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AMD Based Apple Laptop?

Part of this might also be involved in other components aside from processors. As AMD now includes ATI, there are other products that might require the mentioned passive components. I'm willing to bet these capacitors might be required for a more robust video iPod or new graphics options in the current processor/laptop lineup. The Intel GMA 950 graphics are functional, but reviews on the integrated graphics included in the P965 desktop chipsets are just short of apalling. Apple would probably have seen this comming and might be trying to incorporate a form of integrated graphics from ATI without dropping the whole Intel chipset base for Santa Rosa. So yes, "AMD" would be involved, and more capacitors would be needed, but not for some new laptop. Sure, I'm flying blind, but it's fun to speculate anyways :p
 
WhiteShadow said:
who wants to run amd anyway?
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gamers that want to switch to mac but wont because of intel, which is stupid. AMD fanboys hate intel also(there is a signifigant amount of these people). They still haven't realised that intel has taken the lead again.
 
I don't know where this assertion that AMD are rubbish comes from. The integrated memory controller technology that AMD have currently is beter than Intels offering (for the moment).

That said, they'd be daft to go with AMD. It's nice that they have this stick to poke Intel with though.
 
twoodcc said:
i just don't see this happening. Intel has better performance, especially in notebooks (correct me if i'm wrong)
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OK...Not a correction and I see it that no one is either right or wrong. I am using a custom built AMD powered laptop that literally, if it had tires, could burn a set slap off the rims by squeeling out....and it is like greased lightning, and was the cat's meow until the Core 2 Duos were released.

I would put this little jewel up beside anything out there, and it isn't even an Apple.

BUT

Soon that is what I will be using... Macbook Pro...ie the Rolls Royce of the computer world.

;)
 
Personally, I would be surprised if they didn't eventually use AMD CPU's.

1. Digg had an article on AMD's line of upcoming CPU's which are CPU's and GPU's on one die. Given Apple's history of pushing more and more onto the video cards, this new line seems perfect for Apple.

Link: http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjI0OTUsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=

P.S. Just went to digg to get the link, and AMD is moving to 65nm in 2007. faster, less heat.
Link: http://hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjI0OTcsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=

2. AMD is far superior. Right now Intel is in the lead, but it's not a true lead. For the longest time, AMD had the better architecture. Intel had to do something, so they went back to the P3, tweaked it a little, and added some huge caches, and gave us a CPU modeled after a 6 year old (guessing here) CPU that ran at around the same GHZ speeds, but was faster.

3. Diversification. Whether because Apple doesn't want to be stuck with just one supplier, or because they want to further diversify their line, it makes sense.

4. Competition. Suddenly Intel is forced to compete against AMD, which would mean cheeper prices and more innovation (CPU wise)

I personally wouldn't mind a MacBook Mini:
AMD Fusion CPU/GPU combo
DVD burner, ram, isight, bla bla bla.
 
emotion said:
I don't know where this assertion that AMD are rubbish comes from.
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Agreed. AMD has traditionally been significantly faster and cheaper than Intel. Further more it is only AMD's huge performance lead that woke Intel up enough to drop the mhz myth, accept multi-core as the future, and start making decent processors again.

It just so happens that we are at a very unusual point in time where AMD currently has neither a performance nor price advantage over Intel, but these things can change very fast (as the past few months have shown).

All that said, the facts that this rumor is based upon do in no way lead to the conclusion that Apple is considering using AMD processors, and further it probably wouldn't work well into Apple's current product line-up and marketing strategy to switch to AMD at this time.
 
Hey, there's nothing wrong with Apple using AMD processors, as long as it's a good product.

I mean, suppose AMD comes out with something 50% faster than a CD2 for half the price? Why wouldn't we want to get us some of that?

I don't follow the processor wars, but:

If Intel's got the best processor, I want Apple to be using that.
If AMD's got the best processor, then I want Apple to use that.
If Intel's got the best laptop processor and AMD the best workstation processor, then I want Apple to use both!
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I doubt Apple will go with AMD in the near future - at the moment Intel has the performance lead and the AMD/Intel war is so hot Intel would no doubt punish Apple for adding AMD CPUs to their product line.

