Core 2 Duo MacBook Also Supporting 802.11n?

MacRumors · Nov 13, 2006, 01:18 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Continuing a recent trend, Apple appears to have included another draft 802.11n-compatible wireless card in their recently released Core 2 Duo based MacBook computers. According to ThinkSecret, the wireless chipset is the Atheros AR5008E, apparently the same series as is in the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros. Apple first introduced draft 802.11n compliant chipsets with the Core 2 Duo iMac, however the iMac uses a Broadcom chipset.

Apple has yet to release any Mac OS X drivers to allow the full speed of the devices to be realized. It is currently thought that Apple's iTV will employ 802.11n.

Eidorian · Nov 13, 2006, 01:19 PM

Nice to see the 802.11n cards in there. I just hope the standard doesn't change that much.

Josias · Nov 13, 2006, 01:22 PM

Though the N card won't run at full speed until Apple makes a firmware update, will they still have the range capabilities that N sports, or will they have normal 802.11g range?

AndyM · Nov 13, 2006, 01:22 PM

Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?

Eidorian · Nov 13, 2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josias

Though the N card won't run at full speed until Apple makes a firmware update, will they still have the range capabilities that N sports, or will they have normal 802.11g range?

Nope, you need full N hardware. (Cards & router)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyM

Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?

It's likely.

dashiel · Nov 13, 2006, 01:25 PM

this is so apple can release iTV in Q1 of next year. jobs will say something like:

oh there is one more thing, we've got HD in itunes now. of course HD takes up a lot of bandwidth so iTV ships with 802.11n draft. we'll be selling an adapter for those of you with older macs, but for anyone who bought a mac in the last 6 months -- you've already got it.

Multimedia · Nov 13, 2006, 01:25 PM

Leopard will probably unleash the real capability in this hardware with a firmware update as well.

Eidorian · Nov 13, 2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Multimedia

Leopard will probably unleash the real capability in this hardware with a firmware update as well.

Now that is interesting.

theheyes · Nov 13, 2006, 01:27 PM

Does anyone know if Apple actually plans to enable these in the future with an update or are they simply just the card theyre using these days?

Josias · Nov 13, 2006, 01:27 PM

Allright, so when I get the next AirPort Basestation with N, will I be able to recieve better signal with my G-only CD MacBook?

AppliedVisual · Nov 13, 2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyM

Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?

The changes within the chipsets to support "n" are very minimal and the new chips are readily available for about the same price as their a/b/g only counterparts. It makes sense for Apple to put them in - if everything goes OK and 802.11n is ratified without too many changes from its current form, then all the C2D Mac systems can take advantage of it. If for some reason "n" takes longer and goes through more dramatic changes (which is somewhat doubtful), then nothing is really lost.

sartinsauce · Nov 13, 2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dashiel

this is so apple can release iTV in Q1 of next year. jobs will say something like:

oh there is one more thing, we've got HD in itunes now. of course HD takes up a lot of bandwidth so iTV ships with 802.11n draft. we'll be selling an adapter for those of you with older macs, but for anyone who bought a mac in the last 6 months -- you've already got it.

That's a nice idea. Do you think that the MWSF Keynote will also include a product that vastly increases everyone's ISP bandwidth? Or will we have to spend a day and a half downloading bad movies in HiDef?

Eidorian · Nov 13, 2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josias

Allright, so when I get the next AirPort Basestation with N, will I be able to recieve better signal with my G-only CD MacBook?

No, you'll still need an 'n' wireless card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppliedVisual

The changes within the chipsets to support "n" are very minimal and the new chips are readily available for about the same price as their a/b/g only counterparts. It makes sense for Apple to put them in - if everything goes OK and 802.11n is ratified without too many changes from its current form, then all the C2D Mac systems can take advantage of it. If for some reason "n" takes longer and goes through more dramatic changes (which is somewhat doubtful), then nothing is really lost.

I have to agree here. Just as long as no drastic changes are made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sartinsauce

That's a nice idea. Do you think that the MWSF Keynote will also include a product that vastly increases everyone's ISP bandwidth? Or will we have to spend a day and a half downloading bad movies in HiDef?

Apple will make your tubes faster how? XD

Squonk · Nov 13, 2006, 01:31 PM

There are going to be a lot of happy people when Apple enables these cards along with new routers and iTV. Wahoo!

matthemercyless · Nov 13, 2006, 01:33 PM

This was pretty much expected, but good to know, as it does raise another couple of questions...when will the mac mini be upgraded to the draft N spec, and will it also be bumped to C2D

Will we see a new airtunes device and a new airport extreme base station to take advantage of the new technology?

I would expect it may be a good move to upgade the mini before the holiday season, and introduce new airport type products in January.

Sound reasonable enough?

AndyM · Nov 13, 2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppliedVisual

The changes within the chipsets to support "n" are very minimal and the new chips are readily available for about the same price as their a/b/g only counterparts. It makes sense for Apple to put them in - if everything goes OK and 802.11n is ratified without too many changes from its current form, then all the C2D Mac systems can take advantage of it. If for some reason "n" takes longer and goes through more dramatic changes (which is somewhat doubtful), then nothing is really lost.

My point exactly.

Now let the hundreds of posts about how Apple secretly plans to enable N for all the users!

AppliedVisual · Nov 13, 2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sartinsauce

That's a nice idea. Do you think that the MWSF Keynote will also include a product that vastly increases everyone's ISP bandwidth? Or will we have to spend a day and a half downloading bad movies in HiDef?

