Chances for Macbook Pro Fall update? Speed, GPU

[lifeguard90]

Hi everyone, I am probably going to upgrade my current 2008 13" macbook to a new 15" or 17" mbp. Based upon the buyers guide and past fall events/ quiet updates the question is-

Do you believe a update is near and for what? cpu, gpu




also- does this past article mean anything
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/999910/

regarding new apple support hires for rumored October launch of product.


Thanks everyone!
( btw, yes I know that there will always be something newer around the corner, yet if that corner is right here.. well thats the point if anything worthwhile may be upgraded)

 

[Hellhammer]

A minor update for MBP is not a reason why Apple would hire new telestaff. That must be something bigger like smaller iPad or iPhone. If you look at the past, Apple usually keeps the same GPUs for two generations so it's not likely that we will see a new GPU anytime soon. As for CPUs, Apple can only offer marginal clock speed updates with new Arrandales (e.g. i7-640M and i5-560M).

I doubt we will see an update this year. Sandy Bridge is out soon, hopefully Apple waits for that and updates MBPs in early 2011

 

[lifeguard90]

if updates do come in 2011, obviously they will. yet early 2011, would it even be a significant jump for gpu. say for example to gain what the imac has in implementing a 1gig gpu for high end mbp?

 

[cili0]

A minor update for MBP is not a reason why Apple would hire new telestaff. That must be something bigger like smaller iPad or iPhone. If you look at the past, Apple usually keeps the same GPUs for two generations so it's not likely that we will see a new GPU anytime soon. As for CPUs, Apple can only offer marginal clock speed updates with new Arrandales (e.g. i7-640M and i5-560M).

I doubt we will see an update this year. Sandy Bridge is out soon, hopefully Apple waits for that and updates MBPs in early 2011

according to your reasoning, even if with sandy bridge there's a big possibility that the new macbook pro will have the same 330m GPU, right?

We have to consider that SB will be yet another brand new architecture with all the problems a brand new architecture brings. Adopting SB Apple will skip the intel tick for the arrandale series, which usually brings stability and further refinements.

ciao!

 

[devilstrider]

LOL he remade the same thread again because I told him to do a search about this.

 

[AdamRock]

according to your reasoning, even if with sandy bridge there's a big possibility that the new macbook pro will have the same 330m GPU, right?

We have to consider that SB will be yet another brand new architecture with all the problems a brand new architecture brings. Adopting SB Apple will skip the intel tick for the arrandale series, which usually brings stability and further refinements.

ciao!

i would hope that apple gets a better gpu, even if its only a small difference.

 

[pukifloyd]

A minor update for MBP is not a reason why Apple would hire new telestaff. That must be something bigger like smaller iPad or iPhone. If you look at the past, Apple usually keeps the same GPUs for two generations so it's not likely that we will see a new GPU anytime soon. As for CPUs, Apple can only offer marginal clock speed updates with new Arrandales (e.g. i7-640M and i5-560M).

I doubt we will see an update this year. Sandy Bridge is out soon, hopefully Apple waits for that and updates MBPs in early 2011

+1
I think that they will wait for sandy bridge and update next year..

 

[MacHamster68]

will always creep in the shadow of the iMac apple doesn't want anything compete with their iMac,so if it is not called MacPro it wont get equal performance

 

[cili0]

i would hope that apple gets a better gpu, even if its only a small difference.

i hope so, here in Italy Media Markt sells only for tomorrow 600 MBPs i5 2.4Ghz for 1500Euros instead of 1750Euros, even better than the price i can get with the apple on campus (1600Euros).

I decided to wait and get the new release with hi-res. I hope the wait will be rewarded with a significant update.

ciao!

 

[Brinkman]

I really hope they put the new 460m GPU in the next lineup of MBP's

 

[lifeguard90]

The 460M Gpu would be great addition. Seeing that macbook air is way over due for refresh to say the least along with todays appleinsider report on supplies draining I think it would be safe to hold of a few weeks for this general notebook update time frame.


