Details on Upcoming Amber Lake Chips Appropriate for 2018 MacBook Leak

[Kebabfar88]

I wish apple would implement the touch bar in this Macbook.
I want the touch bar, but i have no need for a Macbook Pro.
Do you guys think that will ever happen?
I guess it would cannibalize the sales on the Pro models.

 

[tyusrex]

Ohh, the MacBook lacks power. Ohh, it has only one port.. oh, who's it for.
I don't understand why people care. Just buy another laptop, its not for you.

User complaints, well actually the class action lawsuits, forced apple to remedy the situation. At least partially.

Apple needs to hear complaints to induce them to make better design decisions.

 

[Yvan256]

[...] Wait a minute, this exaggeration thing, it's pretty fun. I think I'm going to join team Too Heavy.

/clears throat

The MB is just perfect for on-the-go activity. It's just soooo light. The closest analog I can think of is aerogel.

Maybe you just found the name of the MacBook Air replacement by mistake...

MacBook Aero.

Or if they use a smaller display to go back to the 11" MacBook Air size or even smaller, maybe re-use the same LCDs as used by the iPad/Pro, the name could be "MacBook mini".

 

[lambertjohn]

I've got a 2017 MB, the base model, and it runs everything I throw at it just fine: Office, Photoshop, surfing the internet. Plus I get 10-14 hours out of the battery depending on what programs I'm running. A 8th gen CPU upgrade would be cool, but it's pretty darn snappy the way it is right now. Not power-user snappy, mind you, but for the 99% of us who just surf the internet and kick out documents and do some minor photo editing, it's just fine.

 

[pl1984]

Functionality is so severely compromised the weight is irrelevant. The butterfly keyboard is not a real keyboard IMO. The lack of ports is a significant problem. The lack of screen real estate and the tiny fonts and icons are a problem. The lack of MagSafe is a safety hazard (hazardous for my wallet that is). Or cost hazard then.

It sounds as if this is not the right laptop for you. As such my recommendation is to avoid buying it.

 

[EugW]

I wish apple would implement the touch bar in this Macbook.
I want the touch bar, but i have no need for a Macbook Pro.
Do you guys think that will ever happen?
I guess it would cannibalize the sales on the Pro models.

I sure hope not. First of all I really don't like the Touch Bar much and second, it would raise the cost.

One group that seems to like the Touch Bar more than others is Final Cut users, but in that context the MacBook doesn't make sense anyway. It doesn't have the GPU or CPU power for this purpose.

 

[Eddie Beeps]

I use my rMB for fairly intricate(?) SketchUp and Adobe Illustrator design work. It’s not great when saving lots of large, rasterized images into the illustrator stuff. However, I can use it on the sofa to make 3D stuff, instead of sitting a desk in an office. Battery life isn’t great (5-7 hours for the stuff I do non-stop), but it charges quickly enough.

I like that it’s fanless (but only for the sake of not having to listen to a fan). I also like that it’s available in colors that are warmer than grey; it’s svelte-looking; and it’s light.

 

[Baymowe335]

Shame it's still 14nm. That's what happens when you become big and complacent.

Or what happens when you're executing a strategy and dominating. Zero slip in the numbers.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Doesn't the current MacBook Pro 13″ use a separate controller chip? The iFixit teardown seems to confirm this, but perhaps I'm misunderstanding the CPU support required.

Yes, exactly right. The 2016/2017 MBP use Intel’s Alpine Ridge controller, the new 2018 models use the newer Titan Ridge Chip which offers DisplayPort 1.4.

But Apple hasn’t used the separate TB3 controller chips in the 12” MacBook. Probably because they draw 2-2.5 watts and would take up quite a bit of real estate on the motherboard, which it does not have to spare.

 

[leman]

Oh my. Another skylake variant? How many names will they find for the same architecture? Where is 10mn, Intel?

 

[appleofmyibook]

I really love my i5 2017 MacBook. For what I use it for, its perfect and has exceeded all my expectations for it.

So do I.. All those people who say ‘just buy a 13 non-Touch Bar model’. Heck no. The Macbook is such a beautiful and underrated machine. In simple tasks that you do every day like web, documents, spreadsheets etc it feels exactly like my 15 inch MacBook Pro. So light and portable and very capable. I may be in the minority on this, but I wish this machine had a Touch Bar. I love that thing and I really miss it when I’m on the MacBook.

 

[asiga]

Imagine a 3lb laptop is “too heavy” for you

Precisely. The size/weight ratio of the 13in MBP is the same as the 2010 MBA. That’s 8 years. And the 15in MBP has even a worse ratio. I’m not arguing that the MBP is bad. I’m just arguing that there’s people wanting larger screens and lighter weight, so there’s demand for the MB. I’m replying those who argue you don’t need a MB when you have a MBP. That’s totally false.

 

[PickUrPoison]

<snip>

I am hopeful that Apple will release a 13" MacBook with a Titan Ridge controller and give us at least 1 (40GBps) Thunderbolt 3 port, but who knows.

