Intel Unveils Update to MacBook Air's Custom Processor

[MacRumors]

ArsTechnica reports that hidden amongst all the announcements at the Intel Developer Forum was a brief mention that Intel had introduced "the company's second-generation dual-core mobile processors for increasingly popular ultra thin and light notebook PCs."

These new processors represent the Penryn update to the custom processor that is used in the MacBook Air.

Both the SL9400 (1.8GHz) and the SL9300 (1.6GHz) use a 1066MHz FSB and carry 6MB of L2 cache. Intel is also introducing a pair of 10W processors: the SU9400 (1.4GHz) and SU9300 (1.2GHz). Both of these chips run on an 800MHz FSB and carry 3MB of L2 cache.

These new processors will be available to all manufacturers and not just Apple. Readers may recall that the original MacBook Air processor was a custom configuration designed for Apple by Intel.

The new processors are expected to be available in September. Apple has been recently rumored to be prepping a MacBook Air update which could use these new processors.

Article Link

[Aznsensation45]

nice!! I hope all the notebooks are going to be refreshed this September, not just the air! I really need a MBP update!

[CWallace]

So the same clock-speeds, but larger cache (by 2MB), a faster FSB and better TDPs (by 3W) so hopefully not as many core shutdowns.

I am hoping the MacBook Air systemboards can handle the 1066MHz FSB or perhaps Intel will "Santa Rosa Special" them, as well.

[group09]

1.2 and 1.4 GHz? Would these be expected to perform as well as the current processors? Or is their main advantage extra battery life?

Originally Posted by Aznsensation45

nice!! I hope all the notebooks are going to be refreshed this September, not just the air! I really need a MBP update!

And I'm looking forward to an MBP update too!

[nick9191]

W00t.

The cache has doubled hasn't it? The FSB is also 1066. So no clock increases but as we know clock != speed.

[Roller]

I think that the Air updates will use the SL9400 and SL9300; the other two processors might be good for an ultra-portable if Apple ever decides to produce one.

[Mackilroy]

I'd imagine they're for UMPCs that require longer battery life and less power consumption, not so much for speed. So no, being around half the speed of current laptop processors, they wouldn't run Leopard comparably.

[Firefly2002]

Wow. Same exact clocks. Zero speed increases, even with faster FSB. Woohoo?

I guess they'll run cooler being Penryn, but still.

[Mykbibby]

So it appears the MacBook and MacBook Pro aren't the only Mac laptops being updated in September...

[bug67]

Good news for ultra portables. I personally would never have a notebook without some kind of media drive but, this is good news for those that like such things.

[CWallace]

Originally Posted by Firefly2002

Wow. Same exact clocks. Zero speed increases, even with faster FSB. Woohoo?

The SP9400 (2.4GHz) and SP9300 (2.26GHz) have TDPs of 25w - 5w higher then the Memroms. Since the Memrom's are having core shutdown problems, it would likely be even worse with the SP9400 or SP9300.

[swingerofbirch]

Wow, the MBA will have a faster FSB speed than the MP!

[commander.data]

There are medium voltage small-form factor Penryns for Montevina that the article didn't mention. The SP9400 and SP9300 run at 2.4GHz and 2.26GHz respectively, have 1066MHz FSB with 6MB of L2 cache and have a 25W TDP. If the cooling system is tweaked and the battery improved, Apple could also use these for a larger performance boost.

EDIT: I see someone posted while I was typing. Oh well.

[SirOmega]

I dunno if I'd call it hidden (it wasn't made a big deal though).

Whats more interesting IMO is the fact that the northbridge G45 is also supposed to be cut down in power consumption too - 8W TDP, and includes capabilities for video decoding (H.264/MPEG2), assuming Intel and Apple can get the drivers working. So the MBAir should see somewhat a significant battery life improvement this generation (15% depending on usage) assuming Apple keeps the same battery.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the new MBAirs also start to use Intel's SSD. They announced their X-25 and X-18 SSDs that offer 240MB/s read and 70MB/s write capabilities. Thats a huge leap over the SSD they currently use.

[nick9191]

Originally Posted by swingerofbirch

Wow, the MBA will have a faster FSB speed than the MP!

