MacBook Pro 2011 predictions

[Jdstew1234]

my hopes/predictions

-higher res 13" (use macbook air's screen)
-onboard flash SSD option (for those of us who prefer speed over large capacity) option
-perhaps a cpu upgrade? C2D is a little old school now
-get rid of superdrive or not, i don't care, just gimme great battery life.

I'm looking at getting my first osx machine, would love at least the higher res screen and ssd on board flash option for $1200-1300.

I agree byt have like 32gb or flash to start up the machine and use a hdd for the rest of the memory. 4gigs of ram. No odd. And defiantly better battery life. I am buying a 13" as well. I bet anywhere from $1200-$1400. Depending on the model

 

[vipergts2207]

425M - about 35W TDP, 330M TDP is 23W - i don't think it's happening
All those CPU are still duo-core (4 virtual). Why not getting the 2.8GHz i7 now ?
How can SB be faster ?

Where did you get that the 425m is 35W TDP? It's only 23W.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ocessing_units#GeForce_400M_.284xxM.29_series

And someone already explained why SB is faster, even if the clock speed is lower.

 

[joecool99]

Where did you get that the 425m is 35W TDP? It's only 23W.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ocessing_units#GeForce_400M_.284xxM.29_series

And someone already explained why SB is faster, even if the clock speed is lower.

Nice table. thanks fro clarification.

330M is 182 (GFLOPs), the 425M is 215.04 (GFLOPs)
+ some over clocking, might get 15-20% faster then 330M

 

[gonnabuyamacbsh]

All Macs come with 1-year warranty so you don't need to buy AppleCare. Apple will cover it if new machine has issues. Besides, stop reading forums if they affect you too much. People don't come here telling how perfect their new MBP is, they come here if they have issues. Take a look at any other computer forum and there will be people doing the same, regardless of the manufacturer.

If theres a problem within 1 year will exchange it free of cost without a restocking fee?

I know quite a few people in real life that have problems with their brand new macs. I know more people that love their laptops but it's still concerning...

 

[Erasmus]

Nice table. thanks fro clarification.

330M is 182 (GFLOPs), the 425M is 215.04 (GFLOPs)
+ some over clocking, might get 15-20% faster then 330M

Whereas a number of AMD graphics cards manage between 400 and 800 GFLOP/s (depending on which one), and still have a TDP around 23W.

 

[Hellhammer]

If theres a problem within 1 year will exchange it free of cost without a restocking fee?

I know quite a few people in real life that have problems with their brand new macs. I know more people that love their laptops but it's still concerning...

Warranty isn't same as return period. You have 14 days to return it or ask for replacement. After that it will be dealt as warranty case where Apple will likely just replace the defective part

 

[SilverOnemi]

Nice table. thanks fro clarification.

330M is 182 (GFLOPs), the 425M is 215.04 (GFLOPs)
+ some over clocking, might get 15-20% faster then 330M

it already is, it's 18 % faster, you don't need to overclock it.

 

[Erasmus]

Yay! Full AMD 6000M GPU series release!!! Need 6830M in a 17" MBP, Apple.

Nownownownownownownow.

(Dreams of 950 GFLOP/s)

 

[Hellhammer]

Yay! Full AMD 6000M GPU series release!!! Need 6830M in a 17" MBP, Apple.

Nownownownownownownow.

(Dreams of 950 GFLOP/s)

I would expect 57xxM in MBP. 6830M might fit in 17" (it's just 58xxM with couple of tweaks) but since 5830M has TDP of 24W and 6830M has 75MHz faster clock speed, it might have too high TDP for 15". Especially if you dream about quad core SB. Plus the price factor of course. Possible, but unlikely IMO. Apple likes to screw us with mid-level offerings

 

[Erasmus]

I would expect 57xxM in MBP. 6830M might fit in 17" (it's just 58xxM with couple of tweaks) but since 5830M has TDP of 24W and 6830M has 75MHz faster clock speed, it might have too high TDP for 15". Especially if you dream about quad core SB. Plus the price factor of course. Possible, but unlikely IMO. Apple likes to screw us with mid-level offerings

Sadly, it's true.

Hopefully Apple will recognise that the 6830M has like the best performance per watt of like all GPUs, and will use it.

I would marry a quad CPU 17" MBP with a 1 GB 6830M in it. And/or pay apple some ridiculous amount of money for it.

Although I expect we'll get stuck with some crappy 6550M or something. Or worse, anything from NVIDIA.

 

[vipergts2207]

Sadly, it's true.

Hopefully Apple will recognise that the 6830M has like the best performance per watt of like all GPUs, and will use it.

I would marry a quad CPU 17" MBP with a 1 GB 6830M in it. And/or pay apple some ridiculous amount of money for it.

