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Intel Announces 8th-Generation Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake Processors Suitable for MacBook and MacBook Air
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That's been a discussion point for weeks if not months now though as Whiskey Lake was thoroughly rumoured before the launch. The non touch bar MacBook Pro 2017 definitely has no Iris Graphics 15w 2018 variant meaning Apple will either have it continue on as an (expensive) zombie or they deliver some sort of (lower price) alternative.
The Eurasian listing still has 3 Mac laptops to be revealed soon and the 12" MacBook will probably be one of them. This leaves a space for a product to replace the MBA and the nTB MBP - not a merger to simplify the lines.
I'm gunning for a 13" MacBook to replace the MBA and (a lot less likely) something like a 15" MacBook to replace the nTB MBP.
Well the official line is (from Brian Krzanich) that they bit off more than they could chew with an unusually ambitious 2.7x transistor density increase from 14nm to 10nm - either way it’s really screwed them up...
Did anyone else notice they used the FireWire logo for SATA? lol
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When I'm a billionaire, I will make a lake out of Whiskey and invite you to go kayaking on it with me lol.
Because it's really not that much faster/better than current chips.
These processors surely most be aimed for the new MBA and MB 12 inch refresh.
And that means there’s not much use for the MB escape, so I can’t see how that’s goinc to be sticking around.
And that means there’s not much use for the MB escape, so I can’t see how that’s goinc to be sticking around.
From the Anandtech link, it appears there's a native USB 3.1 controller onboard. Could this mean Apple would in theory be able to use USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 speeds (10Gb/s) on each port? That would be a useful upgrade to the MacBook - equivalent to Thunderbolt 1 speed. The improved onboard WiFi might also be attractive for Apple too.
The Anandtech link also implies that these CPUs are also Kaby Lake based - so could they be arriving in time for the MBA and MacBook if announced in late October?
The Amber Lake CPU in this lineup has a slightly higher TDP, so could we be seeing more battery space used in an evolution of the 12" model (as with the already released MacBook Pros?)
When Intel announced the 8250U and 8550U on August 21, 2017, there was very good availability shortly after that. I am not concerned in the least about it. The Core i-9000 Series is a bit more concerning, but I still think there will be enough to carry the iMac through the holiday season.
I’m not sure there’s much demand for 15W with Iris graphics, Apple was Intel’s main customer. If they wanted to Apple could continue the nTB with its current 7th generation parts until Intel releases better CPUs but I think it gets merged with the MBA follow-on. Apple doesn’t need two 13” Retina 15W models.
In any case it seems that 15W Iris parts would be dual-core only. Most of Intel’s customers (including Apple for lower priced models) would rather have 4+2 than 2+3. I suppose 4+3 would be possible at 10nm++, so late 2019/early 2020?
I still think there’s a place for 15W but it won’t have TB3 at $999. It’ll be USB 3.1 like the rMB. A 14” or 15” rMB would be awesome, a 13” model seems too close to the 12”. So I don’t think the rumored 13” model will use the new Amber Lake 5W parts but it’s possible; then the 12” model would drop to take the $999 price point.
What I suspect Apple might do is use the existing MacBook Pro Escape key design, bump the screen to 14 inch and use the Whiskeylake CPU. This will make a decent midrange MacBook laptop thats clearly differentiated from the 12 inch MacBook. At the same time, it won't be powerful enough to compete with or cannibalize the touchbar MacBook Pro, but has a clear value option with its large screen.
Its just that, will the larger retina screen and a more powerful processor than the existing MB Air be enough. Are Air users interested in upgrade embrace this without standard USB A?
Its just that, will the larger retina screen and a more powerful processor than the existing MB Air be enough. Are Air users interested in upgrade embrace this without standard USB A?
Intel declines to provide a block diagram for the Y-Series, so who knows what it will end up having available to it. I haven’t read the ARK listing yet...the 8265U and the 8565U should be in good supply by October. I would it be surprised if Apple has already placed its order a few months ago.
We could be limited to USB-C Gen 2 on the 13” MacBook or get TB3, I do hope Apple opts for TB3. Expect Wireless-ac and Bluetooth 5.0.
I agree it's an odd comparison to make. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if the average upgrade interval for lighter-use PCs is 5 years.
Intel missed the opportunity to add lpddr4 with these chips
It’s time for Apple to move on to its own architecture for notebook-CPUs
At the moment intel just keeps up with technological progress, but doesn’t lead.
Intel stalled and lost its advance when it couldn’t roll out 10 nm. They had to roll out interim-steps/emergency-steps to keep fresh cpus in the cycle.
When they will finally release their 10nm design to market, I’m interested if they update it before, since they delayed ist so many times (it was intended for 2017), so do they integrate their progress from these interimsteps?
It’s time for Apple to move on to its own architecture for notebook-CPUs
At the moment intel just keeps up with technological progress, but doesn’t lead.
Intel stalled and lost its advance when it couldn’t roll out 10 nm. They had to roll out interim-steps/emergency-steps to keep fresh cpus in the cycle.
When they will finally release their 10nm design to market, I’m interested if they update it before, since they delayed ist so many times (it was intended for 2017), so do they integrate their progress from these interimsteps?
Maybe because that is what Apple is shipping in most of their Macs?
Defend THAT one
Moore's law observed that the number of transistors on a chip doubled roughly every 24 months. Sometimes that resulted in a performance doubling, sometimes not, but it has been trailing off for the last decade or so due to difficulties in die shrinkage. It had been doing 18-24 months since the mid-1970s.
See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law
Here's our new architecture - we're going to shoot for the sky! Lets call it Sky Lake.
Uh, oh, our 10nm shrink is delayed - the boss is getting crabby. Lets call a minor revision Kaby Lake.
Oh no - 10nm isn't working - bring on the coffee so everyone can work 80 hour weeks. Lets "rearrange the deck chairs" and call it Coffee Lake.
10nm is DOA - time to start drinking. Lets call this minor change Whiskey Lake.
Two times faster than a 5 year old PC - really Intel? How fast is it after all the firmware and software updates for Sceptre and a bunch of other hacks?
These are extremely low power processors for ultra portables. It’s fair to see how they compare to workstation spec PCs from 5 years ago as it means they’ll be fast enough to do normal business/office work while being extremely low power and portable.
"Intel Announces 8th-Generation Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake Processors Suitable for MacBook and MacBook Air"
No, just, no.
MBA is EOL. Period.
I don't care who says there may be a new MBA, the answer is no, there will not be a new MBA.
When Apple updates the MacBook next time, the last model will stick around this time and price lowered, then they can finally phase out the MBA.
No, just, no.
MBA is EOL. Period.
I don't care who says there may be a new MBA, the answer is no, there will not be a new MBA.
When Apple updates the MacBook next time, the last model will stick around this time and price lowered, then they can finally phase out the MBA.
Ha, yeah I came here to see if anyone else noticed... man that is a logo I haven't seen in some time. Thought maybe we would finally see FireWire 1600 and 3200 on the Mac
which is the chicken the macbook, or is the egg my late 20s friends? speak english man!
... or the cart before the horse
... or taking the effect and making it the cause
the point being people have extended their upgrade cycle because intel is dragging ass at providing meaningful improvements annually. if they doubled the speed every other year then I am pretty sure the average person would have a reason to pull the trigger sooner.