It’s basic frequency is low, a 4×2.0Ghz, but on mono-threaded application it may go over 1×3.0Ghz to speed-ud execution up to 50%!

How does it compare with 3.06Ghz Core 2 Duo with it’s static 3.06Ghz frequency but only 2 cores and so 2 threads?

PCMark Vantage : +17%

MainConcept Video Encoding: +86% (ouch!)

iTunes : identical performance (mono-threaded application)

Lame MP3 : +43%

WinZIP : identical performance (mono-threaded application)

Left4Dead game : -5% (Core i7 is no good for games!)

The pattern is, that this CPU is on a par with actual Core2 Duo performances on mono-threaded applications, but a real forward leap on multithreaded applications, and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will have more and more multithreaded applications using OpenCL or Grand Central technologies!

The drawback is that this CPU consume much more power than the actual Core2 Duo Mobile used in MacBook Pro and iMac lineup, +57% energy consumption, that may disable it’s integration even on MacBook Pro 17″. Worse the 45W versions is 10% slower than actual Core2 Duo on mono-threaded applications while consuming +29% power!

Probably good for desktop replacement weightlifter, but not for MacBook Pro users!