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New CPU updates for MBP, when?
- Thread starter MBX
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As far as I could remember, there was a speed bump about Sept/Oct time of last year for the CTO 15" MBPs. Was small but still a bump. Might happen again this year but time will tell.
There are new intel CPUs out around the same price range that are I believe 200MHz faster (still Sandy Bridge, just higher clock speed), but to be honest, the current quads are so fast already that the speed difference would be really small even in demanding applications. If you do want to wait though, I would estimate seeing those in October or possibly November. Unless you need every ounce of power you can get though, I wouldn't feel bad about buying now.
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Ivy Bridge CPUs from Intel most likely won't be coming until early next year. If you've waited awhile for a new machine, the longer you continue waiting means that it gets more and more sensible to just wait for the new hardware.
They arent going to put the Sandy Bridge as the next update.
They will probably sneak it in like 2010 models 2.8GHz
They will probably sneak it in like 2010 models 2.8GHz
Apple already has the fastest mobile Sandy Bridge parts at the high end of the product line. They could bump up the speeds on the mid and low-end models by putting in faster parts that are already available, but what about the high-end? What would they bump that up to?
In the past, Apple hasn't updated their notebooks until Intel updated their CPUs. Unless there's an out of cycle CPU refresh (outside of the tick-tock release cycle) that Intel is planning, I don't think it will happen.
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The 2.3GHz i7- 2820QM is not the fastest CPU line.
Sandy Bridge came up with new ones that are up to 2.5GHz i7-2920XM.
It is the Core i7 Extreme Model for the mobile CPUs.
Ivy Bridge has been pushed back to April next year at the earliest.
Intel however announced some speed bumped Sandy Bridge CPUs (up 100Mhz for dual core and up 200Mhz for quad core), so Apple could integrate them for a minor bump before the end of the year.
i5-2415M - 2.3/2.9Ghz -> i5-2435M - 2.4/3.0Ghz
i7-2620M - 2.7/3.4Ghz -> i7-2640M - 2.8/3.5Ghz
i7-2635QM - 2.0/2.9Ghz -> i7-2675QM - 2.2/3.1Ghz
i7-2720QM - 2.2/3.3Ghz -> i7-2760QM - 2.4/3.5ghz
i7-2820QM- 2.3/3.4Ghz -> i7-2860QM - 2.5/3.6Ghz
Nothing earth shattering, at best a few percent faster for the dual core and <10% faster for the quads.
The 2920XM was released Q1 2011. The 2960XM is the one that was just released. Not like it really matters because both have a TDP that is far too high for it to be used in the MacBook Pro.
I know. Thats why I said Apple will probably put it up as a option upgrade like the 2010 models with 2.8GHz that came up in the middle of the year.
The extreme is available as 2.7GHz now. Not sure if they're still making the 2.5. Either way, we won't see an extreme due to their even higher TDP. The updated 2.4 and 2.5GHz standard models are somewhat unlikely as well, given that they don't come with Intel HD graphics, thus would reduce battery life in the MBP.
Few months as in next April launch...
Its kinda far.
I wish they come out faster...
The last two versions of the PowerBook G4 were really close and had a slight bump and improved trackpad between the two. Speaking specifically of the 17" model, the CPU went from 1.5 to 1.67 and the advent of the scrolling trackpad.
It is very possible (and in no way to be considered doctrine) that Apple may release a slight bump and design change in the coming months to tide consumer demand until Ivy Bridge is ready for release. With Apple keeping the new design for several years more.
But again anyones guess is as good as the rest of us.
It is very possible (and in no way to be considered doctrine) that Apple may release a slight bump and design change in the coming months to tide consumer demand until Ivy Bridge is ready for release. With Apple keeping the new design for several years more.
But again anyones guess is as good as the rest of us.
what would the design change be? besides the ports, things have stayed ridiculously similar for a long time... xD
I really can't see there being any design change before Ivy, for multiple reasons. Having it be a redesign and have Ivy will make a much bigger splash/"gotta have it"/"mom, buy me that." From the technical side, Ivy will have a lower TDP than SB, so if they design the cooling with Ivy in mind, SB will run hot(and on the other hand, if they design the cooling around SB, they'll be wasted space because ivy won't need as much cooling).
Apple will add the new chips as CTO options, but it's not going to be a keynote or anything like that, just silent production changes.
Apple will add the new chips as CTO options, but it's not going to be a keynote or anything like that, just silent production changes.
Ivy Bridge was recently delayed and won't be out until late 1Q 2012, around Feb/March (which is usually the time Apple updates the notebook line).
I didn't list the Extreme editions because they are irrelevant to the MacBookPro since they produce too much heat. BTW, there is a 2.7Ghz Extreme edition just launched as well (2960XM). Price for the CPU alone is $1096.
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The latest new is an March/April launch (more likely April). No ideas when Apple will put it in their Laptops. Anywhere between April and June is possible.
That's incorrect on almost all points. Ivy Bridge DESKTOP skus will be out early, notebook skus won't be out until Q2 more than likely, which would put a launch around May, or almost 400 days after the 2011 update. This would be highly unlikely as the longest they've waited between updates since 2008 was only 317 days. Secondly, the MBP line is released whenever time of year they feel like it, e.g. 02/2011, 04/2010, 06/2009, 10/2008, meaning basically any month they feel like, and almost as a rule, 10 months after the previous release, which would indicate a design update conveniently around the holiday season of 12/2011. For them to break their formula for Intel's sake seems unlikely, and it seems far more likely this update will mirror the MBA release with a design update in 10/2010 while keeping their ancient c2d lineup and releasing a sandy update exactly 10 months later. Only people on this forum even care about ivy vs. sandy bridge, the other 10 million people that will buy it just want a new looking toy and don't even understand what a microprocessor die shrink even means.