Santa Rosa...Whats the Big Deal?

[freestyleguy128]

I am personally waiting for merom come august-september...but what is this buzz about Santa Rosa and what will it improve on over the Napa platform that the Core 2 Duo's (merom conroe) will be based on. And is it at all worth waiting for (meaning absolute outperformance and putting the merom on the Napa platform to shame)?

 

[kevin.rivers]

Everything new is better. By how much? Nobody knows til it's here. If you want to wait, wait. If not, get on the Meroms before the end of the year.

Santa Rosa improvements:
Improved graphics capabilities: GMA X3000 or dual intergrated
FSB: 800Mhz
More HD support: HDMI, HDCP, UDI, HD-DVD, BDR, etc.
Vista premium capable
Probably Cooler

And probably much more.

 

[Chundles]

Everything new is better. By how much? Nobody knows til it's here. If you want to wait, wait. If not, get on the Meroms before the end of the year.

Santa Rosa improvements:
Improved graphics capabilities: GMA X3000 or dual intergrated
FSB: 800Mhz
More HD support: HDMI, HDCP, UDI, HD-DVD, BDR, etc.
Vista premium capable
Probably Cooler

And probably much more.

I think it supports Intel's "Robson" NAND Flash hard drive caching too.

 

[dmw007]

Everything new is better. By how much? Nobody knows til it's here. If you want to wait, wait. If not, get on the Meroms before the end of the year.

Santa Rosa improvements:
Improved graphics capabilities: GMA X3000 or dual intergrated
FSB: 800Mhz
More HD support: HDMI, HDCP, UDI, HD-DVD, BDR, etc.
Vista premium capable
Probably Cooler

And probably much more.

All very nice things (except for integrated graphics- yuck)!

 

[Eidorian]

All very nice things (except for integrated graphics- yuck)!

The X3000 isn't that bad actually. It competes rather well with the budget X1xxx and 6xxx series cards.

 

[dmw007]

The X3000 isn't that bad actually. It competes rather well with the budget X1xxx and 6xxx series cards.

You have a point Eidorian- the X3000 is a big step up over the current line-up of onboard graphics. But I still am weary of buying a computer without a dedicated graphics card.

 

[Eidorian]

You have a point Eidorian- the X3000 is a big step up over the current line-up of onboard graphics. But I still am weary of buying a computer without a dedicated graphics card.

Agreed, just making sure the peoples know.

 

[Demon Hunter]

Santa Rosa will have 802.11n, yes?

 

[generik]

Santa Rosa will have 802.11n, yes?

That too? Wow...

 

[Bill Gates]

Santa Rosa will have 802.11n, yes?

Yes. It's a nice step up from what is currently on the market. I wouldn't call it revolutionary, but it's certainly better. Like the OP, I'm more interested in the Merom since I need a computer by late August/September.

 

[cb31]

For me it is the 802.11n and the Robson cache. Having some data stored in fast nand flash to speed things up and reduce power is a winner in a laptop, especially if they can get the instant on working well.

It should dovetail nicely with Leopard which will be great.

 

[dmw007]

For me it is the 802.11n and the Robson cache. Having some data stored in fast nand flash to speed things up and reduce power is a winner in a laptop, especially if they can get the instant on working well.

It should dovetail nicely with Leopard which will be great.

I agree, the Robson cache will be a nice feature cb31.

 

[Silentwave]

but will it have 802.11n final version? it didn't pass this past time so it isn't slated to be ratified until after SR ships if i remember my dates correctly?

 

[Mac Rules]

Well, I was kind of waiting fo rthe Merom processors, but I don't neccessarily need a Macbook Pro jsut yet, I can wait untill next year, at least then i can save more....

But I'm not too sure about integrated graphics, or is that how it is now? Because, I had an integrated chipset on a Samsung laptop before which was pathetic.... Maybe Apple could put 256Mb as standard...

Lastly, if this were to come out, when do you think it might, becuase if it comes out say next April, and the WWDC is in August, whats the point...

HELP ME DECIDE?!?!?

Cheers

 

[Mac Rules]

Bump

 

[Mac Rules]

C'mon people, if you oculd just exlpain what exactly it is?

Cheers

 

[Zman5225]

I did a few googles for intel roadmaps on the Santa Rosa chip, and there is no release date yet, but expecting ship dates of h1 2007 or early 2007 according to a few different sites.

That chip, wireless N standard, Leopard, and iLife 07 are what i'm waiting on for my next mac purchase.

 

[tim2006]

something better will always come out. a few years ago I purchased a g4 imac and returned it for a g5 after I heard the g5s were announced. they are both outdated now. would not matter which i had now as long as it meets your power needs who cares.

 

[BWhaler]

I'm more interested in the Merom since I need a computer by late August/September.

Me too. I figure I will upgrade with Merom.

For me, it's not because I need to, but just that I want to, and I appreciate the speed (but again, my 1.67 PB17 is fast enough.)

I know the practical thing for me is to wait for Santa Rosa and for Apple to work out all of the quality problems. I suspect by the time Santa Rosa comes out with Leopard, there will be material improvements to the laptop (battery life, instant on, etc.)

But screw it. I'm not that patient or practical. I waited out the rev a mainly because of the horrific quality issues, but once Merom is out, as long as Apple fixes the quality issues, I'll upgrade.

 

[kevin.rivers]

C'mon people, if you oculd just exlpain what exactly it is?

Cheers

It is a chipset...

 

[HardLine]

It is a chipset...

incorrect, it's a platform

Information:

Santa Rosa is expected to include a more powerful mobile microprocessor, an improved graphics chipset, codenamed Crestline, an IEEE* 802.11n Wi–Fi adapter, codenamed Kedron, as well as Intel–optimized advanced management and security solutions. The platform will also include Intel’s NAND flash–based platform accelerator, codenamed Robson, which enables much more rapid boot–up time and power savings. Santa Rosa, available in the first half of 2007, will use Intel’s next–generation dual–core mobile microprocessor based on Intel’s Core™ microarchitecture, codenamed Merom, Intel’s new foundation for delivering even greater energy–efficient performance. An initial version of Merom will also be available for the current Intel Centrino Duo platform to align with the 2006 holiday buying cycle and will be socket or pin–compatible with the current version of Intel® Core™ Duo processors.

Source: http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060307corp_b.htm

Moral of the story?

1. http://www.google.com
2. intel santa rosa
3. 3rd freaking link