New MacBook “Revision D” "Santa Rosa" Has Some Attractive Enhancements, But....
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
by Charles W. Moore New MacBook “Revision D” "Santa Rosa" Has Some Attractive Enhancements, But....
A week ago Apple released a “Revision D” 13-inch MacBook, upgraded with the Intel Santa Rosa CPUs that the MacBook Pro’s have had since last June. In terms of nominal clock speed, there’s no increase on the base, 2.0 GHz model, and only a slight one with the high-end machine from 2.16 GHz to 2.2 GHz (3%). However, clock speed is a poor denominator in terms of comparing actual performance, and Santa Rosa GHz are more potent than the previous Core 2 Duo iteration’s GHz, and while overall performance with the 2.2 GHz unit is only improved by about five percent over the previous model, some sub-categories, like memory performance and stream performance are up by a bit less than 15% and 25% respectively according to benchmarks posted this week by Primate Labs Blog,
However, this modest refreshment is more than just a modest speed bump, and some of the other enhancements are arguably more exciting than the Santa Rosa chips.
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High on the list is a video support upgrade to the Intel GMA X3100 integrated video chip with 144 MB of graphics allocation, replacing the previous GMA 950 unit with an 80 MB package of RAM annexed. Disparaged by some as ‘vampire video,” the Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) is an integrated graphics solution that provides for a computer to be built without a separate conventional graphics processor unit, which lowers the overall cost with a side benefit of lower power consumption
The GMA X3100 is the mobile version of the GMA X3000, and annexes a portion of the computer’s system main memory rather than having its own, dedicated VRAM. This modality results in a performance penalty as both the CPU and GPU have to access memory over the same bus. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard has drivers for the GMA X3100, which are used in the latest revision of the MacBook range
Rounding out performance tweaks, the MacBook now supports up to 4GB RAM, double the 2GB ceiling in the previous models, which will help with addressing the greater amount of system RAM being diverted to the GMA X3100, and the frontside bus has been upgraded to 800MHz from 667MHz, which is nice, but unlikely to result in much difference in performance since the the RAM is still running at the same speed as before. Standard RAM (1 GB), hard drive and SuperDrive options haven’t changed, with a 250 GHz HD a BTO option The new MacBooks ship with OS 10.5 Leopard installed, so folks who aren’t keen on being early adopters for the new OS might want to consider picking up a remaindered or refurbished unit of the previous model.
Indeed, the ability to run OS 10.4 Tiger for a while yet as the bugs get worked out of Leopard is an important consideration, as is the fact that Leopard does not support MAc OS Classic Mode. I’m not 100 percent sure, but if past conventions hold, these new MacBooks will presumably not be able to run older versions of the Mac OS than the one they shipped with, so Tiger is probably not supported by these new ‘uns.
The processor chip upgrade moves the MacBook closer to the MacBook Pro line although notwithstanding the graphics support upgrade in the new MacBooks, the MacBook Pro’s real Graphics Processor Unit with dedicated VRAM still gives it a substantial edge, especially for graphics, video, and gaming performance.
A new Apple Knowledge Base article says there are a couple of key, visual differences in the new MacBooks.
The keyboard has new media control keys across the function key row:
Function Key Features:
F1, F2 Decrease or increase the display brightness
F3 Exposé allows quick access to all open windows
F4 Dashboard allows access to widgets
F5, F6 Programmable keys
F7—F9 Media controls for rewind, play, or fast forward
F10 Mute the sound coming from the speakers or headphone port
F11, F12 Decrease or increase volume from speakers or headphone port
The rear vent spacing has also been reconfigured, with the “MacBook 13-inch Late 2007” having much wider spacing between the vent fins than the previous MacBook models, which will improve cooling performance, so with the more efficient Santa Rosa processors, the Revision D MacBooks should logically be the coolest-running MacBook iteration yet.
The time is approaching when I’m beginning to seriously think about finally upgrading to MacIntel, and the MacBook is definitely a strong candidate. On spec., it’s stronger than ever with this new revision, except for the fore-noted matter of (presumably) not being able to run OS 10.4 Tiger. My apprehensions may not be well-grounded, but I haven’t been successful in determining whether these new machines will boot from Tiger or not, and I would like to have that matter clarified before making a decision on whether to buy one or not.
Tiger is now a mature and refines operating system, but I wasn’t really happy with it until about the OS 10.4.4 update, and it finally came into its own at 10.4.6. I expect that Leopard will also be a bit ragged in the early going, probably more than Tiger was since 10.5 is a bigger departure from 10.4 than the latter was from 10.3. Tiger bootability would be nice to have for a while yet, as my standard practice is to partition my hard drive and keep two separate operating systems installed, and I would prefer that one of these be Tiger for a while yet.
