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Intel's Broadwell Chips for Most Macs Not Shipping Until Early to Mid 2015

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Apr 12, 2001
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Intel's line of 14-nanometer Broadwell chips, which are expected to be included in future versions of the MacBook Air, Retina MacBook Pro, and iMac, have been further delayed, reports Chinese site VR Zone [Google Translate] (via CPU World).

According to the site, while Intel will begin production on its extremely low power Core M processors in July and August for a 2014 launch, production on the U and H Broadwell chip series will not begin until much later in the year.

As a result, the Broadwell U 2+3 dual-core chips with GT3 (HD 5000 or Iris) graphics, likely slated for use in the MacBook Air and the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, won't be ready to ship until February of 2015. The Broadwell H 4+3e quad-core chips with Iris Pro graphics designed for the larger Retina MacBook Pro and iMac won't be shipping until July 2015 at the earliest.

broadwell-delay.jpg

Back in May, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich promised Broadwell processors for the 2014 holiday season, but it appears that the promised chips will be limited to the company's Core M processor series, used in ultra low power products like two-in-one computers. Broadwell chips suitable for Apple products will not make their first appearance until 2015, which Intel essentially confirmed to CNET in June.
"We expect the initial Broadwell-based devices, including fanless 2-in-1s built on the Core M processor, will be on shelves by the end of this year with more products and broader OEM availability in 2015," Intel told CNET on Wednesday.
Click to expand...
Intel's Broadwell chips have seen several delays over the course of 2013 and 2014, and were originally slated to enter production in late 2013 before production was delayed until Q1 2014 and then Q3 2014. The delays are reportedly due to problems with the 14-nanometer process used to manufacture the chips.

Intel's continual Broadwell delays are likely impacting Apple's own release plans. Rumors have suggested Apple is planning a fall launch of a refreshed Retina MacBook Pro and a new 12-inch MacBook Air, but it is unclear which chips the company will use. Apple may only be able to offer a minor Haswell processor boost for the Retina MacBook Pro, which will be the only update the line sees until Broadwell is ready. Apple has already given the MacBook Air a Haswell refresh bump alongside a price drop with an update in late April.

On the desktop side, Apple introduced a new low-end iMac last month, but otherwise the lineup has not been updated since last September. The Mac mini has not even been updated to Haswell yet, with its last revision coming in October 2012. It is unknown why Apple has not released updated Mac mini models, as appropriate Haswell chips are readily available.

Intel's Broadwell chips are said to be 30 percent faster and more power efficient than Haswell, offering even greater increases in battery life and performance. According to Intel, the Broadwell delays will not affect the company's next line of processors, Skylake, as the chips are based on new architecture. Broadwell, however, will have a very short lifespan as Skylake has a prospective late 2015 release date.

Article Link: Intel's Broadwell Chips for Most Macs Not Shipping Until Early to Mid 2015
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/07/09/broadwell-early-to-mid-2015/
Last edited:
joshwenke

joshwenke

Suspended
Mar 26, 2011
302
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Are you telling me we have to wait LONGER for all this cool new stuff that we've been hearing about? :(
 
T

thebrobrah

macrumors regular
Jun 13, 2013
118
3
;S...


damn..wanted to replace my air with a pro..

still will, but a lot later than anticipated
 
S

Sunday Ironfoot

macrumors regular
Apr 14, 2011
213
383
Looks like I won't be upgrading my iMac w/ retina display until next year. Oh well, saves me a bit of money in the mean time :cool:
 
S

SpamJunkie

macrumors regular
Jun 3, 2003
172
52
Does this mean no new retina macbooks this year?

If that's the case, I might as well buy right now. Worth updating the buyer's guide?
 
S

strwrsfrk

macrumors regular
Mar 1, 2011
245
15
Arlington, VA, USA
Disappointing

That is certainly a bummer, particularly if the speculation is correct and the 13" rMBP line is still limited to dual-core chips this generation.
 
P

philipk

macrumors 6502
Jun 11, 2008
438
190
This is good news for me. Even though MacRumors lists the iMac as a caution purchase, I just ordered a 27" on Monday.

I couldn't wait as I needed it now.

Now it may not be superseded in 2 months. :)
 
I

iMacmatician

macrumors 601
Jul 20, 2008
4,249
55
We could see minor Haswell bumps on the iMac and MacBook Pro later this year. I don't think the MacBook Air will get another Haswell refresh as it was already refreshed in April.
 
Kobayagi

Kobayagi

macrumors 6502a
Dec 18, 2012
918
2,075
Off topic for a sec:

With all these iWatch and 6'' iPhone rumors, have people forgot about the Apple TV? I mean as a actual television from Apple. What happened to that, no rumors or any news whatsoever.

On topic:

Hopefully they'll come with a new rMBA, very interested in that. I currently got a '11 model, but hope they can improve the screen on the next version. It looks dated next to the retina models.
 
adamw

adamw

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2006
749
1,817
This is not good news for Intel or Apple. If Intel can not innovate fast enough and get new chips to market in a timely manner, then it gives their competitors a foot hold to seize market share (ARM, AMD, etc.)
 
spaceballl

spaceballl

macrumors 68030
Nov 2, 2003
2,892
285
San Francisco, CA
The real reason for the delay is that their competition (AMD) isn't innovating at all to push Intel to NEED to release Broadwell early / on time...
 
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straighttech

macrumors newbie
Jul 4, 2014
2
0
Are Intel's days in Apple's Macs numbered?

When you consider the pace at which Intel releases new CPUs these days, I'm wondering more and more whether Apple will migrate away from Intel and move to in-house A-series CPUs some day in the future.

Apple's custom silicon isn't at a point where it can power a Mac, but based on the pace at which Apple is developing its own CPUs, you have to wonder how far off that day really is.

Apple's closed ecosystem has become so large that its taking on the characteristics of a traditionally open one:

http://halifaxbloggers.ca/straighttech/2014/06/a-rainforest-posing-as-a-walled-garden/
 
iZac

iZac

macrumors 68030
Apr 28, 2003
2,594
2,777
UK
Constant delays with existing CPU partner keeping Apple from delivering world class hardware to its customers, when there is another CPU platform which is rapidly developing better and faster low power 64 bit processors?

This sounds familiar ... :p

I'm only half serious guys, don't tear this post apart!
 
Eidorian

Eidorian

macrumors Penryn
Mar 23, 2005
29,190
386
Indianapolis
T

Tubamajuba

macrumors 68020
Jun 8, 2011
2,185
2,443
here
DavidBlack said:
That would mean porting OS X to work on AMD. Just like how Apple did the transition from PowerPC to Intel.
Click to expand...

It's nothing like the transition from PowerPC to Intel.

AMD processors are x86-64 just like Intel processors are. When it comes to optimization there would be some work to do, but nothing in the ballpark of the PPC-Intel transition.
 
Robert.Walter

Robert.Walter

macrumors 68040
Jul 10, 2012
3,093
4,364
"It is unknown why Apple has not released updated Mac mini models, as appropriate Haswell chips are readily available."

This is the new product never needing an update, the Mac Mini Mystery.

Btw, if Apple don't call the bigger iphone the iPhone Maxi, they are just stupid.
 
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