Intel Launching Next Generation MacBook Air Processors

[kny3twalker]

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ULV CPUs (17W) will go to 11.6". The TDP of 320M is not known but 9400M has TDP of 12W so it is quite safe to assume that the TDP is similar to that. That means current 11.6" MBA has TDP of 22W (includes CPU, GPU, chipset) while SB 11.6" MBA would have a TDP of 21W (17W for the CPU and ~4W for the PCH).

13" will go with LV CPUs (25W). Again, currently it has 17W for the CPU and 12W for 320M. That's 29W. 25W CPU and ~4W for PCH gives you the same 29W.

11.6" - Core i5-2537M (option for Core i7-2657M)
13.3" - Core i7-2629M (option for Core i7-2649M)

You should submit this. As the current article had me confused as to the potential configurations, and I am sure I am not alone there as your reply represents.

 

[akatsuki]

Thunderbolt and new CPUs would make me buy on day one.

 

[topmounter]

"integrated graphics"... "good enough" LOL... I think I'll keep my current-gen 13" MBA. I didn't buy the world's most expensive netbook for "good enough".

 

[nsayer]

For most people the ipad is more useful than the air anyway imo. Yes i owned an air, the ipad 1, and now the ipad 2 and the air was just a watered down macbook pro more than the ipad is a scaled up ipod touch

Alas, there are some things that the curated app store will never be able to supply. Case in point: a pokerstars or fulltilt client. And if the ipad's Safari can't do java or flash or allow me to run the applications of my choosing, then it's not sufficiently open for my needs.

 

[2IS]

For most people the ipad is more useful than the air anyway imo. Yes i owned an air, the ipad 1, and now the ipad 2 and the air was just a watered down macbook pro more than the ipad is a scaled up ipod touch

More portable yes. More useful, not by a long shot.

 

[snebes]

"But I JUST bought this..."
"3D, 3D, 3D."
"Wait... 4D?"
"You bought the wrong one dummy..."

You forgot the "*facepalm* stupid".

 

[decimortis]

I loves me my 11.6 ultimate and it hasn't let me down yet in the power department for my work with CS5, but of course, updated more faster, more shiny MBA's are always welcome. Can't say I'll upgrade but nice to see them progressing.

D.

 

[roland.g]

I have something better than a MacBook Air. It's called an iPad 2.

That with my iMac and I have no need anymore for my 13" aluminum MacBook. While the Air is a nice looking and light machine, I still like having things like Firewire, an optical drive (without having to pay extra for it or plug it in), and above all, screen real estate.

My 24" iMac gives me that. While my iPad 2 gives my instant on, mobile, and light. When the iMacs get a refresh and ship with Lion, it will be time for a 27".

 

[LegendKillerUK]

"integrated graphics"... "good enough" LOL... I think I'll keep my current-gen 13" MBA. I didn't buy the world's most expensive netbook for "good enough".

You are aware the nvidia graphics in your current one are also integrated?

 

[Veinticinco]

At least I now have a short finite timeline to work with to buy my 13"/2.13GHz C2D/256GB MBA before they "upgrade" it to a vastly inferior Intel GPU.

 

[jonnysods]

Sign me up for this please!!!

 

[mikeapple]

Can we also expect, ?

-Backlit keys
-Brighter display, colors, and IPS
-HD Facetime

All would be greatly appreciated along with the Sandy Bridge

fingers crossed for no Over-heating issues, you know how those turbo speeds can get and how they've treated the 13'' Pros

 

[LegendKillerUK]

fingers crossed for no Over-heating issues, you know how those turbo speeds can get and how they've treated the 13'' Pros

Any overheating would be caused by the lack of appropriate thermal paste.

My experience is at best anecdotal but I tend to run Windows 7 in Parallels and have a flash stream running in Safari and the CPU doesn't go above 80c, which is perfectly acceptable.

 

[radiohead14]

i would love a refreshed SB 11" MBA with thunderbolt, backlit keyboard, at least 7 hours of battery, and lion. apple: you could take my money right away if you come through with this!

 

[budafied]

This may make my 13" MBP summer purchase change a bit...

