Intel Mobile Chips in Short Supply? Update on MacBook.

MacRumors · Oct 30, 2007, 05:25 PM

IDG News reports on comments by Taiwan's Asustek Computer that Intel was unable to keep up with the high demand on mobile CPUs. Laptop sales are expected to hit record highs this year, and so is demand on Intel's mobile CPUs.

Quote:

"The biggest shortage in notebook components is in CPUs, Intel CPUs. Intel isn't meeting demand," said Jerry Shen, president of Asustek, answering questions at an investors conference in Beitou, Taiwan.

Aside from their own computer sales, Asustek performs contract-based sales, including production of Apple's MacBook computer. Whether or not this may affect future MacBook supplies remains entirely speculative. Asustek, however, reassured investors that it did not expect this shortage to affect its sales.

In a separate note, despite our belief that an upgraded MacBook was scheduled for arrival as early as today (or "within the next week"), this was not the case. New information reveals that this specific expectation was based on faulty information, and should be disregarded.

This, however, does not negate the existing rumors that the MacBook was expected in the "first half of November" and MacBooks could still see updates imminently.

Article Link

twoodcc · Oct 30, 2007, 05:27 PM

as long as this doesn't effect the macbook update ....

iQuit · Oct 30, 2007, 05:28 PM

Now Intel.

BRLawyer · Oct 30, 2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iQuit

Now Intel.

Does this mean...PowerBooks G5 next Tuesday?

* ducks and covers *

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 05:31 PM

The popularity of laptops has definitely increased substanitally over recent times. One would have hoped Intel could have predicted this and accurately prepared for it, but I guess hindsight is always 20/20 and it's easier said than done.

Hopefully this hasn't impacted MacBook updates, but I guess only time will tell...

sigamy · Oct 30, 2007, 05:33 PM

You mean: first motorolla, then IBM, now Intel...

What does Apple do to these chip guys?

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Does this mean...PowerBooks G5 next Tuesday?

* ducks and covers *

I've said it before on these Forums and I'll say it again:

Please, don't be that guy...

Clive At Five · Oct 30, 2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Shen, president of Asustek

The biggest shortage in notebook components is in CPUs, Intel CPUs. Intel isn't meeting demand.

Something about this sounds familiar... I can't quite put my finger on it though...

-Clive

siurpeeman · Oct 30, 2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigamy

You mean: first motorolla, then IBM, now Intel...

What does Apple do to these chip guys?

the difference this time is that apple's in the same boat as everybody else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Shard~

I've said it before on these Forums and I'll say it again:

Please, don't be that guy...

there's always a guy.

~Shard~ · 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigamy

You mean: first motorolla, then IBM, now Intel...

What does Apple do to these chip guys?

After going through Motorola chips, IBM chips and now Intel chips, Steve Jobs has no choice but to move on to Sun chips...

Clive At Five · Oct 30, 2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Does this mean...PowerBooks G5 next Tuesday?

* ducks and covers *

No, no. Mid-Range Tower next Tuesday!

-Clive

thejadedmonkey · Oct 30, 2007, 05:37 PM

Apple should dump intel and switch to some other architecture.

These chips look promising, and they run about 2x - 2.5x faster

john789 · Oct 30, 2007, 05:38 PM

the means NO macbook update today......I guess my plans to go the apple store are now cancelled...

thejadedmonkey · Oct 30, 2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Shard~

After going through Motorola chips, IBM chips and now Intel chips, Steve Jobs has no choice but to move on to Sun chips...

Dude, those sun chips are the best. Whenever I use them, I always end up working faster!

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Dude, those sun chips are the best. Whenever I use them, I always end up working faster!

Yep, Steve would be a fool not to switch to them...

(Fixed image attachment above, btw...)

milo · Oct 30, 2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Apple should dump intel and switch to some other architecture.

OR...if mobile chips are in short supply, they could actually start stocking their desktop machines with...

wait for it...

DESKTOP CHIPS!

Yet another reason to move on from that silly strategy.

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milo

OR...if mobile chips are in short supply, they could actually start stocking their desktop machines with...

wait for it...

DESKTOP CHIPS!

Yet another reason to move on from that silly strategy.

Desktop chips would no doubt output more heat than the mobile chips though, and in the iMac's crowded enclosure I'm not sure how that would go over...

