32nm production?

[sir. mac]

I thought about upgrading for the 27" iMac, but I decided to hold out waiting for the final word on HDMI-in support. Also I read that Intel will start 32nm production of the i5/i7 sometime soon. Given Apple´s history with "silent upgrades", how soon is it likely that they will start using these new 32nm babies? I would hope that summer 2010 is guaranteed.

Would like to know if patience will be certain virtue

 

[AnimaLeo]

Sorry for my ignorance. I'm trying to learn about computers. What does 32nm mean?

 

[J&JPolangin]

Sorry for my ignorance. I'm trying to learn about computers. What does 32nm mean?

...its the size of the "die shrink" the current CPU's are based on 45nm tech so the smaller size should be more powerful with lower power/thermal requirements...

 

[AnimaLeo]

ah ok. I understand why it would consume less power. How will it make them faster? Will they be able to clock faster because of their physical speed?

 

[Hellhammer]

Arrandale and Clarkdale are in production but they are both dual-core CPUs so performance is worse than in quad-core. Lynnfield and Clarksfield may go 32nm in mid 2010 but that's unclear. We won't see new update until Q2 '10 at the earliest but I prefer to June-August update, so no 32nm before that in iMacs.

 

[Hellhammer]

ah ok. I understand why it would consume less power. How will it make them faster? Will they be able to clock faster because of their physical speed?

I don't know why but I guess it's because they have more transistors but I do know that 32nm will give ~10-15% better performance for same clock speed

 

[sir. mac]

Arrandale and Clarkdale are in production but they are both dual-core CPUs so performance is worse than in quad-core. Lynnfield and Clarksfield may go 32nm in mid 2010 but that's unclear. We won't see new update until Q2 '10 at the earliest but I prefer to June-August update, so no 32nm before that in iMacs.

Thanks for clearing that up. I guess when Intel starts pumping out 32nm Lynnfield and Clarksfield it´s pretty certain that Apple have to start using them, unless they are hoarding an enormous amount of 45nm CPU´s, which I doubt.

 

[Hellhammer]

Thanks for clearing that up. I guess when Intel starts pumping out 32nm Lynnfield and Clarksfield it´s pretty certain that Apple have to start using them, unless they are hoarding an enormous amount of 45nm CPU´s, which I doubt.

As far as I know, Intel in concentrating on 32nm so there isn't coming any new 45nm CPUs, maybe new variants of course but they won't change anything.

 

[C64]

Aren't they going to be quite a bit more expensive when they first come out? Maybe they'll wait another Q before including those chips because of that, which will make it Q3-Q4 in 2010. You're always buying relatively old stuff, since the next generation is right around the corner. Going with the fairly new i5 or i7 now is a pretty safe bet, imho.

 

[Hellhammer]

Aren't they going to be quite a bit more expensive when they first come out? Maybe they'll wait another Q before including those chips because of that, which will make it Q3-Q4 in 2010. You're always buying relatively old stuff, since the next generation is right around the corner. Going with the fairly new i5 or i7 now a pretty safe bet, imho.

Actually, they'll be cheap. Clarkdales are from 87$ to 284$ and Arrandales are from 225$ to 332$ so pretty cheap IMO. Gulftown which will be used in Mac Pro is going to be expensive though

 

[Umbongo]

32nm is the size of the transistors. The size reduction means less heat, more transistors in the same space and faster switching transistors. All contribute to faster clock for clock performance over a processor based on larger transistors as well as being able to run faster with the same power/thermal dynamics.

Intel say at least 22% clock for clock over 45nm Nehalems.