Increasing bandwidth of peoples' net connections is between the people and their ISPs. Nothing Apple can really do... For those of us with good internet connections, I say bring on the HD! And for those who are still stuck with crappy internet, all I can say is that I feel for you, really I do... I was stuck with no broadband (other than overpriced and crappy satellite service) until I moved about 8 months ago. But now my 8Mbps connection can download HD content just fine and it costs me less than $30/month.

Josias · Nov 13, 2006, 01:35 PM

Eidorian: Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway?

sartinsauce · Nov 13, 2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppliedVisual

Increasing bandwidth of peoples' net connections is between the people and their ISPs. Nothing Apple can really do... For those of us with good internet connections, I say bring on the HD! And for those who are still stuck with crappy internet, all I can say is that I feel for you, really I do... I was stuck with no broadband (other than overpriced and crappy satellite service) until I moved about 8 months ago. But now my 8Mbps connection can download HD content just fine and it costs me less than $30/month.

Yeah, you guys aren't too good at the sarcasm, are you?

Do you really think I expect Apple to do that?

If so, please sign here __________________ to buy this bridge in Brooklyn for $100...

powerboy · Nov 13, 2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josias

Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway?

Yes. I have a Belkin Pre-N router that I use with computers with G cards and the range is much better than the G routers I have used. Of course, using N cards would certainly improve the range even more.

Fredou51 · Nov 13, 2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif
Apple first introduced draft 802.11n compliant chipsets with the Core 2 Duo iMac, however the iMac uses a Broadcom chipset.

I thought the first Mac to have a 802.11n compliant chipset was the Mac Pro?

Frederic

Eidorian · Nov 13, 2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josias

Eidorian: Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway?

NO, you're STILL going to need a N card in your laptop. Depending on how N turns out it might not even operate on the same frequency as G.

Josias · Nov 13, 2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredou51

I thought the first Mac to have a 802.11n compliant chipset was the Mac Pro?

Frederic

No, there have been no such reports, but it will be easy to upgrade to an N card I should believe.

BTW, you have my dream MacPro

Daringescape · Nov 13, 2006, 02:22 PM

So, I have a pre-N router right now. Will I see any advantages with this card as the macbook is configured currently?

imacintel · Nov 13, 2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidorian

Now that is interesting.

Know what else is interesting? Your short annoying posts.

Nov 13, 2006, 01:18 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Core 2 Duo MacBook Also Supporting 802.11n? http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif Continuing a recent trend, Apple appears to have included another draft 802.11n-compatible wireless card in their recently released Core 2 Duo based MacBook computers. According to ThinkSecret, the wireless chipset is the Atheros AR5008E, apparently the same series as is in the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros. Apple first introduced draft 802.11n compliant chipsets with the Core 2 Duo iMac, however the iMac uses a Broadcom chipset. Apple has yet to release any Mac OS X drivers to allow the full speed of the devices to be realized. It is currently thought that Apple's iTV will employ 802.11n.

Nov 13, 2006, 01:19 PM	#2
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	Nice to see the 802.11n cards in there. I just hope the standard doesn't change that much. __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Nov 13, 2006, 01:22 PM	#3
Josias macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denmark	Though the N card won't run at full speed until Apple makes a firmware update, will they still have the range capabilities that N sports, or will they have normal 802.11g range? __________________ Use MRoogle. Listen to Ridin' Thumb

Nov 13, 2006, 01:25 PM	#7
Multimedia Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Santa Cruz CA, Silicon Beach	Not Surprised • Part Of The Leopard "Secrets" No Doubt Leopard will probably unleash the real capability in this hardware with a firmware update as well.

Nov 13, 2006, 01:27 PM	#10
Josias macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denmark	Allright, so when I get the next AirPort Basestation with N, will I be able to recieve better signal with my G-only CD MacBook? __________________ Use MRoogle. Listen to Ridin' Thumb

Nov 13, 2006, 01:22 PM	#4
AndyM macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2006	Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?

Nov 13, 2006, 01:25 PM	#6
dashiel macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	this is so apple can release iTV in Q1 of next year. jobs will say something like: oh there is one more thing, we've got HD in itunes now. of course HD takes up a lot of bandwidth so iTV ships with 802.11n draft. we'll be selling an adapter for those of you with older macs, but for anyone who bought a mac in the last 6 months -- you've already got it.

Nov 13, 2006, 01:27 PM	#9
theheyes macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manchester	Does anyone know if Apple actually plans to enable these in the future with an update or are they simply just the card theyre using these days?

Nov 13, 2006, 01:31 PM	#14
Squonk macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2005	As expected There are going to be a lot of happy people when Apple enables these cards along with new routers and iTV. Wahoo! __________________ iSwitched in 1988 MP quad 2.8 (4GB/1.5TB/ATI 2600), iPhone, iPods

Nov 13, 2006, 01:33 PM	#15
matthemercyless macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2006	This was pretty much expected, but good to know, as it does raise another couple of questions...when will the mac mini be upgraded to the draft N spec, and will it also be bumped to C2D Will we see a new airtunes device and a new airport extreme base station to take advantage of the new technology? I would expect it may be a good move to upgade the mini before the holiday season, and introduce new airport type products in January. Sound reasonable enough?

Nov 13, 2006, 01:35 PM	#18
Josias macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denmark	Eidorian: Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway? __________________ Use MRoogle. Listen to Ridin' Thumb

Nov 13, 2006, 02:22 PM	#24
Daringescape macrumors regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: CA	So, I have a pre-N router right now. Will I see any advantages with this card as the macbook is configured currently? __________________ Dual 2Ghz G5 - 15" MBP - 30GB Video iPod Daring Escape Designs - web - print - multimedia

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