Whoshnot · Oct 30, 2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Shard~

Desktop chips would no doubt output more heat than the mobile chips though, and in the iMac's crowded enclosure I'm not sure how that would go over...

Umm, not so good...

On my iMac G5, which had a desktop chip after all, I sometimes had CPU temperatures of above 70° C.
My intel macs CPU temperatures rarely exceed 40° C.

Nuff said...

Zadillo · Oct 30, 2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Apple should dump intel and switch to some other architecture.

These chips look promising, and they run about 2x - 2.5x faster

Umm, Apple would be back to square one if they did that.

Remember, the reason to switch from PowerPC to Intel was not because of issues with desktop performance, per se.

The issue was mobile chips; there is still no good modern mobile PowerPC chip (we never saw anything close to a mobile PowerPC G5; good luck seeing a laptop chip based on POWER6).

Laptops are a huge part of Apple's success right now, and Apple absolutely made the right move, as there is nothing to compare to the mobile Core 2 Duo chips right now.

-Zadillo

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whoshnot

Umm, not so good...

On my iMac G5, which had a desktop chip after all, I sometimes had CPU temperatures of above 70° C.
My intel macs CPU temperatures rarely exceed 40° C.

Nuff said...

Thanks, this helps prove my point.

Case closed then.

nagromme · Oct 30, 2007, 06:04 PM

Intel has repeatedly given Apple new processors before even ANNOUNCING them, much less offering them to other PC makers. Apple lets Intel innovate without Microsoft's shackles, and is great for boosting Intel mindshare. Intel LIKES Apple.

If there are shortages, it may well not be Apple that feels the brunt.

portuglish08 · Oct 30, 2007, 06:05 PM

Let's just hope we see a macbook update soon! And hopefully a worthwhile one!

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

Intel has repeatedly given Apple new processors before even ANNOUNCING them, much less offering them to other PC makers. Apple lets Intel innovate without Microsoft's shackles, and is great for boosting Intel mindshare. Intel LIKES Apple.

If there are shortages, it may well not be Apple that feels the brunt.

Quite true - case in point the new batch of Penryn chips for the Mac Pro.

shawnce · Oct 30, 2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Apple should dump intel and switch to some other architecture.

These chips look promising, and they run about 2x - 2.5x faster

...and are monstrously power hungry and cost far far more (aka they are high-end server chips)... yeah they are very good but not what Apple needs.

shawnce · Oct 30, 2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iQuit

Now Intel.

Intel has the fab capacity to respond to product demand spikes much better then IBM (or others) currently have. I am not overly concerned about it at this time.

Oct 30, 2007, 05:27 PM	#2
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	as long as this doesn't effect the macbook update .... __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

Oct 30, 2007, 05:28 PM	#3
iQuit macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Antonio,Texas	First IBM Now Intel. __________________ http://myspace.com/appleculturemovement

Oct 30, 2007, 05:31 PM	#5
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	The popularity of laptops has definitely increased substanitally over recent times. One would have hoped Intel could have predicted this and accurately prepared for it, but I guess hindsight is always 20/20 and it's easier said than done. Hopefully this hasn't impacted MacBook updates, but I guess only time will tell... __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

Oct 30, 2007, 05:37 PM	#12
thejadedmonkey macrumors 68040 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pa	Apple should dump intel and switch to some other architecture. These chips look promising, and they run about 2x - 2.5x faster __________________ Mac Mini G4 • MacBook Pro • iPod Nano "Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement. - Mark Twain

Oct 30, 2007, 05:38 PM	#13
john789 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2007	Sad... the means NO macbook update today......I guess my plans to go the apple store are now cancelled... __________________ New Mac user with a now OUTDATED Macbook..... My poor macbook is only several month old and its now OUTDATED!! GAH!

Oct 30, 2007, 05:33 PM	#6
sigamy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NJ USA	You mean: first motorolla, then IBM, now Intel... What does Apple do to these chip guys?

Oct 30, 2007, 06:04 PM	#21
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	Intel has repeatedly given Apple new processors before even ANNOUNCING them, much less offering them to other PC makers. Apple lets Intel innovate without Microsoft's shackles, and is great for boosting Intel mindshare. Intel LIKES Apple. If there are shortages, it may well not be Apple that feels the brunt. __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Oct 30, 2007, 06:05 PM	#22
portuglish08 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007	Let's just hope we see a macbook update soon! And hopefully a worthwhile one!

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