, depending on what options you go for.
But you will get a significant performance boost. Even the slowest of the three Core i7 machines I tested -- the Fujitsu LifeBook E780 -- ran 63% faster in my tests than a Lenovo IdeaPad Y450 with a 2.53-GHz Core 2 Duo processor.
Buyers who are just looking for a competent system can get what they need for a lot less.
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