Intel’s New i3/i5 Chip Families

Code named Westmere, the Core i3 and Core i5 6xx processors are built on top of Intel’s Nehalem architecture. Westmere’s built on the newest 32nm manufacturer process with the expected result in lower power consumption and this is indeed true. Also built into the new chip are SSE instructions aimed at accelerating encryption and decryption with the AES algorithm, a benefit for those that use data and drive encryption to protect their mobile systems.

Both chips support hyper-threading, the Core i3 processor does not support Turbo Boost which means that they do not automatically clock themselves higher when the workloads allow it. The low-end Core i5 processors can only overclock themselves by a maximum of 266Mhz with their Turbo functionality so this is not as big a difference as you might have thought at first.

The most exciting new addition to these processors though is the addition of an integrated graphics processor on the same die is the CPU.  They are still separate entities, but they are kept on the same piece of hardware. 

In summary, what this really means is that the Core i3 is the processor of choice if you're on a budget. It only loses Turbo Boost, which in the low-end Core i5 processors is not an impressive feature. The Core i5 processors are faster, however, so if you're not constrained by budget they are also a good choice.

If you are into numbers… Michael J. Miller from PCMAG.COM compared two units from Lenovo, one an i3-330 2.13GHz Core against a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo T6600. The prices are very similar so this was a great place to start. In the graph below the lower the number the better. The dramatic differences were seen when using graphics applications and applications that could make good use of hyper-threading.

Quick overview of the AutoStitch Program

I need to apologize for the resolution of the video but it will give you an idea of how to run through the stitching of your iPhone pictures. I am still working on coming up with a good video capture routine for the times that I want to capture things I am doing with my hands in close quarters. I had hoped that the Flip had better macro focus then it does. It could have been a problem with light levels as well. I’ll keep playing and we will see what happens. I wanted the HD capabilities of the Flip but if I need to drop back to my Canon then I will. We have some new Canon Video Cameras at the store that I will probably try out as well. Again. it is the macro capability that I need to work with.

 

The completed image is shown below:

AutoStitch on your iPhone

I threw this image up on our family site and I thought once I started looking at it that this application might be of general interest to those who happen to have an iPhone and also enjoy using your iPhone to capture special events.  I find myself at times, being in a situation that presents an image of something I would like to share that is panoramic and nature.  If I were to take only one shot it would not capture the total experience that I am viewing.  Here is a great example of a scene that if I had taken just one image would not have portrayed what I was seeing.  There are not a lot of controls that you can use when taking a picture with your iPhone. With this tool in your bag you can take multiple images and then stitch them back together as a single image. AutoStitch is the application I use to accomplish this on my iPhone.  The image below is made up of 31 separate pictures.  I missed a few snaps in the lower left but the rest of the images  turned out really well.  So, if you have an iPhone and you find yourself in a situation where you want to be able to capture a panoramic view, think about downloading this application. It’s a whopping $2.99 to buy and I think it is well worth it.