Intel Begins Shipping First Kaby Lake Processors, but Most Macs Won't Get Them Until 2017

[Osty]

Or, Apple was about to release a new form factor or new design Mac's. But the CPU's and GPU's needed were either canceled or delayed. So there was nothing to release. So they are waiting...

And I am pretty sure, that there is a roadmap to ARM based Macs.

Agreed, and I would have made a similar point if I wasn't reading this on company time

Having leaped the mental hurdle of iPad's being good enough to be my daily driver in a last couple of weeks, it's obvious to me where Apple's priorities and future are.

 

[pmau]

Even if Apple would release a new MacBookPro lineup tomorrow, I'm still hesitant because THESE machines will probably stay in the store for three years. Look at the MacPro, the Mac Mini etc.

Apple could have updated all of them, but I have to agree they really think they can get away with selling old hardware for the exact same price.

This is why people are angry.

Not because the current MacBooks are bad, but because Apple does not seem to care.
Everyone who says "but the MacBook Pro is still working fine" simply fails to see that Apple is artificially extending the lifetime of there products.

This is what I'm opposed to.
No USB-C 3,1, Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.0 etc.
Just because they don't care.

 

[Zarniwoop]

I really hope Apple is cooking up something big in the Mac area. Otherwise: what have all these people in the Mac unit been doing for the past years?

I'm pretty sure that when Intel delivers Iris Pro 580 Skylakes, we're going to see updated iMac 21.5" and rMBP 15". Is it new form factor or old, that remains to be seen. And when Apple receives plenty of Polaris 10 and 11 GPU's, we'll see an update for the Mac Pro and rMBP 15" with dGPU.

• Mac Pro has been waiting for decent GPU's. Before this summer, neither Nvidia nor AMD have released a better GPGPU cards that are more powerful in computing per watt than the current Mac Pro. But new GPU's came just out. No matter is it Nvidia or AMD, Mac Pro has what it's been lacking.
• rMBP 15" and iMac 21.5" have been lacking the Iris Pro 580

Speculation

• Macbook air and rMBP 13" have been waiting for Kaby Lake. Could be a new product that combines these two Macs to a new product.
• Mac Mini. Has been waiting for either Polaris series in order to be VR compatible, or we're going to see Mac Nano. A computer in a matchbox. Needs Kaby Lake.
• iMac line will split in to two; regular iMac with iGPU, Pro with dGPU.

 

[loby]

This article is worth reading:
http://www.nature.com/news/the-chips-are-down-for-moore-s-law-1.19338

The main problem is the technology itself. We should prepare ourself for a performance stagnation for the next few years to come. A bit off-topic, but I wanted to share this.

Thanks for the article, I was also thinking that technology may be at it's peak and we should get use to slower progressions in updates. We have been use to yearly (sometime 6 months) updates for too long and have been trained that the "latest and greatest" and "new" is always the best with major leaps in innovation every time something comes out.

With just very minor improvements in the latest technology, it is not worth upgrading or putting R&D and production money into upgrading the insides, especially just seeing minor improvements. Maybe just do it for physiological reasons for those that always want "the lastest and greatest", but practically may not be worth the effort as Apple is implying with their delays.

 

[c.hack]

Bring on the complaints and crying.

These same people will complain if Apple moves to the new release cycle Intel is going to. They'll cry that the new processors aren't a big enough leap to justify a new machine.

You can never win. Everyone always wants more than what's announced and for less.

So you decided to whine about other people complaining. Very useful. Not

 

[citysnaps]

If Apple wanted to release Macs with new processors they would have done so already.

They haven't because they don't care.

Where would Apple get these new processors if they're not available in volume qualities that they require?

 

[Zellio]

Maybe you should apply for his job. I'm sure you know the right way to do it.

hint: the last quarterly profit was 18.4 BILLION. not too shabby for a "clueless accountant" who is "not able to manage any company".

Tell us what you have done.

Yeah let's tout that profit as a good thing. May I remind you that Steve Ballmer had record setting profits for many years before his decisions finally caught up and ****ed over Microsoft?

This is the line guy. Tim Cook is the guy who convinced Jobs to move production to China. Tim Cook is like Ballmer, he destroys a companies future for higher temporary profits. Him and the other executives are simply coasting towards retirement.

