Core i7 laptops roundup

By Darius Chang
Oct 06, 2009

To the average consumer, the new Core i7 chip does not seem all that impressive. After all, the chip's clockspeed doesn't break any speed records. However, delve deeper into its specifications and capabilities and one realizes why Intel felt these new processors deserve a new name and logo.

The memory controller is (finally) integrated into the processor, which reduces latency.

Intel Turbo Boost Technology brings auto overclocking to the portable platform.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology doubles the processing thread for each core, which effectively makes a dual-core chip behave as a quad-core processor.

Core i7 supports Intel Extreme Memory Profiles and Intel Extreme Tuning Utility applications, which tune the settings for optimum performance or battery life.

The first wave of Core i7 processors will be found mainly in desktop replacements and midsized laptops. Here's a rundown on some announced models sporting Intel's latest mobile processor.

New products

Model name	In a nutshell
Alienware M15x (Click for more info)	Wow factor: One of the most powerful gaming portables in the market, watch out for the monstrous size and price tag. Notable features: Core i7-920XM 2.0GHz processor 8GB RAM 1GB Nvidia GeForce 260M GTX graphics 15.6-inch display Blu-ray drive Expected: Available now Price: Starts at S$2,799 (US$2,060.77)
Asus M60J (Click for more info)	Wow factor: An entertainment-centric desktop replacement with high-end graphics and a discrete numeric pad. Notable features: Core i7-820QM 1.73GHz processor 4GB RAM 1GB Nvidia GeForce 240M GT graphics 16-inch display Blu-ray drive Expected: End October 2009 Price: Starts at US$2,300
Dell Studio 15 (Click for more info)	Wow factor: An affordable midsized multimedia unit with high-end options such as Blu-ray and full-HD display. Notable features: Core i7-920XM 2.0GHz processor 8GB RAM 1GB Nvidia GeForce 260M GTX graphics 15.6-inch display Blu-ray drive Expected: Available now Price: Starts at S$2,099 (US$1,545.39)
Dell Studio 17 (Click for more info)	Wow factor: The Studio 17 is much lighter and sleeker than the high-end XPS series, while retaining competent multimedia features and high-end graphics performance. Notable features: Core i7-920XM 2.0GHz processor 8GB RAM 1GB Nvidia GeForce 260M GTX graphics 17-inch display Blu-ray drive Expected: Available in selected Asia markets Price: Starts at US$1,099
Dell Studio XPS 16 (Click for more info)	Wow factor: The Dell Studio XPS 16 adds upscale extras such as leather trim and a backlit keyboard to a fairly standard set of components. Notable features: Core i7-920XM 2.0GHz processor 8GB RAM 1GB Nvidia GeForce 260M GTX graphics 15.6-inch display Blu-ray drive Expected: Available now Price: Starts at S$2,779 (US$2,046.05)
HP Envy 15 (Click for more info)	Wow factor: A premium notebook with a sleek metal body and trackpad that doubles as a mouse button just like Apple MacBooks. Though to maintain its sleek profile, the optical drive is relegated to an external peripheral. Notable features: Intel Core i7 processor 15.6-inch display 2GB RAM 160GB HDD ATI Mobility Radeon HD4830 graphics Windows 7 2.35kg Expected: End October 2009 Price: Starts at S$1,899 (US$1,398.14)
Toshiba Qosmio X505 (Click for larger image)	Wow factor: An upgrade to Toshiba's gaming platform, this fire-engine red portable sports a Blu-ray drive (a first for the Japanese maker) and a backlit keyboard. Notable features: Core i7-720QM 1.6GHz processor 6GB RAM Nvidia GeForce 250M graphics 18.4-inch display Blu-ray drive Backlit keyboard Windows 7 Ultimate Expected: End October 2009 Price: To be announced