No it wont. The Mac Pro has a 1600mhz FSB. Your looking at the RAM which is 800mhz in the Mac Pro. The RAM in the Macbook Air is 667mhz.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Apple clocked them up a few mhz. IE. 1.6 to 1.67. 1.8 to 1.87. Just as a marketing tactic.

[pkoury]

Yikes, what are the chances of Apple doing an entire line switch all at one time? Would something like that be unusual? Normally I always see them changing 1 product at a time unless its one of the 2 major events.

Imagining new MB, MBP, and MBA along with an iPod lineup change. Interesting months are coming.

[commander.data]

Originally Posted by SirOmega

Whats more interesting IMO is the fact that the northbridge G45 is also supposed to be cut down in power consumption too - 8W TDP, and includes capabilities for video decoding (H.264/MPEG2), assuming Intel and Apple can get the drivers working. So the MBAir should see somewhat a significant battery life improvement this generation (15% depending on usage) assuming Apple keeps the same battery.

The GM45 actually has a TDP of 12W. The chipset that would be coupled with small form factor Penryns is the GS45 which was just launched. The GS45 is also small form factor and can be configured for high performance, whereby it's GMA X4500MHD is clocked at 533MHz, the same as the GM45, and has a 12W TDP. Or in low-power configuration, where the IGP is clocked at 333MHz for a 8W TDP. It'll be interesting to see which mode Apple chooses.

Does anyone know if the current MacBook's GMA X3100 is faster than the MacBook Air's? I'm not sure whether they already downclock the MBA's GMA X3100.

[Small White Car]

Originally Posted by Firefly2002

Wow. Same exact clocks. Zero speed increases, even with faster FSB. Woohoo?

I guess they'll run cooler being Penryn, but still.

Good. The MacBook Air is fast enough for what it does. But having a sealed battery, it needs to get as much battery life as it can. I want them to keep pushing battery life higher and higher without adding to the speed.

Fact is, if you need a faster chip than the MBA offers, you probably also need things like a firewire port and a 7200 rpm drive. In other words, making the MBA faster gives almost no one a needed boost since the people who need 'fast' already have other kinds of Macbooks!

[motulist]

Originally Posted by pkoury

Yikes, what are the chances of Apple doing an entire line switch all at one time? Would something like that be unusual? Normally I always see them changing 1 product at a time unless its one of the 2 major events.

I noticed this a couple of weeks ago. I've never seen anything like this before, every single Apple consumer product besides the iMac and iPhone are ALL due for an imminent update. I've never seen anything like this.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

[kjs862]

Sounds good. Extra battery life is a big plus considering it doesn't have a removable battery.

[Silentwave]

Not bad...remember Penryn does have some internal improvements besides just 45nm...especially with media-related applications. Good to know.

[Rocketman]

iPhone NOT Nano, with mobile version of iWork, here we come!

"10W processors: the SU9400 (1.4GHz) and SU9300 (1.2GHz). Both of these chips run on an 800MHz FSB and carry 3MB of L2 cache."

Traditional navigation through integrated trackball/pad and finger button/pad.

Rocketman

[mjteix]

Given the price list of the SL cpus ($284 for 1.60GHz and $316 for 1.86GHz), Apple could simply use just the 1.86GHz cpu (economy of scale) and differentiate the models by storage. For example:
$1799 1.86GHz, 80GB HDD (or whatever capacity is available by then for 5mm high 1.8" HDDs)
$2399 1.86GHz. 64 (samsung) or 80GB (Intel) SSD
$2999 1.86GHz. 128 (samsung) or 160GB (Intel) SSD

FWIW, the 1.86GHz model should be faster and more efficient (battery life) than the current 1.80GHz one (as well as the chipset, igp), not only because of the slightly faster clock and FSB but also because of the RAM supported (at least DDR2-800 or eventually DDR3-1066). In high performance mode/configuration the GS45 chipset has the same specs as the GM45 chipset (same clock for the IGP, for example).

If done right, it should be a nice update for the MB Air.

[rustedshut]

What is the purpose of the MBA? I was excited to see it unveiled but, that excitement soon dissipated. I have yet to see any update that would make it worth purchasing a MBA over another Mac. It still has a slow proc, no GPU power, lack of interfaces, small hard-drive, no ROM drive and high cost. What is the point of this thing? Surfing the web and watching movie trailers is not worth $1800.

[QCassidy352]

sounds minor, but nice. Add the intel SSDs and we're really talking.