I'm not holding my breath...but I am interested to see what AMD comes out with in answer to the Core 2 Duo. Maybe if AMD regains its competitiveness there will be pressure for Apple to branch out a little.
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Maybe AMDs for the low end lines and Core 2 Duo for the high end? What about a Mac Mini with dual AMD X2 for less than $400 with ATI graphic? :D
 
Before my recent purchase of an iMac my whole family used AMD PC's, and I found that they performed pretty well at low-heat to. I had a AMD 64X2 4400+ and it ran idle at 30ºC , it maxed out around 40º with stock heatsink.
While I'll admit Intel is ahead right now in tech. AMD does have "native" quad-core which should perform better than the Intel Quad-Core machines and on the lower-end AMD chips are in my opinion a great deal. They're also have some low-end chips which are going to be used in the OLPC so it could be used in some sub-notebook maybe?
But I don't think we'll see Apple add some AMD chips to their lineup for at least 6 months.
 
maybe some misunderstood what they read and assumed it was going to be in laptops. Maybe the real deal with AMD is for the use of the Alchemy processor for maybe the next ipod?
 
bloodycape said:
maybe some misunderstood what they read and assumed it was going to be in laptops. Maybe the real deal with AMD is for the use of the Alchemy processor for maybe the next ipod?
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I could DEFINITELY see them doing this. It could also be for an iPhone or iTablet.
 
macman2790 said:
gamers that want to switch to mac but wont because of intel, which is stupid. AMD fanboys hate intel also(there is a signifigant amount of these people). They still haven't realised that intel has taken the lead again.
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I am an AMD fanboy who thinks intel makes great chips, so not every amd fanboy hates intel. Just look at my sig.
 
iHateWindows said:
I could DEFINITELY see them doing this. It could also be for an iPhone or iTablet.
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iTablet I doubt that. That would most likely use an intel chip. iPhone, I think that would be TI chips in there(after all TI makes half the worlds cell phone chips). If you want to see the capabilities of the AMD Alchemy chip just check out the iStaion V43 and T43. This a great 4.3in portable multimedia player than can do GPS, DMBTV, and wifi.
 
BRLawyer said:
Any rumor published by DT deserves, at most, that special commemorative page with totally fake rumors that MR created some time ago...********!
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It is posted on page one because it is of particular interest to the community and was already spawning multiple threads here. Not all page 1 rumors as there due to legitimacy.

So lets stop beating the dead horse of page 1 vs page 2 that we already requested no comments on.
 
thejadedmonkey said:
2. AMD is far superior. Right now Intel is in the lead, but it's not a true lead. For the longest time, AMD had the better architecture. Intel had to do something, so they went back to the P3, tweaked it a little, and added some huge caches, and gave us a CPU modeled after a 6 year old (guessing here) CPU that ran at around the same GHZ speeds, but was faster.
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This isn't actually correct (the what Intel did part, superiority is up for grabs). Intel did increase the cache size, but they did a significant overhaul of the chip design. Some details...
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/Process-Manufact-Tech-Intel-amp-IBM-AMD-Comparison-ftopict182836.html
 
As it has been said, I agree that AMD shows promise and is a good option for down the road, but the fact is that Intel is just a better option right now. They have more of the ability to develop the chips Apple needs at the quantity they need them, and the timeline is there so it's Apple's call, not the chipmaker's, when they can release upgrades. Down the road, possibly, but not right now.
 
rockthecasbah said:
They have more of the ability to develop the chips Apple needs at the quantity they need them...
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This is a big point here. AMD has been struggling to keep up with demand for many months now. Apple has suffered in the past from vendors who couldn't deliver as promised. IMO the biggest advantage of the Intel shift was Intel's ability to meet Apple's demand.
 
Correct me if I am wrong.... but if Apple switches to AMD processors wouldn't they have to rewrite their apps again to work with AMD as they had to do with the Intel switch

PODshady said:
Correct me if I am wrong.... but if Apple switches to AMD processors wouldn't they have to rewrite their apps again to work with AMD as they had to do with the Intel switch
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actually never mind my last post.... I just realized that they are both x86 processors.... and I also relaized that Microsoft Windows runs on both processors without any rewritten apps
 
Eidorian said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86#Manufacturers

Hopefully Apple will stick with the best for now. (Intel) I've seen the promises AMD has but it's leaning toward 4x4 to compete with Intel. What's on the lower end for the average user when a Core 2 beats the pants off of what AMD has out.
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And one more thing....

Introducing the Macbook mini AMD edition!

AMD 4x4 processors at 2.6ghz
Nvidia 4x4 compatible chipset
AMD x1950 graphics w/ 512 memory
12in sxga screen
Superdrive
2 gigs memory standard

Liquid Nitrogen not included...

:p
 
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