Although I expect we'll get stuck with some crappy 6550M or something. Or worse, anything from NVIDIA.

The worst possible outcome would be Apple sticking with the 330m which seems quite possible. Apple likes to keep their GPU's around for a long time for some reason and the 330m has only been in there since the last update. If Apple doesn't update the GPU for SB I might have to reconsider buying and wait for IB, which I don't particularly want to do. Apple shouldn't be pushing outdated tech, especially when sold at a premium price.

I hope Apple returns to doing things like this.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/136649-3/in_pictures_the_most_notable_notebooks_of_2007.html

 

[Hellhammer]

The worst possible outcome would be Apple sticking with the 330m which seems quite possible. Apple likes to keep their GPU's around for a long time for some reason and the 330m has only been in there since the last update. If Apple doesn't update the GPU for SB I might have to reconsider buying and wait for IB, which I don't particularly want to do. Apple shouldn't be pushing outdated tech, especially when sold at a premium price.

I hope Apple returns to doing things like this.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/136649-3/in_pictures_the_most_notable_notebooks_of_2007.html

330M would be ridiculous considering that it's just a renamed GT 230M which was released in mid 2009. Looks like Apple is updating the MBP more rarely which hopefully means that the GPU is updated with every update. It was a bit different with C2Ds as they were around for what, 3-4 years and no huge performance gains so Apple was able to do more small updates. Nowadays, I'm fine with once-a-year cycle if it means next gen CPU and GPU

 

[wizzlez]

Sadly, it's true.

Hopefully Apple will recognise that the 6830M has like the best performance per watt of like all GPUs, and will use it.

I would marry a quad CPU 17" MBP with a 1 GB 6830M in it. And/or pay apple some ridiculous amount of money for it.

Although I expect we'll get stuck with some crappy 6550M or something. Or worse, anything from NVIDIA.

Are you into polygamy because that sounds like a dream machine. Price point is way too high on both of those though Hellhammer's got it right we'll probably get the 6350m if we're extremely lucky. I doubt they keep the 330m, it's very outdated at this point and they are parting ways with Nvidia as the Intel lawsuit seems to have pissed Nvidia off to the point that they are leaving the laptop GPU market. If there is a company leaving the market then I doubt would want to stay on with them as it would make them look bad if they introduce a new machine and then all the sudden Nvidia says we're done. I think we're probably looking at 2520m for CPU [2.5~3.2 @ 35W] and then for i7 on the 17" probably the 2649m [2.3~3.2 @ 25W] with a quad core 2630QM as a $200 BTO.

 

[Hellhammer]

Nvidia off to the point that they are leaving the laptop GPU market.

Nvidia is leaving the chipset business but they are and will remain in GPU business, including laptop GPU business. In fact, it is rumored that Nvidia will be releasing their 500M-series of laptop GPUs in CES though some OEMs have already announced laptops with 500M GPUs (e.g. Lenovo Y series with GT 550M IIRC).

i7 on the 17" probably the 2649m [2.3~3.2 @ 25W]

No point to use 25W CPU in 15" or 17" MBP. It will most likely be i7-2620M (2.7/3.4GHz)

 

[wizzlez]

Nvidia is leaving the chipset business but they are and will remain in GPU business, including laptop GPU business. In fact, it is rumored that Nvidia will be releasing their 500M-series of laptop GPUs in CES though some OEMs have already announced laptops with 500M GPUs (e.g. Lenovo Y series with GT 550M IIRC).



No point to use 25W CPU in 15" or 17" MBP. It will most likely be i7-2620M (2.7/3.4GHz)

Sounds sexy to me but I thought they topped out at 25W currently. Even though I'm apparently wrong it wouldn't matter because if they really want to make us happy they would take out the ODD and put in another battery so we can get high energy CPU's and GPU's. You're the guru explain to me what Nvidia means by leaving the chipset industry. I thought that meant that they wont be making mobile GPU's anymore but that's apparently wrong.

 

[Hellhammer]

You're the guru explain to me what Nvidia means by leaving the chipset industry. I thought that meant that they wont be making mobile GPU's anymore but that's apparently wrong.

Well, the current 13" (320M) and couple of other Macs (9400M) before used a Nvidia chipset with Nvidia IGP. The gain was that the IGP had Southbridge and Northbridge integrated into it so there was two chips (CPU + IGP) instead of four. That was very good for 13" because its logic board is so small. Now that Intel didn't allow Nvidia to do chipsets for iX CPUs, there would be three chips (CPU+PCH+GPU) with discrete GPU, or the more likely option, two chips (CPU+PCH) and Intel IGP as GPU. With Nvidia IGP, we would likely have two chip solution (PHC integrated into the IGP) with better graphics for the 13".