-in regards to the mbp being in the shadows on imac power, that does make sense in deed.

 

[cili0]

Within a time frame of two weeks 3 major reseller here in Italy applied good discount on the MB(P) family:

Bennet is selling the MB for 850€ instead of 999€
Mondadori is selling the MBP 13'' 2.4Ghz for 999€ instead of 1200€
Media market will sell the MBP 15'' 2.4Ghz for 1400€ instead of 1750€

Ok..maybe 3 clues don't make a proof, but can't it be an attempt to sell the remaining stock just in time for an imminent update?

ciao!

 

[Blues003]

Within a time frame of two weeks 3 major reseller here in Italy applied good discount on the MB(P) family:

Bennet is selling the MB for 850€ instead of 999€
Mondadori is selling the MBP 13'' 2.4Ghz for 999€ instead of 1200€
Media market will sell the MBP 15'' 2.4Ghz for 1400€ instead of 1750€

Ok..maybe 3 clues don't make a proof, but can't it be an attempt to sell the remaining stock just in time for an imminent update?

ciao!

Maybe one ofthem started and the other ones are now competing? I'm saying this because there really isn't much to upgrade right now... And the MBP 13'' would be left with an WORSE IGP if it was upgraded now.

 

[cili0]

my speculation obviously relies on the fact that, according to the buyer's guide, the life cycle of this revision is coming to an end, even if your consideration is perfectly plausible.

You have also to take into account that the C2D family has been EOL'd, and their production will stop at the end of the year: how many macbook pro 13'' can apple produce above that threshold?

We all hope for an update in January with SB, but who knows :S

ciao!

 

[Blues003]

my speculation obviously relies on the fact that, according to the buyer's guide, the life cycle of this revision is coming to an end, even if your consideration is perfectly plausible.

You have also to take into account that the C2D family has been EOL'd, and their production will stop at the end of the year: how many macbook pro 13'' can apple produce above that threshold?

We all hope for an update in January with SB, but who knows :S

ciao!

That's exactly what I'm taking into consideration. Apple can't supply 8 months of MBPs if during 6 of them, Intel isn't making C2D's. :\

 

[Groucho Marx]

January - February or early march.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Bridge_(microarchitecture) According to Wiki it says Sandy bridge is expected to be released Q1.

So the october/november has to be the macbook air.

 

[Adidas Addict]

January - February or early march.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Bridge_(microarchitecture) According to Wiki it says Sandy bridge is expected to be released Q1.

So the october/november has to be the macbook air.

Apple have been known in the past to get stuff earlier than general release.

 

[cili0]

Apple have been known in the past to get stuff earlier than general release.

but the same Apple has suffered of late supply of Arrandale processors from Intel.

 

[Hellhammer]

according to your reasoning, even if with sandy bridge there's a big possibility that the new macbook pro will have the same 330m GPU, right?

That's what Apple has done before. Of course there is no guarantee that Apple will continue the pattern but I just mentioned it as it's fairly relevant and possible.

We have to consider that SB will be yet another brand new architecture with all the problems a brand new architecture brings. Adopting SB Apple will skip the intel tick for the arrandale series, which usually brings stability and further refinements.

Issues like what? CPUs don't need drivers or other crap. Nehalem didn't bring any issues nor have any others IIRC. CPU is the most reliable part in your system, I've never heard of CPU failure (unless it was OCed or modified).

Apple is already using Arrandale in 15" and 17" MBP. Stepping update usually brings the power consumption and heat down a little bit so higher clock parts with same TDP can be sold. I doubt it has anything to do with stability unless you're OCing where stepping makes a huge difference. Stability issues are often, if not always, software related. Updating MBP with the "new" Arrandales wouldn't be an upgrade, it's only 133MHz.

 

[robertbrian23]

i really hope a new upgrade will come by October/November 2010. I can see that the SB would come around june next year.

