Intel's Mobile Processor Roadmap May Force Graphics Changes for Apple's 15-Inch MacBook Pro in 2017

[MacRumors]

While many Mac notebook users have been long awaiting refreshes for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineups based on Intel's 6th-generation Core "Skylake" processors, a recently leaked April roadmap for Intel's processors beyond Skylake posted to the AnandTech forums raises questions about future updates for the 15-inch MacBook Pro in particular.

The update bottleneck for future Mac notebooks is primarily related to the performance of Intel's integrated graphics, and it appears that an emphasis on processing cores over graphics by Intel may force Apple to make some changes to its graphics strategy down the road.


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Article Link: Intel's Mobile Processor Roadmap May Force Graphics Changes for Apple's 15-Inch MacBook Pro in 2017

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Here comes a thread filled with complaints over the lack of a new MBP and other new Macs. Because if we've learned one thing over the years, it's that complaining on MacRumors is how we get Apple to change things.

 

[mtneer]

Actually I would be happy if Apple updated the Mac's to today's processors, let alone worry about what is going to happen in 2018.

 

[newyorksole]

Whatever it is, I'm sure Apple and Intel are figuring it out (or figured it out). We see this as a problem now, but it was probably figured out several months ago.

 

[hamilto]

new MacBook Pro 15" with coffee lake will be the next release, Q4 2017. Nothing until then.

 

[koyoot]

Simplest answer. Two versions:

One with ONLY GT4E iGPU, and second with GT2 + AMD/Nvidia dGPU.

One of the things that are apparent on this roadmap is that now matter when the update will appear, for the next hardware update, with more performance we will wait very long time. Moore's Law, for gods sake .

P.S. Macbook Air can get Kaby Lake CPUs. MBP 13 and 15 - Skylake CPUs.

 

[Zarniwoop]

Well, there's Skylake Iris Pro 580 (released last May in Intel NUC) until 2018... in Apple's release cycle, that would be an improvement. How many years we've had Haswell in MBP? Four years?

Unless Apple is going to change to AMD custom SoC before that...

 

[T-Friz]

I don't really care what they do as long as they update the MBP line before next fall. The college I'll be transferring to requires students to get one, and I don't want to end up being forced to get the current outdated one when a refresh is right around the corner.

 

[koyoot]

Well, then there will be Skylake Iris Pro 580 until 2018... in Apple's release cycle, that would be an improvement. How many years we've had Haswell in MBP? Four years?

Unless Apple is going to change to AMD custom SoC before that...

And people complain about slow increases in graphics, and Mac Pro updates .

 

[Porco]

Here comes a thread filled with complaints over the lack of a new MBP and other new Macs. Because if we've learned one thing over the years, it's that complaining on MacRumors is how we get Apple to change things.

It's a forum, people express their opinions. Complaints and praise are both valid opinions to hold and express. Sometimes it's ok to just say what you think to vent a little, without expecting Tim Cook to be reading and have an epiphany.

Hopefully Apple will come up with solutions to this to suit everyone, but it seems clear their entire computer range is in need of updating, and it would be nice to think they'd been busy working on something special rather than just ignoring their existing line-up.

 

[skinned66]

Solution: Stop using ****** Intel graphics.

 

[rawweb]

Seems smart to just return to dedicated graphics. Seems most people would prefer it anyway.

 

[Good User Name]

So it seems that Apple really should just go for dedicated graphics chips then.

 

[loby]

Well, there's Skylake Iris Pro 580 (released last May in Intel NUC) until 2018... in Apple's release cycle, that would be an improvement. How many years we've had Haswell in MBP? Four years?

Unless Apple is going to change to AMD custom SoC before that...

As long as current software is optimized for the current CPU servings, REALLY does it matter?

 

[Bryan Bowler]

I really appreciate MacRumor's articles on these subjects. As always, they are well-written and are where I go for all of my Apple news.

I had to read quickly due to other competing priorities, but if I understood this correctly, all should be GTG (performance-wise) with any new MBPs that come out next month (assuming that is happening). But the real issue is what will Apple do in say 9-18 months from now.

Certainly an issue for the future, but I really need a MBP right now that is up to today's standards!

 

[asiga]

Apple is quite anti-GPU these days. If an Intel CPU doesn't have adequate integrated graphics, it will be skipped, because Apple won't reverse the path taken against discrete GPUs.

I'd really wish that some major Apple customer would request a multimillion dollar shipment of Macs equipped with cutting-edge NVIDIA GPUs, but that kind of customers already moved to Linux. The main Mac user wears a watchie and chats with a phonie... that's the sad reality.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Whatever happens, Apple's GPU solution will be pig schlock; it ALWAYS is across every device. So no point in getting your hopes up for Apple giving consumers a decent GPU.

 

[ThaRuler]

Coffee lake??? Are they leaving it up to 4yr olds to name these chips?

 

[cicalinarrot]

They could use a bigger battery if they removed unnecessary ports and... nevermind.

 

[maflynn]

Apple needs to do something, doing nothing has not helped them. Just sitting there waiting for Intel is not a good business strategy.

 

[nilcoalescingoperator]

Can't wait for these Baby Kale chips!

 

[djcerla]

That's what happens when your an hostage of another company.

 

[Schranke]

HAHA what a BURN for the "waiting for kaby lake MBP" thread.
They will never stop waiting...

Best regards
"Waiting for Skylake MBP" thread

 

[nt5672]

That's what happens when your an hostage of another company.

Or just lazy with no management mandate because your CEO is a supply chain Guru.

 

[TechZeke]

Solution: Stop using ****** Intel graphics.

Seems smart to just return to dedicated graphics. Seems most people would prefer it anyway.

So it seems that Apple really should just go for dedicated graphics chips then.

This is simply it. Intel's high power Iris/Pro iGPUs were a great improvement but couldn't keep up. As a result, very little adoption in the PC industry. The high power iGPUs are very niche and unsurprisingly Intel has put them on the back burner.

Apple is just going to have swallow it's pride and courage and go back to dGPUs. I love the Iris Pro, but it's going to be ridiculous if Macs are going to be a generation behind all the time.