This doesn't really affect the 15" and 17" though, they've been using Intel HM55 chipset since April 2010

 

[axu539]

Sounds sexy to me but I thought they topped out at 25W currently. Even though I'm apparently wrong it wouldn't matter because if they really want to make us happy they would take out the ODD and put in another battery so we can get high energy CPU's and GPU's. You're the guru explain to me what Nvidia means by leaving the chipset industry. I thought that meant that they wont be making mobile GPU's anymore but that's apparently wrong.

Nvidia is essentially no longer doing integrated graphics. They will still make their discrete GPUs.

 

[vipergts2207]

Sounds sexy to me but I thought they topped out at 25W currently. Even though I'm apparently wrong it wouldn't matter because if they really want to make us happy they would take out the ODD and put in another battery so we can get high energy CPU's and GPU's. You're the guru explain to me what Nvidia means by leaving the chipset industry. I thought that meant that they wont be making mobile GPU's anymore but that's apparently wrong.

The 13" MBP has a 25W TDP CPU, but the 15" and 17" MBP's use 35W TDP CPU's.

 

[aeboi]

they should use duralumin like the samsung 9 series just announced at CES, thing looks sick

 

[SurferMan]

I think one of the most needed things they need to do is antiglare on the 13"....I can't stand the glare on this screen, ubber annoying.

 

[Jdstew1234]

they should use duralumin like the samsung 9 series just announced at CES, thing looks sick

I totally agree, I think a black aluminum with a little more curve and less sharp edges is best.

 

[troop231]

Edit: nvm.

 

[Spor]

My thoughts about the new Macbook pro line:

I am new here, but I am following this forum for some time now. I did some research using sites like: anandtech; wikipedia and other sites.

So my thoughts: I think the line-up will be more or less the same as last year. I expect the same number of laptops as now. I know some sites say there will only be 4, but Apple has choosing these before with a reason and think they will keep it. Also on the forum you read a lot of people buying BTO’s and these come with some good margin.

So:13 inch and a 13 inch BTO, 3 times a 15 inch and of course the 17 inch.

Old 13 Inch 13 inch 15 inch 15 inch 15 inch 17 inch
Processor P8600 P8800 I5-520M I5-540M I7-620M I7-620M
Speed 2.4 GHz 2.67GHz 2.4Ghz 2.53GHz 2.66Ghz 2.66GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price ($) 241 241 225 257 332 332
New
Processor I7-2629M I7-2649M I5-2520M I5-2540M I7-2620M I7-2620M
Speed 2.1GHz 2.3GHZ 2.5GHz 2.6GHz 2.7GHz 2.7GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price 311 346 225 266 346 346

So except the 13 inch the new version of the old chip will be used. Same TDP and prices more or less the same. Quad core uses to much power and therefore will not be used. The speed indication which apple uses is in line. Starting at 2,1 GHz till 2,7 GHz for the fastest with this line up. The i3 chip for the 13 inch (only i3-2310M) uses to much power: TDP 35 W instead of 25 W like it uses now) so this one will not be used

The 13 inch is a problem, but that was also last year the case. I think the main problem is the price of the chip. It is much more expansive then the old processor at introduction. This is probably because the IGP is included in this chip, but last year it was not good enough the leave the 320M out of the 13 inch. So Apple decided to keep the old chip with the 320M. This year with the better IGP there is the possibility they leave the graphics card out on the “standard” 13 inch.. The new Nvidia 520M will probably be the new card for the BTO and maybe the normal one.

So margin is under pressure (especially for the 13 inch) because of the higher price of the chip, so some possibilities. Higher price point, but think they will try to keep the price stable as much as they can. Use another chip, maybe an old Arrendale chip, but it will be much more favourable to have the same chips so you can also use the same memory and get purchase advantage. So the price needs to come from other parts and therefore the super drive (SD) needs to go. If it will on all formats? I am not sure, but it is a opportunity to sell the laptop for same price and sell an add-on (like screen, SD box like air etc.) separately. This parts generate a lot of margin. Chance to include more battery, save weight and you nearly never you have to use it. I would leave it out.

For the other formats, the Nvidia 525M will probably the choice, because it is the updated 4 series, which was the updated 3 series of Nvidia (Which was used 330M). The 5 series uses most of the parts of the 4 series according to Anand and so TDP will probably be the same. No battery loss for Apple which is very important.

Casing will keep as it is, but SSD’s are used. Some say it is hard to make it work with two parts (SSD and HDD), but this is a computer manufacturing and software developing company so they will make it work. There are some sites who did also make it work (using Unix methods for instance), so I expect no problems. It is the way it will go, like Jobs said.

Screens no updates.

