The PC Perspective Podcast is your weekly stop for the latest PC tech news and reviews! Give it a listen!

Summary

The following is a summary of the more detailed inspection of Intel's latest sampling of the mobile Core 2 Duo CPU. For all the in-depth analysis and testing you'd expect from us, be sure to click this link to get all the details!

Click this link to get the full article

Summary follows...

A month ago we showed you exclusive testing results (here) of the new Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 “Merom� CPU . While those initial results showed good improvements in floating point operation, a quick test revealed that battery life (here) showed that our testing platform was still not ready for prime time as the T7400 should have battery performance by design.

The Core 2 Duo T7600 we are looking at today is a production sample (read: very likely the same quality and performance you will get at a retailer) clocked at 2.33 GHz, slightly faster than the 2.16 GHz on the T7400 sample we tested a month ago. And what a difference a month makes! Intel has made the improvements where it counts -- lower power consumption which translates into better battery life!

With the NDA expiring today, we’re finally able to release details on the Core 2 Duo mobile product line along with the initial MSRP. Also being announced today are three other mobile CPUs which we previously had no information on  The following table summarizes the line-up.

Core 2 Duo Product Line
Model	Frequency	MSRP
T7600	2.33 GHz	$637
T7400	2.16 GHz	$432
T7200	2.00 GHz	$294
T5600	1.83 GHz	$241
T5500	1.66 GHz	$209

At the top end, you have the T7600 at 2.33 GHz for $637 which we are examining today. Below that is the T7400 which we’ve looked at earlier and included in today's tests. The “bang for the buck� CPU without sacrificing performance will be the T7200 and the T5600 processors. The T5500 will fit budget system builders and consumers.

Let's take a look at some performance numbers...

Intel has done it! While in our early look at the T7400 showed rather poor battery performance the T7600 we have tested today, which is heading into production, has made drastic improvements. We can now say without a doubt that Intel's latest mobile CPU has nailed the holy grail in mobile computing - it performs faster, consumes less power, and generates less heat. What else is there to say besides that?

Now with power and heat issues all sorted out, there's no reason why you shouldn't consider the Core 2 Duo in your next laptop. With price points as low as $209 for the T5500 up to the T7600 at $637, there’s a Core 2 Duo mobile CPU to suit all budgets and designs. It really looks like Intel has another hit CPU on their hands and with all the design innovations from laptop vendors, it's hard not to be a little excited when looking forward. It's definitely a good time to be looking into a notebook computer and Intel has given us many reasons to with their Core 2 Duo CPUs!

So in the end, we're giving this CPU an Editor's Choice Award. The latest Core 2 Duo mobile CPU is cooler, faster, and runs longer than the older Core Duo. Not only that, it has technology improvements under the hood like a larger level 2 cache (4MB) and 64-bit extensions to support 64-bit OSes like the upcoming Windows Vista. If you've had reservations before about getting a laptop, the Core 2 Duo should have you convinced. Intel's track record in this arena is strong, and their latest CPU just solidifies their lead.

Please DIGG to share this article!

• Asus W7J 13.3 inch Portable Core Duo Notebook Review
• Core 2 Duo T7400 Running on a Dell XPS M1710
• Dell XPS M1710 Metallic Black 17-inch Notebook Review
• Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 and E6700 Review - Conroe is Here
• Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 Mobile: Merom at long last!

 

Click here for the Detailed Review