Correct me if I'm wrong..... (which I probably am)

[NRose8989]

Does the MBA have a Core 2 Duo or a Atom CPU?

I remember when they first introduced the MBA last year (MW08) they had intel come up and show their new super small CPU.

I can't remember nor do I really want to watch last years MacWorld keynote again if it was just intel showing their Atom CPU.

 

[gr8tfly]

It's still Core 2 Duo, Merom, in the small package. I thought it would have been Penryn, but I'm guessing it's still a packaging issue.

 

[stoconnell]

Does the MBA have a Core 2 Duo or a Atom CPU?

I remember when they first introduced the MBA last year (MW08) they had intel come up and show their new super small CPU.

I can't remember nor do I really want to watch last years MacWorld keynote again if it was just intel showing their Atom CPU.

It's a Core 2 Duo. In Rev. B, the CPU has 6MB of L2 cache and in the Rev. A it has 4MB.

system_profiler
Hardware:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Air
Model Identifier: MacBookAir2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 1.86 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 2 GB

 

[aleksandra.]

It's still Core 2 Duo, Merom, in the small package. I thought it would have been Penryn, but I'm guessing it's still a packaging issue.

I thought it was Penryn... can you tell me why do you think / how do you know it is Merom?

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLB66

 

[mhnajjar]

MBA revB has Intel C2D 45nm Penryn processor with 6MB L2 cache.

MBA revA has Intel C2D 65nm Merom processor with 3MB L2 cache.

 

[gr8tfly]

I thought it was Penryn... can you tell me why do you think / how do you know it is Merom?

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLB66

It was mentioned to me by Apple source, but, truly, I didn't check it out myself. I missed the cache size - big clue there...

I will correct my source, though. Thanks!

edit: It's still not "Penryn", however, - it's a "Core 2 Duo 'S'", SL9300 and SL9400

 

[Scottsdale]

MHNAJJAR is correct. But to further clarify.

The original MBA used a 20w Merom CPU which was a 65 NM Process CPU. It required more power and generated more heat than a Penryn. Paired with the Intel graphics, the original MBA experienced widespread problems of overheating, core shutdown, and lockups.

The revision B MBA uses a Low Voltage 17w Penryn SSF 45 NM CPU. It uses less power and generates less heat than the Merom CPU. In addition, it does have 50% more L2 cache than the Merom CPU. When paired with the also improved Nvidia GPU, the revised MBA has been a solid performer not experiencing the common problems of the original MBA.

Last week, Intel introduced the SL9600 which is a Penryn 45 NM SSF 2.13 GHz CPU at 17w, with 6 MB L2 Cache. It would be a nice spec speed bump upgrade for the rev C MBA. Since the rev B MBA has had a lot of success with the Low Voltage Penryn SSF CPU, I fully expect Apple would stick with the same series of CPU in its rev C MBA.

 

[gr8tfly]

the original MBA experienced widespread problems of overheating, core shutdown, and lockups.

So as to not paint quite so glum an outlook on the Rev A MBA - we've never experienced any overheating, shutdown or lockups with ours.

(According to Intel, they aren't using the name "Penryn" - they show the processors as "previously known as Penryn". I guess it's still easier to call them that (to differentiate 65nm vs 45nm process), since they didn't give them any other useable name. Even the T9550 in my UB 17" is listed as such. On the other hand, Apple still thinks they are called that - running the developer System Pref Pane "processor" shows it as "Penryn". A Core 2 Duo by any other name? )

 

[aleksandra.]

So as to not paint quite so glum an outlook on the Rev A MBA - we've never experienced any overheating, shutdown or lockups with ours.

(According to Intel, they aren't using the name "Penryn" - they show the processors as "previously known as Penryn". I guess it's still easier to call them that (to differentiate 65nm vs 45nm process), since they didn't give them any other useable name. Even the T9550 in my UB 17" is listed as such. On the other hand, Apple still thinks they are called that - running the developer System Pref Pane "processor" shows it as "Penryn". A Core 2 Duo by any other name? )

"Previously known as Penryn" means it *is* a Penryn, just that they don't use Penryn codename anymore. Intel doesn't sell Nehalem as "Nehalem" either, it's "Core i7".

To the OP: rev. B Air processor is lower-clocked than MacBook's, but it has twice as much L2 cache (6 vs 3 MB), so it's comparable, performing worse or better depending on the task (probably more often worse, but the differences aren't much either way). It's much, much better than Atom. And most of Air's competitors (like Thinkpad X300) use Atom.

 

[NRose8989]

Thanks for the input!!!

Ya I really wanted to know because I'm in the market for a ultraportable and I'm trying to decide between a MBA or a....... Thinkpad .

To hard to say now but chances are if I'm going to be spending the money, I'll probably end up with the MBA

 

[fr4c]

Thanks for the input!!!

Ya I really wanted to know because I'm in the market for a ultraportable and I'm trying to decide between a MBA or a....... Thinkpad .

To hard to say now but chances are if I'm going to be spending the money, I'll probably end up with the MBA

Check the Refurbs. Some good deals to be had.

 

[NRose8989]

Check the Refurbs. Some good deals to be had.

I know, I stare at them everyday just trying to figure out how I'm going to come up the funds.

I already have a older MBP that I currently use as my portable. Now I can sell it but I really don't like the idea of trading down computing power.

Ugh so many things to want and not enough money. Well thanks everyone for the great info.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Thanks for the input!!!

Ya I really wanted to know because I'm in the market for a ultraportable and I'm trying to decide between a MBA or a....... Thinkpad .

To hard to say now but chances are if I'm going to be spending the money, I'll probably end up with the MBA

Please don't get the Thinkpad. My Dad's co-worker has the X301 and it is horrid. It's so poorly designed compared to the MBA's solid aluminum frame and backlit keys. It looks like a normal-size Thinkpad shrunk using a poor graphics editing program. Everything looks kinda out of place.