One more thing and that is also which will decide the introduction date: Light Peak. It is so quiet about the technology from Intel. Normally, like the new SNB chips, the reviews and other stuff is already on the net before they introduce it. So two possibilities: A) it is far from ready B) Apple will use it first. I hope option B.

If this is the case then it depends when LP and the SNB dual core chips are available.

1: LP and SNB are available next month, then it will be end feb.
2: LP not yet ready and apple will introduce it then maybe march/April. But no later because then option 3 will (and needs to be) chosen.
3: LP not ready then depends SNB and Nvidia are ready for mass production which is probably end feb.

What do you think? Some strong points or not?

 

[Yin]

My thoughts about the new Macbook pro line:

I am new here, but I am following this forum for some time now. I did some research using sites like: anandtech; wikipedia and other sites.

So my thoughts: I think the line-up will be more or less the same as last year. I expect the same number of laptops as now. I know some sites say there will only be 4, but Apple has choosing these before with a reason and think they will keep it. Also on the forum you read a lot of people buying BTO’s and these come with some good margin.

So:13 inch and a 13 inch BTO, 3 times a 15 inch and of course the 17 inch.

Old 13 Inch 13 inch 15 inch 15 inch 15 inch 17 inch
Processor P8600 P8800 I5-520M I5-540M I7-620M I7-620M
Speed 2.4 GHz 2.67GHz 2.4Ghz 2.53GHz 2.66Ghz 2.66GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price ($) 241 241 225 257 332 332
New
Processor I7-2629M I7-2649M I5-2520M I5-2540M I7-2620M I7-2620M
Speed 2.1GHz 2.3GHZ 2.5GHz 2.6GHz 2.7GHz 2.7GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price 311 346 225 266 346 346

So except the 13 inch the new version of the old chip will be used. Same TDP and prices more or less the same. Quad core uses to much power and therefore will not be used. The speed indication which apple uses is in line. Starting at 2,1 GHz till 2,7 GHz for the fastest with this line up. The i3 chip for the 13 inch (only i3-2310M) uses to much power: TDP 35 W instead of 25 W like it uses now) so this one will not be used

The 13 inch is a problem, but that was also last year the case. I think the main problem is the price of the chip. It is much more expansive then the old processor at introduction. This is probably because the IGP is included in this chip, but last year it was not good enough the leave the 320M out of the 13 inch. So Apple decided to keep the old chip with the 320M. This year with the better IGP there is the possibility they leave the graphics card out on the “standard” 13 inch.. The new Nvidia 520M will probably be the new card for the BTO and maybe the normal one.

So margin is under pressure (especially for the 13 inch) because of the higher price of the chip, so some possibilities. Higher price point, but think they will try to keep the price stable as much as they can. Use another chip, maybe an old Arrendale chip, but it will be much more favourable to have the same chips so you can also use the same memory and get purchase advantage. So the price needs to come from other parts and therefore the super drive (SD) needs to go. If it will on all formats? I am not sure, but it is a opportunity to sell the laptop for same price and sell an add-on (like screen, SD box like air etc.) separately. This parts generate a lot of margin. Chance to include more battery, save weight and you nearly never you have to use it. I would leave it out.

For the other formats, the Nvidia 525M will probably the choice, because it is the updated 4 series, which was the updated 3 series of Nvidia (Which was used 330M). The 5 series uses most of the parts of the 4 series according to Anand and so TDP will probably be the same. No battery loss for Apple which is very important.

Casing will keep as it is, but SSD’s are used. Some say it is hard to make it work with two parts (SSD and HDD), but this is a computer manufacturing and software developing company so they will make it work. There are some sites who did also make it work (using Unix methods for instance), so I expect no problems. It is the way it will go, like Jobs said.

Screens no updates.

One more thing and that is also which will decide the introduction date: Light Peak. It is so quiet about the technology from Intel. Normally, like the new SNB chips, the reviews and other stuff is already on the net before they introduce it. So two possibilities: A) it is far from ready B) Apple will use it first. I hope option B.

If this is the case then it depends when LP and the SNB dual core chips are available.

1: LP and SNB are available next month, then it will be end feb.
2: LP not yet ready and apple will introduce it then maybe march/April. But no later because then option 3 will (and needs to be) chosen.
3: LP not ready then depends SNB and Nvidia are ready for mass production which is probably end feb.

What do you think? Some strong points or not?

you make some good points, but a few are not likely. for instance, why should the pro model have a less advanced display than the air?

 

[Hellhammer]

*snip*

i3-2310M isn't an issue for 13" since the 35W includes the IGP as well. Without discrete GPU, the total TDP is around the same as now [35W (CPU) + 3.9W (chipset) and 25W + ~12W].

In IDF 2010, Intel said that computers with Light Peak will be available in 2012 so I wouldn't bet my money on LP