ThruIT

Intel sure has been busy these last few months, releasing desktop i5 and i7 processors a few months back and a the new “Pine Trail” netbook platform. Now they’ve dropped new CPU’s onto the market with the i3 CPU and more in the i5 line of processors. All of these processors use Intel’s new 32nm chip die, allowing for lower power requirements and less heat (important for the all-critical mobile market). All of these processors include built in graphics capability, which is attractive to the low-end market and even potentially htpc builders (time will tell and we’ll see how the chip stacks up in terms of crunching 1080p video).

I don’t think I’ve ever had such an enjoyable process configuring a newly built PC then the experience I just had with my new DIY project/sweet awesome toy.

I decided recently that the time was right to take the plunge into Windows 7, a decision brought upon me by the release of the P55 chipset (with new i5/i7’s from Intel) and the release of ATI’s new 5800 series graphics cards (more about that in my earlier post). The mainstream has never looked so good, with the Intel i5 selling for $199 complete with four cores and low power usage. Benchmarks have the i5 besting the quad Core 2 Duo’s and even the Core 2 Extreme in some benchmarks.

Back in October, Apple announced a refresh of some of their product lines. Among them was the bigger, better and powerful-er iMac. The most notable changes were that they now offer a much larger LED-lit display – 21.5″ and 27″ along with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 27″ models also marked a major milestone in iMac history: the first time a desktop-class CPU (in the form of an Intel i5 or i7) was used in an iMac, which historically has been fitted with mobile processors due to their heat output and power consumption. All great news, but when can we get our hands on these piping hot new pieces of computer goodness?