Can you name one thing he's brought to the company that can grow it?

 

[Appleaker]

If Apple wanted to release Macs with new processors they would have done so already.

They haven't because they don't care.

Wrong.
[doublepost=1469148262][/doublepost]

Well, at this point I'd be surprised if Apple decided to release them this year considering by the time they come out the chips will be outdated within 2 months. I'm willing to bet it's more likely this gets pushed back to Dec 2016/Jan 2017 and the 3.5mm port is replaced with lightning.

It could be delayed even further or you never know, Apple may have a special deal with Intel to get them early as they have done before. 3.5mm won't be swapped for lightning, Apple aren't even sold on the idea themselves and would much rather go to wireless. It will likely stay.

 

[ssgbryan]

Today the A9 is in a similar league to what Apple ships in a Macbook and the lower end Macbook Airs. To replace in their high end systems they need to make a quad core processor with each core running at least 1.5 times the speed of the existing A9 (this would pretty much exactly match an i7-6700 at 3.4 Ghz). There are two questions: Can they do it? And would it be profitable? I think we're getting close to the point where the answer to both questions is "yes"

And who is going to develop the software for it?

 

[macs4nw]

Is it really only bringing DisplayPort 1.2? Not 1.3 or 1.4 as seen in current GPUs from AMD and NVIDIA?

Yup, no DP1.3 for KabyLake; perhaps CannonLake? (mid-2017) Very disappointing!

 

[manu chao]

It is true that shipping on the parts with the Iris Pro 580 was delayed beyond Q1. It is not true that they are "unavailable" or "delayed to unknown time." The i7-6770HQ, for example, has been available and shipping to customers since May.

What is missing for the 13" MBP is the 28-W TDP chips with the Iris 550 (6267U, 6287U, 6567U). And if the MBA gets another update, the 15-W TDP with the Iris 540 (6260U & 6560U probably). The 6770HQ is what would go into the 15" MBP.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Even if Apple would release a new MacBookPro lineup tomorrow, I'm still hesitant because THESE machines will probably stay in the store for three years. Look at the MacPro, the Mac Mini etc.

Apple could have updated all of them, but I have to agree they really think they can get away with selling old hardware for the exact same price.

This is why people are angry.

Not because the current MacBooks are bad, but because Apple does not seem to care.
Everyone who says "but the MacBook Pro is still working fine" simply fails to see that Apple is artificially extending the lifetime of there products.

This is what I'm opposed to.
No USB-C 3,1, Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.0 etc.
Just because they don't care.

Exactly.

Technology moves at a fast pace. Things are always changing. Intel makes new improved CPUs... AMD and NVidia make new improved GPUs... even interfaces like Thunderbolt, USB and HDMI keep getting improved too.

And OEMs have to keep up.

Apple hasn't though. They are still shipping many models with the tech that was current at the time of their release... sometimes 2 or 3 years ago.

And you can't go anywhere else. Apple is the only company who sells MacOS computers. You're stuck with what they provide you.

I guess there is the Hackintosh route... but even that isn't always a great solution.

Let's hope Apple has some new computers that knock everyone's socks off. And soon.

It's sad when companies like HP, Dell and even Razer already have Thunderbolt 3 in laptops... while Apple doesn't.

 

[Osty]

Where would Apple get these new processors if they're not available in volume qualities that they require?

Dunno, maybe they could ask Lenovo, HP and Dell where they get theirs from. If Intel don't have sufficient CPUs available with Iris Pro graphics then consider putting a real GPU.

I'd accept that excuse on the Apple SkinnyBook lines, but not the desktop machines.

Wrong.

I wish I was, I really do, but I've lost faith.

 

[dampfnudel]

Yup. As I type from my Early 2008 MP.

Your list is out of date, the i7-6560 with Iris 540 graphics has been available for months, example - optional on the HP Spectre x360 15t since March.
Edit - I think something went wrong with the reply system, responded to wrong person.

 

[manu chao]

Where is that assumption? It certainly isn't in the Buying Guide! In fact, the guide showcases that upgrades and new versions are long overdue for virtually every computer!

Assume Apple had an exact 1-year Mac product cycle. Six months after the release the Buying Guide would probably switch from green to orange and after nine months to red.
[doublepost=1469148942][/doublepost]

Your list is out of date, the i7-6560 with Iris 540 graphics has been available for months, example - optional on the HP Spectre x360 15t since March.
Edit - I think something went wrong with the reply system, responded to wrong person.

