AMD Trinity

Not sure what you are trying to point out, exactly? The AMD chip reviewed is hands down beaten by Ivy Bridge in every category. It's a "step forward for AMD" - which admittedly in the article puts it about two steps behind Intel. In terms of battery and CPU / GPU performance, author states it struggles to keep pace with last generations (Sandy Bridge).

Good that AMD hasn't entirely fallen off the face of the earth I suppose, but I wouldn't anticipate ever seeing them in an Apple portable device - ever. You'll have a better chance seeing an ARM processor in an Air then you will AMD.

 

Id still go Intel than AMD.

 

And if Apple decided to choose AMD, would AMD be able to produce the chipset in large enough quantity fast enough?

 

The news doesn't indicate if AMD could produce enough of the chips to satisfy Apple's needs. I no longer keep track of the deep details of the CPU/GPU programming in the kernel, so I have no idea how much work Apple would have to do to use AMD. I'm sure they could do it, but I think they value their relationship with Intel too much. And I'm not sure how much work it would be to design a different logic board.

 

There is very little work required to actually get OSX to run on Trinity since Trinity is just a x86 CPU + a GPU on a single package. OSX runs on Llano already. The main issue is does Apple want to stay Intel only even though AMD has a compelling product. Most likely answer is yes since Apple and Intel are in bed together on a number of technologies (Thunderbolt etc).

 

And if the AMD chipset won't support Thunderbolt, there's no way Apple would use it.

 

Trinity does actually make sense for the MBA, but I don't think Apple will go down that route.

 

It made more sense last year and they didn't do it. Intel's pressure is too strong.

 

I already do play it on my MBA - actual playing.

 

Trinity is better in GPU terms, worse in CPU. Intel's IvyBridge CPUs for the upcoming MBA aren't out yet either, so we can't judge their performance exactly either.

However, Apple aren't selling the MBA to the gaming market. As such, they're going to be more interested in faster CPU performance, with the HD 4000 providing "enough" GPU grunt for video decoding and basic gaming tasks - as well as Thunderbolt provision.

In other words, AMD 'aint happening.

 

It's out, but not officially.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1375087

 

I'm guessing Apple's going to remove the discrete GPU in it's laptop series altogether. Instead they'l add an external GPU to the thunderbolt display. Resulting in a lot of power in a very small form factored laptop. Intel doesn't allow AMD to implement Thunderbolt, hence the need for Intel chipsets & cpus.

 

AMD blows.