Mac users have take heed hatful about the newfangled iMacs and MacBook Pro that commemorate Apple ’s first releases to turn tail on buffalo chip from Intel . But what about Core Duo , the processor inside these new systems ?

Here ’s a few warm facts about the Core Duo . It ’s one coolheaded client . It talks to software super - chop-chop . Its pattern leaves plenty of room to grow . And for those of you who dream of a supersonic Mac , some analyst predict Intel will jump from the two processor core you see in Core Duo to four - core processors by 2008 .

Keep your cool

The Intel - free-base iMacs use 1.83 GHz and 2GHz versions of Core Duo , a bit project specifically for notebooks and small form - element desktops .

liken to the PowerPC buffalo chip in the most recent iMacs and notebook , Core Duo ’s key strength is its ability to keep its nerveless while throwing more computer science baron at software package . In Core Duo , Intel essentially combine two Pentium M chip cores into one physical package . ( Intel built Pentium M from the land up for mobile machine , with abject powerfulness consumption as a priority . )

As Mac users know , double - processor PowerPC desktops need particular cooling system systems , since the two chips generate so much heating system . And Apple never has been able to make the G5 poker chip work in a notebook computer , because that CPU runs so hot .

Faster system double-decker

Core Duo gives Apple users the power of two speedy CPU , which will be of special help when your machine multitasks . For example , the system can befuddle the smartness of one CPU at a background task like backup , and shake off the other CPU at a demanding app like TV - playback . But just as notably , Core Duo pitch a much faster organisation bus compared to former PowerPC splintering . Core Duo ’s system bus — the main road for software requests traveling to and from the CPU — run at 667 megacycle per second , while the G4 ’s runs at 167 MHz .

The new iMacs conflate this much - improved jitney with faster graphics and hard drive applied science equate to old iMacs — making “ the whole experience observably quicker and more responsive , ” says Kevin Krewell , editor - in - gaffer of In - Stat ’s Microprocessor Report .

The MacBook Pro laptop will use 1.67GHz and 1.83GHz versions of the Core Duo . These potato chip take Apple notebook to a new amphetamine lane , while ensuring room for preserve excogitation initiation , due to low power requisite .

Core Duo provide roughly five times as much performance per watt of exponent phthisis as the G4 or G5 cow dung , Apple ’s Steve Jobs told Macworld Expo attendees before this week .

One Core Duo performance “ gotcha ” lingers , temporarily : Since Intel ’s instruction set differs from PowerPC ’s , software trafficker must free revamped applications before users will see maximum speeding from the apps .

Some vendor are working on “ universal ” software package version contrive to run at apex velocity with either PowerPC or Intel chips , Jobs say . old software will be given , using the Rosetta emulation technology , but you wo n’t see peak reactivity under Rosetta . ( Macworld ’s previous FAQ about the Intel transition discusses this issue in further detail . )

Revamped versions of Apple ’s operate system and its new iLife and iWork computer software are quick now . As for your other favourite apps , you ’ll have to wait and see : Apple is transition to Intel faster than expected , so software manufacturer may also hop to it .

come before long : a hand-held Mac ?

Looking forrader , Core Duo has plenty of room to rise , In - Stat ’s Krewell says . “ Core Duo can go both higher and lower world power , ” he mention . That mean Intel can crank up up the baron if necessary to crank up the hurrying , or lower the power for especial instance figure .

What does this mean for iMac fan ? “ You could see a hand-held Mac a mates of years in the future , ” Krewell says , “ something large than a PDA , but humble than a notebook . No one has been successful with such a twist , but that is not to say that Apple could n’t do a sound job . ”

Up next , Intel ’s “ Merom ” chip , coming in the 2nd half of 2006 , builds on Core Duo ’s excogitation but adds enhancement including keep for 64 - bit computing .

Intel wo n’t stop with putting two cores on one chip . “ Intel will likely go to quad - pith processors no subsequently than 2008 , ” Krewell predicts . opine what an iMac could do with that .