MacBook Early 2008

MacBook Early 2008

MacBook

Discontinued
Released: February 26, 2008Discontinued on: October 14, 2008
United States: 1499Japan: 179800

Overview

The Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13-Inch (Black - Early 2008/Penryn) is powered by a 45 nm "Penryn" 2.4 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (T8300), which has two independent "cores" on a single silicon chip. It is equipped with a 3 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache, an 800 MHz frontside bus, and 2 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) installed in pairs (two 1 GB modules). For storage, it includes a 250 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive with "Sudden Motion Sensor" technology and an 8X dual-layer write DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive. The system integrates an Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor that shares 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM with main memory, driving a 13.3" widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display (1280x800 native resolution).


The MacBook "Early 2008 Core 2 Duo/Penryn" series maintains the easily upgradable case design of its predecessors. Its connectivity suite is also consistent, featuring AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a FireWire "400" port, two USB 2.0 ports, optical digital audio in/out, and mini-DVI for external display capabilities.


These "Early 2008 Core 2 Duo/Penryn" models also come with the "scrolling TrackPad", a built-in iSight video camera, the "MagSafe" power connector, a "flush against the bed" keyboard that avoids screen contact, and a "no moving parts" magnetic latch. Similar to its immediate predecessors in the "Late 2007" MacBook series, the keyboard lacks an integrated "numeric keypad". However, unlike previous MacBook systems, the Apple Remote was an optional US$19 purchase rather than a standard inclusion.


Compared to the models they succeeded, the "Early 2008 Core 2 Duo/Penryn" models are driven by modestly faster and more energy-efficient 45 nm "Penryn" processors, in contrast to the 65 nm "Merom" processors in the "Late 2007" series. This comes with the trade-off of a smaller 3 MB level 2 cache (down from 4 MB). Additionally, the "Early 2008 Core 2 Duo/Penryn" models were shipped with larger hard drives and double the default RAM in the 2.4 GHz configurations.

Evaluation

As the top-tier model in the early 2008 lineup, this black MacBook held a special status. It boasted the best performance among the polycarbonate MacBooks, equipped standard with a 2.4 GHz Penryn processor, 2GB of RAM, and a spacious 250GB hard drive. Its sleek black chassis set it apart with a premium feel that fulfilled the desires of many users for something distinctive. In terms of performance, it comfortably handled not only everyday tasks but also more demanding workloads, earning high marks for user satisfaction. This model is considered the culmination of the polycarbonate MacBook era before the transition to the aluminum unibody, and it continues to have a dedicated following.

Product Info

Product Info Table
Model IDMacBook4,1
Apple Model NoA1181 (EMC 2242)
Apple Order NoMB404LL/A
Apple SubfamilyEarly 2008

Price

Price Table
Original Price (US)1499
United States1499
Australia2099
Austria1399
Belgium1399
Brazil4999
Canada1549
China13498
France1399
Germany1399
Hong Kong11700
Ireland1399
Italy1399
Japan179800
Netherlands1399
New Zealand2399
Norway11990
Portugal1399
Singapore2288
Spain1349
Sweden13495
Switzerland2149
Taiwan52900
United Kingdom949

Body

Body Table
Form FactorMacBook
Case TypeNotebook
Dimensions1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 in / 2.74 x 32.46 x 22.66 cm
Avg. Weight5.0 lbs / 2.27 kg

Platform

Platform Table
Processor TypeCore 2 Duo (T8300)
Processor Speed2.4 GHz
Processors1 (2 Cores)
Architecture64-Bit
System Bus Speed800 MHz
Cache Bus Speed2.4 GHz (Built-in)
L1 Cache32k/32k
L2/L3 Cache3 MB (on chip)
FPUIntegrated
ROM/Firmware TypeEFI
EFI Architecture64-Bit
Geekbench 2 (32)3182
Geekbench 2 (64)3557
Geekbench 3 (32)2053
Geekbench 3 (64)2491
Geekbench 4 (SC)1499
Geekbench 4 (MC)2492
Geekbench 5 (SC)321
Geekbench 5 (MC)580

Memory

Memory Table
Standard RAM2 GB
Maximum RAM6 GB
RAM TypePC2-5300 DDR2
Min. RAM Speed667 MHz
RAM Slots2

Storage

Storage Table
Standard Storage250 GB HDD
Std. Storage Speed5400 RPM
Storage InterfaceSerial ATA (1.5 Gb/s)
Storage Dimensions2.5" (9.5 mm)
Standard Optical8X DL "SuperDrive"

Display

Display Table
Built-in Display13.3" Widescreen
Native Resolution1280x800
Video CardIntel GMA X3100
Standard VRAM144 MB
Maximum VRAM144 MB
VRAM TypeIntegrated
2nd Display SupportDual/Mirroring
2nd Max. Resolution1920x1200
Video (Monitor)1 (mini-DVI)
S-Video Output1

Audio

Audio Table
Microphone1 (Internal)
Headphone1
Sound In1
Sound Out1

Wired Connectivity

Wired Connectivity Table
USB Ports2 (2.0)
USB2 (2.0)
Firewire Ports1 (400)
Firewire1 (400)
Ethernet1 (RJ-45)
Standard Ethernet10/100/1000Base-T

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless Connectivity Table
Standard AirPort802.11a/b/g/n
Standard Bluetooth2.0+EDR

Power

Power Table
Battery Type55 W h Li-Poly
Battery Life4.5 Hours
Power Adapter1

Software

Software Table
Pre-Installed MacOSX 10.5.2 (9C2015)
Maximum MacOSX 10.7.5
Windows SupportBoot/Virtualization
Minimum WindowsXP SP2 (32-Bit)
Maximum Windows7 (32-Bit)

Accessories

Accessories Table
Incl. KeyboardFull-size
Incl. InputTrackpad

Upgrades

Upgrades Table
Processor UpgradeSoldered

Compliance

Compliance Table
Security (Lock)1