SB is indeed two chip, but the second SB chip is smaller than the 320M, so it frees up some space. Of course, until we see the logic board of the new MBA, this is all conjecture.
http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/POxSYUGpXHwopXCQ.huge - the orange chip is the 320M.
http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/QWKKPpAh4AHJm1bf.huge - blue is TB, red is controller.
TB is clearly smaller than the CPU, at roughly the width of a USB port. I can see some clear space on the MBA board, that if the board is redesigned it should fit. Certainly not as packed as the MBP board.
im looking to buy my first mac an the MBA 13 is what i like, i will only really use for work with spread sheets, word files surfing the net etc. occasionally connect to the tv to watch an online movie. my question is would i be better off buying now to get nvidia graphics or wait for the new one. i was intending to buy with upgraded to 4 g ram and iworks as im sick to death of pc's.
Seriously, I hope that TB is there, but will probably buy one even if it's not. The MacBook it's going to be replacing doesn't have a FW port, and I haven't missed it as much as I thought I would.
All I want is an 11" MBA with 256 GB SSD as an option! I'm not asking for it as standard config. I just want the option (since I'd pay for this option).
Lets put down some numbers of the package sizes:
U/LV Core 2 Duo: 22mm x 22mm = 484mm^2
320M: No official package size. However, the teardown gives us a good comparison of those two chips and their size. With my poor Photoshop skills, I was able to come up with a solution that 320M has roughly 28% bigger package size than the CPU, making its package size roughly 620mm^2
U/LV Sandy Bridge: 31mm x 24mm = 744mm^2
HM65 chipset: 25mm x 25mm = 625mm^2
Thunderbolt: Again, no official data but the chips appears to be about one third (33%) of the PCH so that would make its package size 206mm^2
C2D total: 1104mm^2
SB total: 1575mm^2 (43% bigger)
I emphasize that these are just rough comparisons because iFixit's pics aren't the best (the annoying color things make this a bit inaccurate). However, it looks like SB with TB will take more space but I don't think that will stop Apple from putting them in MBA.