It'd be a hard choice between a current i5 13" MBP and an i5 13" MBA, especially with that higher res screen and the SSD. The only problem is that it will be my only machine, so I'm not sure I can do just an Air for an extended period of time. The netbook-only setup I have now is pretty lame.

 

[mactoday]

As reported by Fudzilla and HardMac, Intel is about to launch its next generation Sandy Bridge ultra low voltage CPUs suitable for the MacBook Air.

Due to the MacBook Air's thin form factor, it has required the use of particularly low power CPUs from Intel. Apple has stuck with Core 2 Duo processors with a maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 10-17W. Apple is believed to have continued to use this older processor design in order to keep NVIDIA's graphics chips powering their ultracompact notebook. Due to licensing disputes, NVIDIA was prohibited from building newer chipsets that supported Intel's newest processors.

With the release of Sandy Bridge, Intel upgraded the performance of their integrated graphics chipset. This was good enough for Apple to offer in their latest 13" MacBook Pros, so we expect it will be good enough for the upcoming MacBook Airs as well. Apple had been previously rumored to be introducing the "Sandy Bridge" MacBook Airs this June.

HardMac pinpoints the Core i5 2537M (17W) as the possible chip to be used, at least in the 13" model:Meanwhile, the current 11" MacBook air uses an even lower power (10W) processor, but it's not clear how much power savings is offered by removing the need for the NVIDIA graphics chipset, as the Intel solution is integrated within the processor itself.

Article Link: Intel Launching Next Generation MacBook Air Processors

Actually there is Core i7 2657M at 1.6Ghz 2 Cores with HT (4 threads) with turbo up to 2.4Ghz. TDP 17Watt. Looks better chip for top model 13" MacBook Air. Don't you think so?

 

[Acerone]

can we also expect, ?

-backlit keys
-brighter display, colors, and ips
-hd facetime

all would be greatly appreciated along with the sandy bridge

fingers crossed for no over-heating issues, you know how those turbo speeds can get and how they've treated the 13'' pros

+1

 

[NY Guitarist]

SB processor is great. I hope it has a backlit keyboard.

But I thought integrated graphics typically were not very good, and some software won't even work with it.

Apple giveth, Apple taketh away.

 

[jamesryanbell]

I have something better than a MacBook Air. It's called an iPad 2.

I LOL'd. I owned iPad 1 for a year, and while it's nice, it's a FAR, FAR cry from the productivity capabilities of the current gen MBA.

Like it or not, iPad is SEVERELY CRIPPLED for content creation (i.e. real work), but excels at content CONSUMPTION. That's factual and completely undebatable. Everyone knows this.

So, no, it's not "something better". It's a more viable choice for entertainment and consumption. That's it.

 

[Luph67]

What is the obsession with back-lit keys?

Do you actually look at the keyboard when you're typing?

 

[KnightWRX]

The Intel IGP is a serious downgrade. It's too bad Intel kicked nVidia out of the market, they have no talent for graphics. I would not have bought a SB MBA with Intel graphics, quite happy with my C2D+320m one.

 

[LegendKillerUK]

SB processor is great. I hope it has a backlit keyboard.

But I thought integrated graphics typically were not very good, and some software won't even work with it.

Apple giveth, Apple taketh away.

The current nvidia chip is also integrated so it's not that much of a step down. As a 13" Pro user I can happily tell anyone that for what the product is made for, it's perfectly usable. At first I was pissed at the idea but it turned out the Intel HD 3000 were more powerful than the graphics in my old laptop.

 

[superfula]

Since you have no clue how the sandy bridge airs will perform, I'll take your statement as FUD.

Of course we do. The integrated graphics card will perform just as poorly as every other Sandy Bridge processor because it's the same.

 

[LegendKillerUK]

Of course we do. The integrated graphics card will perform just as poorly as every other Sandy Bridge processor because it's the same.

What do you intend to do on an Air that will require what little extra power the nvidia gfx offers over Intel. You sure as hell can't game with it.

 

[mactoday]

Since you have no clue how the sandy bridge airs will perform, I'll take your statement as FUD.

Actually 320m performs better then Intel 3000, so the dude is right that graphics chip in SB is slower.