Give me Wikipedia-proof reference and I update the list.

 

[Osty]

Assume Apple had an exact 1-year Mac product cycle. Six months after the release the Buying Guide would probably switch from green to orange and after nine months to red.

At this point, I'd be happy if Apple came out and said, there'd be a guaranteed refresh every two years with prices scheduled to start dropping at the 12 month mark.

It's not much to ask for, I suspect it would satisfy a lot of people and even make Macs more appealing to business users.

The secrecy was quaint when it was Apple vs Microsoft but now it just looks like stupid, marketing driven nonsense. Computers are tools to me and as a consumer I like to see what's coming so I can make an informed choice and have Apple's iron curtain pulled over my eyes.

 

[manu chao]

Well, at this point I'd be surprised if Apple decided to release them this year considering by the time they come out the chips will be outdated within 2 months.

Intel released the Broadwell quad-core 47-W TDP chips with Iris Pro in June 2015. It released the first Skylake chips 1 September 2015. To some this looks like these Intel Broadwell chips were outdated within less than three months.

 

[xmonkey]

Yes, I stumbled there. But it wont take away the point that there hasn't been an Intel product for rMBP 15". Until last month. And still the yields seems to be too low.

Where would Apple get these new processors if they're not available in volume qualities that they require?

Why is it you guys assume yields are bad? Because there's not a lot of products that are using the Iris Pro Skylake chips? I'll offer an explanation as to why other PC manufacturers probably haven't used them: they don't care about the Iris Pro part the way Apple does. They went with the lower-end iGPUs for their Skylake systems because Intel had those out first and the manufacturers wanted to get Skylake out first, period (you know, because of competition). A lot of these systems with the weaker iGPUs have a dGPU to make up for it so they didn't need to wait for Intel's top iGPU product, while Apple has demonstrated a preference to use the most powerful iGPUs in their MacBook Pros. For what it's worth, suitable Skylake Iris Pro (550) parts for the 13" rMBP were available in March and suitable Skylake Iris Pro (580) parts were available for the 15" rMBP (580) in late May. Perhaps the delay is due to AMD not having mobile Polaris ready in volume, but I don't believe they need to wait until Sept/October for that. In my view, they could have had the new MBPs announced at WWDC with availability in July for non-dGPU models and then followup later in Aug/Sept for the dGPU model. Plenty of their customers would have been satisfied with this strategy, instead of the complete silence they've given us now.

As for the people who think there won't be a dGPU in the updated MBP... it'd certainly be odd for Apple to skip Polaris for the dGPU if they've already got mobile Polaris kexts in the Sierra betas, wouldn't you think?

 

[manu chao]

At this point, I'd be happy if Apple came out and said, there'd be a guaranteed refresh every two years with prices scheduled to start dropping at the 12 month mark.

You almost had me there ... until you started talking about dropping prices.

 

[Osty]

You almost had me there ... until you started talking about dropping prices.

Watch where you step mate, those are my dreams underfoot!

 

[khoaiii]

My Alienware 17 R3 (purchased October 2015) has Skylake quadcore cpu & chipset. It has thunderbolt3, hdmi2, etc. Alienware was the first company to embrace Skylake CPU & chipset when it was released last year. I can't wait to see teh new 17 R4 with Kaby lake cpu.

 

[duffman9000]

Apple 's Macs have been neglected for so long it doesn't matter what Intel releases.

 

[3568378]

I don't think you need to explain to anyone that your ancient pc was out of date. All anybody would need as evidence is to attempt to run more then one tab.

The point in my last comment was that I never said it wasn't. I was addressing people who were calling Broadwell & Haswell i7's outdated.

 

[Swordylove]

"semi-tock"

 

[killawat]

What is missing for the 13" MBP is the 28-W TDP chips with the Iris 550 (6267U, 6287U, 6567U). And if the MBA gets another update, the 15-W TDP with the Iris 540 (6260U & 6560U probably). The 6770HQ is what would go into the 15" MBP.

Vaio Z has been shipping with 6567U since end of February . Yields may be an acceptable excuse for 6770HQ but not for 28-W parts, so many OEMs have those parts.