 

[Blu101]

will always creep in the shadow of the iMac apple doesn't want anything compete with their iMac,so if it is not called MacPro it wont get equal performance

Laptop vs desktop performance usually has nothing to do with intentional sabotage by a manufacturer

They are simply two different design standards. Laptop design has more of an emphasis on low power consumption and small footprint than desktop design. This usually ensures that desktops are typically stronger than laptops. This is true even on a component level: a desktop i5 processor is not the same as a mobile i5 processor.

 

[CaoCao]

I really hope they put the new 460m GPU in the next lineup of MBP's

According to rumors, the power consumption of the GeForce GTX 460M should be about 72 Watt (TDP including the MXM board and memory), which is about the level of the Mobility Radeon HD 5850 - 5870. Without load, the chip is clocked at 50/100 MHz (chip/shader) in 2D respectively 200/400 in 3D mode to save power. Furthermore, the 400M series supports Optimus to automatically switch between the integrated graphics card from Intel and the Nvidia GPU. However, the laptop manufacturers need to implement it and it cannot be upgraded. As today’s quad cores don’t house an integrated GPU, we won’t see many Optimus designs with GTX 460M before the launch of Sandy Bridge in 2011.

IIRC the 330M uses 23W

That's exactly what I'm taking into consideration. Apple can't supply 8 months of MBPs if during 6 of them, Intel isn't making C2D's. :\

IMO update between (and including) January-March

I think the MB and MBP will be forced to bump to 2.66GHz before then

 

[cili0]

That's what Apple has done before. Of course there is no guarantee that Apple will continue the pattern but I just mentioned it as it's fairly relevant and possible.

Apple usually likes pattern, but lately Velve is doing good on Mac and maybe Apple will take into account the possibility to push to the next level the gaming experience on mac. About that i' wondering what netkas meant with his post here

But maybe he refers to desktop GPU.

Issues like what? CPUs don't need drivers or other crap. Nehalem didn't bring any issues nor have any others IIRC. CPU is the most reliable part in your system, I've never heard of CPU failure (unless it was OCed or modified).

i was referreing to hardware bug in general, the ones that can occur when you change architecture (PPC vs. C2D vs. Arrandale)

Apple is already using Arrandale in 15" and 17" MBP. Stepping update usually brings the power consumption and heat down a little bit so higher clock parts with same TDP can be sold. I doubt it has anything to do with stability unless you're OCing where stepping makes a huge difference. Stability issues are often, if not always, software related. Updating MBP with the "new" Arrandales wouldn't be an upgrade, it's only 133MHz.

So in your opinion the enhancement in performance isn't worth an update. apart from the gain that an update will bring regarding the frequence (+133Mhz) what about Intel saying that Arrandale still have space for a lot of refinements?

cheers!

 

[Hellhammer]

Apple usually likes pattern, but lately Velve is doing good on Mac and maybe Apple will take into account the possibility to push to the next level the gaming experience on mac. About that i' wondering what netkas meant with his post here

But maybe he refers to desktop GPU.

Those are just about drivers and I think all Radeon 6xxxs are listed in that, so impossible to say about specific products.

So in your opinion the enhancement in performance isn't worth an update. apart from the gain that an update will bring regarding the frequence (+133Mhz) what about Intel saying that Arrandale still have space for a lot of refinements?

133MHz bump is about 5%, that is negligible. I haven't heard abut any other refinements for Arrandale than the minor speed bump that was released couple of week ago. Arrandale is going to be dead soon as Sandy Bridge is out in few months.

 

[paintballswimgu]

the newest 15 in mbps out on the market right now are not outdated by any means. If they do release an update in oct. or nov. The gpu will not be changed (it was new in the current gen) The processor will get a very minor speed bump, (.2 ghz or less probably), and it will not include the latest sandy bridge board, but thats just my two cents.

Basically, you should buy one now, if you want one.