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I doubt that anybody has been stressed out about getting Intel’s upcoming Quad Core CPUs the first day they come out, but if you’re one of those unique beings that is, well rejoice, for Intel is expected to release the Q6600 at CES 2007 for about $851. The Q6600 will come rated at 2.4GHz per core, with an 8MB L2 cache and use a 1066 MHz system bus.

I still remember being so happy to have a bleeding edge notebook with a Core Duo processor at the beginning of 2006, only to be brought down to earth by the unavoidable reality that Core 2 Duo hit the market near the middle/end of 2006, and now Quad Core will soon be on the market.

Of course, there are hardly any mass market/mainstream applications that makes full use of a Quad Core processor right now (probably even none—someone correct me if that’s wrong), but if bleeding edge is your thing, and you have money to spare, it’s right at your door. Just don’t cry when 2008 hits and Octa Core CPUs are the next big thing.

Read [i4u]
Read [Guru3d]

Major themes will surface at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show including: the emergence of Internet-delivered entertainment as the PC grows even cozier with the TV; the “renaissance” of the PC with new Intel dual and quad core processors and new operating systems (Vista at CES and Leopard at MacWorld); and the ongoing growth of PC gaming.

Last year was all about Intel Viiv technology, a platform that is still around but certainly has little, if not zero, consumer backing. This time around, Intel will highlight its safe bet, the multi-core platforms that have already made their way into computers. All of Intel’s demonstrations, announcements and highlights at CES will focus on showing how the company’s multi-core innovation is, “fueling new online services, capabilities, experiences and possibilities for consumer technology.” This will be done via in-home and on-the-go product lines and entertainment- and gaming-related partnerships that build upon the introduction of the Intel Core2 Duo processor families and the new PC multi-core era.

Among talk of Apple upping their MacBook to Core 2 Duo, Play.com last week published, then later removed desciptions of the new models - Likely due to pressure from Apple to take it down.  It wasn’t long before Play.com decided it was OK to publish it again, because now they’re officially taking pre-orders for the new MacBooks.  The decription of the laptop includes a 2GHz processo, 512GB of RAM, and obviously the all new Core 2 Duo.  Also, according to Play.com, the new MacBooks have a release date of November 13, and will come in your standard white and black colors.  Pre-order today for £899.99 and £1029.99 respectively.

Read [Play.com] Via [Spymac]

This morning Apple unveiled the new Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro’s. The new MBP’s are up to 39% faster than their predecessor (that’s pretty damn fast), sporting 2.16GHz and 2.33GHz processors. Pricing starts at a cool $1999 for 15-inch 2.16GHz and go all the way up to $2799 for the 17-inch 2.33GHz. If that wasn’t enough Apple went along and upgraded all the ram, that’s right, double the ram across the board. The 2.16GHz machines now ship with 1GB of ram, and both the 2.33GHz models come with a whopping 2GB’s of ram (with support for 3GB). Some of you will be happy to know that Firewire 800 is back on both the 15 and 17 inch models, as well as a 6x Dual-Layer Superdrive.

Read [Apple] Via [TUAW]

Not really sure how we missed this last week but we did…

Apple revamped their entire line of iMacs, upgrading the all-in-one machines to Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Additionally, a new 24-inch iMac joins the 17- and 20-inch family.  The 17” starts at $999 and every model comes with a built-in iSight camera, Front Row media experience and iLife ‘06.

The new iMac lineup includes four models: a 1.83 GHz and a 2.0 GHz 17-inch, a 2.16 GHz 20-inch and the all-new 2.16 GHz 24-inch iMac (1920-by-1200 pixel resolution), and features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor which delivers up to 50 percent faster performance than the previous 20-inch iMac running industry standard benchmarks.

Apple today increased processor speeds on both models of the Mac mini, delivering dual-core performance across the line at no additional cost. The $799 model now includes a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and the $599 model now includes a 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from a 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor.

Read [MacLive]

As always, the rumor mill is just getting started for Apple’s press event to be held on September 12th.  According to ThinkSecret, Apple will use the event to update the iPod nano, iPod with video, and the iMac.  The nano is expected to be updated to larger capacity flash drives, maybe 4GB and 8GB?  This will be the second generation of the player.  The iPod with video is likely to receive an upgrade in capacity as well - prices as always are expected to remain the same.

Finally, the iMac is rumored to be jacked up to a Core 2 Duo, and possibly get a new friend - the 23-inch iMac.  Currently, Apple only makes 17 and 20-inch models for $1,299 and $1,699 respectively.

Read [ThinkSecret]

All of the NDAs expired yesterday as the net filled up with news of Intel’s Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme.  The chip, code-name Conroe, has been talked about for months and is finally here.  Unlike Intel’s Core Duo, the Core 2 Duo contains 4 processors on one chip, and will bring multitasking to a whole new level.  According to Mark Hachman at PC Magazine, AMD remains confident in their own architecture, even though the launch of the Core 2 Duo is strikingly similar to their own.  Wait… I thought AMD was the one that stole from Intel.  For a full writeup, and all the details you can you imagine, check out TechReport.

Via [Gizmodo]
Read [TechReport]