The doubling of the RAM ceiling to 4 GB is nice to have available, but I wonder how many MacBook users will actually ever install more than the 2 GB that the previous models supported. I would assume that anyone who really needed 4 GB of RAM would be buying a MacBook Pro anyway.
However, the improvements with this revision are mildly compelling, especially in my estimation the likelihood of significantly lower running temperatures. The thing I like least about my current G4 PowerBook is the frequency of cooling fan cycling, so anything that can help keep the noise down is big in my estimation.
One point that might be significant for the future is that according to TUAW’s Christina Warren, the most beneficial aspect of having Santa Rosa branding is that the socket-type on the motherboard is Socket P, which is what Intel’s forthcoming Penryn mobile CPU will use. That, at least theoretically, makes processor upgrades potentially possible, although not necessarily likely.
The revised MacBook model lineup includes:
2.0GHz 13-inch MacBook (white)
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
80GB hard drive
Intel GMA X3100 w/ 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM
Combo drive
$1,099.00
2.2GHz 13-inch MacBook (white)
2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
120GB hard drive
Intel GMA X3100 w/ 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM
Double-layer SuperDrive
$1,299.00
2.2GHz 13-inch MacBook (black)
2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
160GB hard drive
Intel GMA X3100 w/ 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM
Double-layer SuperDrive
$1,499.00
MacBook November 2007 Technical Specifications
Processor and memory
2.0GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
4MB shared L2 cache running at full processor speed
800MHz frontside bus
1GB (two 512MB SO-DIMMs) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB
Storage
80GB, 120GB, or 160GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive; optional 120GB, 160GB, or 250GB 5400-rpm drive1
One of the following optical drives:
24x slot-loading Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Reads DVDs at up to 8x speed
Writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed
Writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed
Reads CDs at up to 24x speed
8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Maximum write: 8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
Maximum read: 8x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, and DVD+RW; 24x CD
Battery and power
55-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 6 hours of battery life2
60W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
MagSafe power adapter port
Display
13.3-inch (diagonal) glossy widescreen TFT display with support for millions of colors
Supported resolutions: 1280 by 800 (native), 1152 by 720, 1024 by 768, 1024 by 640, 800 by 600, 800 by 500, 720 by 480, and 640 by 480 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio
Graphics and video support
Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory3
Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
Built-in iSight camera
Mini-DVI port
DVI output using mini-DVI to DVI adapter (sold separately)
VGA output using mini-DVI to VGA adapter (sold separately)
Composite and S-video output using mini-DVI to video adapter (sold separately)
Communications
Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (based on IEEE 802.11n draft specification)4
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
Optional external Apple USB Modem
Audio
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in omnidirectional microphone
Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
Peripheral connections
One FireWire 400 port (up to 400 Mbps)
Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
Electrical and environmental requirements
Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
Line voltage: 100-240V AC
Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz
Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
Storage temperature: -13° to 113° F (-24° to 45° C)
Relative humidity: 0% to 90% noncondensing
Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet
Maximum storage altitude: 15,000 feet
Maximum shipping altitude: 35,000 feet
Size and weight
Height: 1.08 inches (2.75 cm)
Width: 12.78 inches (32.5 cm)
Depth: 8.92 inches (22.7 cm)
Weight: 5.0 pounds (2.27 kg)
Software
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
iLife ’08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand), Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive, iWork ’08 (30-day trial)
Input
Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
Solid-state scrolling trackpad for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
Apple Remote
Security
Kensington cable lock slot
Options
Configure to order
120GB (5400 rpm) hard drive
160GB (5400 rpm) hard drive
250GB (5400 rpm) hard drive
Up to 4GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Apple USB Modem (MA034Z/A)
Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (M9321G/B)
Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter (M9320G/A)
Aperture (MA715Z/A)
Final Cut Express (MA261Z/A)
Logic Express (MA806LL/A)
iWork ’08 (MA790Z/A)
Accessories
AirPort Extreme Base Station (MA053LL/A)
AirPort Express Base Station (M9470LL/A)
MagSafe Airline Adapter (MA598Z/A)
Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter (M9319G/A)
AppleCare Protection Plan (MA519LL/A)
.Mac Subscription (MA927Z/A)
Apple Wireless Keyboard (MB167LL/A)
Apple Keyboard (MB110LL/A)
1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.
Battery life depends on configuration and use.
Memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 144MB. An additional 16MB is required when using an external display.
Wireless Internet access requires a base station or other wireless access point and Internet access (fees may apply). Some ISPs are not currently compatible with AirPort.
For more information, visit apple.com or the Apple online store.
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