I’d like a 14” (with smaller bezels) The larger battery could accommodate the not-insignificant power demands of the Titan Ridge chip; two TB3 ports please

 

[mgauss7]

Apple's 12-inch MacBook lineup is expected to receive a refresh in 2018, and the new machines may use Intel's upcoming 8th-generation 14nm++ Y-Series Amber Lake chips.

Details on the new chips leaked recently from Dell's Chilean site and Romanian site NextLab501, as highlighted by MacRumors forum reader EugW.

Chips appropriate for the 12-inch MacBook include the 1.1GHz Core m3-8100Y, the 1.3GHz Core i5-8200Y, and the 1.5GHz Core i7-8500Y.

Core m3-8100Y
- 1.1 GHz - Base clock
- 2.7 GHz - 2-core Turbo
- 3.4 GHz - 1-core Turbo

Core i5-8200Y
- 1.3 GHz - Base clock
- 3.2 GHz - 2-core Turbo
- 3.9 GHz - 1-core Turbo

Core i7-8500Y
- 1.5 GHz - Base clock
- 3.6 GHz - 2-core Turbo
- 4.2 GHz - 1-core Turbo

Maximum clock speeds for the new Amber Lake chips suggest significant improvement in processor speeds over the 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors. For comparison's sake, Turbo Boost topped out at 3.0GHz on the 1.2GHz entry-level processor, 3.2GHz on the mid-level 1.3GHz processor, and 3.6GHz on the 1.4GHz high-end chip option in the previous-generation machines.

All of the chips use Intel's UHD 620 integrated graphics and are expected to be released in the third quarter of 2018, with the timing perfect for a fall refresh of the 12-inch MacBook.

Dell's upcoming and as-of-yet-unannounced XPS 13 2-in-1 machine confirms the existence of the Core i5-8200Y and Core i7-8500Y processors, both of which are listed as processor options for the new device.

Intel first announced its upcoming Amber Lake chips at Computex, but thus far has not provided official info on the upcoming processors.

Rumors have not indicated when updates to the 12-inch MacBook will be available, but Apple could introduce refreshed machines alongside new iPhones in September, hold an event in October, or release them on a random date as it did with the recent MacBook Pro.

The recent launch of the MacBook Pro also hints at one new feature we could potentially be seeing in new 12-inch MacBook models aside from processor upgrades -- a third-generation butterfly keyboard.

2015 and later 12-inch MacBook models have suffered from the same issues with keyboard failures, so it would make sense for Apple to include an updated keyboard in those machines as well, if, as speculated, the "quieter" third-generation MacBook Pro butterfly keyboard's new silicone coverings do indeed prevent dust from infiltrating the keys.

Article Link: Details on Upcoming Amber Lake Chips Appropriate for 2018 MacBook Leak

How to move my iMac’s 2 TB stuff into its little drive without having to select? Why don’t they do it like the iPads?

 

[laz232]

Shame it's still 14nm. That's what happens when you become big and complacent.

Lol - you don't know WTF you are talking about - thinking that a single number can give any meaningful information as to the effectiveness of a process node. Akin to thinking that MHz is still a good indication of, and directly correlated to, CPU performance.

https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/technology_node

(Source: I actually worked at an Intel subsidiary, though not directly in semiconductor design, I was involved in testing at 28nm, but on non-CPU (and non-Intel) processes).

 

[tyusrex]

Lol - you don't know WTF you are talking about - thinking that a single number can give any meaningful information as to the effectiveness of a process node. Akin to thinking that MHz is still a good indication of, and directly correlated to, CPU performance.

https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/technology_node

(Source: I actually worked at an Intel subsidiary, though not directly in semiconductor design, I was involved in testing at 28nm, but on non-CPU (and non-Intel) processes).

There's no point in mudslinging. Benchmarks tell the story.

Are you claiming the MacBook is a fast laptop? What are you angry about? Just post some benchmarks instead of calling names. Just because you stayed at a holiday inn express or met Latoya Jackson or have some other spurious claim to or association with fame does not make you right.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I believe the built-in controller for Thunderbolt 3 likely won't arrive until Ice Lake. That would mean 2020 at this rate.

I see you’ve (wisely) already given up on Intel delivering 10nm+ next year lol

 

[geromi912]

Meh, again, the other 99% of users won't care. For the general user (which make up the vast majority of the market) this will meet their needs just fine.

People complain about these Apple machines and then wonder why they sell so well despite the complaints. The truth is very few need the power offered by a MacBook Pro or have the need to plug things into their machine. They'll be very well served by these offerings.

A $150 chromebook will likely do everything those users need to do. Shame it doesn’t have a shiny apple logo. Well and the screen I guess, should someone decides to watch a 1440p movie on a 12 inch screen.

 

[EugW]

A $150 chromebook will likely do everything those users need to do. Shame it doesn’t have a shiny apple logo. Well and the screen I guess, should someone decides to watch a 1440p movie on a 12 inch screen.

