A recent advertising circular for Micro Center showed that they are now selling boxed processors for Intel's Core 2 Quad chip at 2.4 and 2.66GHz.
Given the fact that these are available for retail sale, I find it noteworthy that Apple's only quad-core system is the 8-core Mac Pro (based on Xeons). Given Apple's recent history of putting the latest Core-series chip in the iMac, it seems to me that these Core 2 Quads may soon find themselves in a new iMac model - possibly among the MacWorld announcements, but also possibly a week or so later (which is also not without precedent.)
I think it will be much less likely that these chips will find their way into laptops (for heat/battery reasons) or the mini (for cost reasons), but it sounds like a logical upgrade to the iMac.
I haven't heard any rumors to this effect, but this wouldn't be the first time Apple release products without a rumor.
If a Core 2 Quad iMac ships in January, just remember you heard it here first.
Given the fact that these are available for retail sale, I find it noteworthy that Apple's only quad-core system is the 8-core Mac Pro (based on Xeons). Given Apple's recent history of putting the latest Core-series chip in the iMac, it seems to me that these Core 2 Quads may soon find themselves in a new iMac model - possibly among the MacWorld announcements, but also possibly a week or so later (which is also not without precedent.)
I think it will be much less likely that these chips will find their way into laptops (for heat/battery reasons) or the mini (for cost reasons), but it sounds like a logical upgrade to the iMac.
I haven't heard any rumors to this effect, but this wouldn't be the first time Apple release products without a rumor.
If a Core 2 Quad iMac ships in January, just remember you heard it here first
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