I tried using a Chromebook. It's unfortunately severely lacking.

It's not a surprise that after even after using a Chromebook throughout school (since so many schools are built around Chromebook deployments), most of those who go on to university end up buying a Mac or a Windows PC.

There's no point in mudslinging. Benchmarks tell the story.

Are you claiming the MacBook is a fast laptop? What are you angry about? Just post some benchmarks instead of calling names. Just because you stayed at a holiday inn express or met Latoya Jackson or have some other spurious claim to or association with fame does not make you right.

Numerous benchmarks abound on this forum. We've already posted lots. A 2017 MacBook is roughly as fast as a 2015 MacBook Air.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Shame it's still 14nm. That's what happens when you become big and complacent.

I think it is more a function of making 100% sure that the 10nm lithography is bulletproof before starting mass production, getting 15 million CPUs in and then realizing it was not as bulletproof as it could have been. I am as eager for 10nm (Cannon Lake, Ice Lake, Mountain Dew Lake, et al) as the next geek, but I want Intel to get it rock solid first.

Intel can only help their cause by keeping their PR people bound and gagged until its Ready Ready®

 

[bluecoast]

The current chips are already dual core. Also we have no idea how well they can make x86 apps run on ARM. If for example FCPX takes a performance hit then they can’t use ARM chips. FYI the snapdragon 835 running Windows took a 50% performance hit.

I’d imagine that IF we see ARM macs we’ll see the MB, MBA (if it still exists as a line) & the mini move over first.

Apple will probably then promote these as light productivity machines with the ability to run marzipan MS office, iWork & iLife apps plus the top productivity iPad apps in their marzipan incarnations - you’ve got to imagine that apps is already working with indie devs on this already (NDA’d!).

I’d imagine that (initially) Apple’s pro apps simply wouldn’t be available for download for ARM macs.

Mind you...

If it’s true the Adobe are rebuilding photoshop for the iPad, there’d a good chance that’ll it’ll appear as a marzipan app.

And if adobe is doing that with photoshop, you’ve got to imagine that Apple are exploring something similar with its pro apps too.

 

[Rogifan]

I have a feeling the MacBook Air, MacBook and MacBook Escape will be combined into one product line. Maybe they’ll keep a version of the MacBook around for those who want a thin and light machine but don’t need legacy ports. But I agree with Jason Snell. There’s a reason the non-touch bar MBP and MacBook laptops weren’t updated. I don’t think it’s just an Intel chip issue. And I also think there’s a reason when Apple did the press avail with the new MBPs they focused so much on how they were professional machines. I think the consumer shoe is still left to drop. Only question is why it’s not ready in time for back to school. Unless that is an issue with availability of Intel chips.

 

[sir1963nz]

i will probably buy the i7 version to replace my 13" macbook pro...we'll see.

I won't.
I need USB-A , Ethernet, Thunderbolt 2, Audio out, SD card reader, mag-safe power connector
I need upgradeable RAM and SSD
I need repairability, the ability to replace the battery.
I need a better keyboard with real function keys, not that wank bar, I want a proper layout for the arrow keys

I have ZERO intention of paying Apples price gouge for RAM or SSD to have it there when I buy the computer
I have ZERO intention of paying hundreds of dollars more for dongles, they are unreliable. I have Apple USB-C and Thunderbolt to ethernet adaptors at my job that fail to function on some machines and work on others.
I am forever buying dongles as visiting guests borrow them and forget to return them.
I don't want to be forced into paying Apple for iCloud storage because the SSD is not big enough for my photo library

So, instead of replacing by failed 2011 MBP I have now bought a cheap PC laptop and have thrown Ubuntu Linux on it, my first non Apple machine since the mid 1980's. Sure I don't have all the ports I want, but I have more of them now than I would on any Mac laptop. I am slowly finding software to replace what I had need of, but I am getting there.

 

[EugW]

I won't.
I need USB-A , Ethernet, Thunderbolt 2, Audio out, SD card reader, mag-safe power connector
I need upgradeable RAM and SSD
I need repairability, the ability to replace the battery.
I need a better keyboard with real function keys, not that wank bar, I want a proper layout for the arrow keys

Just a note that MacBooks have two ports, one of them being an audio out.

 

[dantroline]

I wish apple would implement the touch bar in this Macbook.
I want the touch bar, but i have no need for a Macbook Pro.
Do you guys think that will ever happen?
I guess it would cannibalize the sales on the Pro models.

I've had the Touch Bar for as long as it's existed. It's not worth the money until external keyboards support the same feature, because anyone doing serious work on these machines is very likely to be using a desktop machine a lot of the time or have the laptop docked to a screen/keyboard/mouse/[other specialised input gear such as Wacom tablet, midi keyboard etc] at a desk. It's not worth getting used to this feature until it becomes a serious part of the workflow. I wouldn't recommend the Touch Bar yet. Still a gimmick.