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Well....Intel has said no volume until 2019, so we are sort of settling in for the long haul here. :D Make yourself comfortable.
While they are only shipping in low volumes at the moment, it’s likely that they will be prepared enough for Apple to release the new MacBook at the October event or at the very least announce it for an early 2019 release. I have no idea what quantities Intel’s ‘low volume’ production is in comparison to 12” MacBook sales so it is possible that I’m wrong and they will wait until March since that would also sit better with MacBook Pro owners, considering changes such as the keyboard and RAM.
 
All I need to see in the new Macbook is a new keyboard, so I don't need to always carry...

De3rc6jVAAAaw3l.jpg

https://twitter.com/JonyIveParody/status/1003717179349569536

Otherwise I can't really justify replacing the 2016 m5 in any other way than "but there is a newer one and I like new things".
 
They don't need to officially make an announcement prior to Apple releasing their refresh, Apple already have access to the processors and at this stage are at the testing stage of the new MacBook (or probably further at this point). If Apple choose the m3 over the i5 again then the starting clock speed will be 1.5-1.6GHz. It's a 10nm chip and supports LPDDR4, so overall it's quite significant even if there isn't a core increase with the y-series this year.

Yeah, I bet the performance improvement will be significant. I wish Apple would go back to upgrading chips as soon as possible after they become available, like they did years ago. Now, when trying to time a purchase at the next upgrade, it's just a long wait until they are good and ready. Frustrating.
 
I've been trying to untangle this Intel mess. They change names and release dates and specs so much that it makes my head spin.

The 8th Gen Y-series chips are called AMBER Lake.
"Double digit" improvements in speed.
Still 14nm process.
Releasing "later this year", but people found tests online earlier in winter 2018.
Intel expects 140 devices with these chips in FALL 2018... so October-onward.

Is this right, or did things shift again? These are probably what the MacBook is waiting for to upgrade.
I saw that the online test had the next Y-series tested with LPDDR4.

And then there is the big question of Apple's keyboard mechanism being improved.
----
October 2018 might have Apple release impressive MacBooks.
(Assuming they work out kinks and upgrade CPU/screen/RAM/drives/etc)
 
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I've been trying to untangle this Intel mess. They change names and release dates and specs so much that it makes my head spin.

The 8th Gen Y-series chips are called AMBER Lake.
"Double digit" improvements in speed.
Still 14nm process.
Releasing "later this year", but people found tests online earlier in winter 2018.
Intel expects 140 devices with these chips in FALL 2018... so October-onward.

Is this right, or did things shift again? These are probably what the MacBook is waiting for to upgrade.
I saw that the online test had the next Y-series tested with LPDDR4.

And then there is the big question of Apple's keyboard mechanism being improved.
----
October 2018 might have Apple release impressive MacBooks.
(Assuming they work out kinks and upgrade CPU/screen/RAM/drives/etc)
Yeah, the online test also said 10nm, which would have been in line with Intels original plans. Whether there is any truth to those is yet to be seen but I think a higher clock speed and LPDDR4 support seems likely either way.
The good news here is that they can be produced in mass, which explains Apples time frame for releasing it this year. Since the announcement was the following day, it would have been plausible for Apple to announce it at WWDC. Regarding the keyboard, Apple have an improved mechanism, and it’s one they had prior to the large scale situation regarding durability but I guess it’s always going to be linked to that by the media.
 
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So - Amber Lake? Do you all think it would be 2 or 4 cores? I'm trying to understand how it would be better than a Kaby Lake Y...
 
2 core-4 threads for the Amber Lake Y... that's what I read.

Yeah, the online test also said 10nm, which would have been in line with Intels original plans...
I saw it was 4.5 watts!

If it has all the attributes you and I are mentioning, it will be worth the wait.
My 2012 i7 Mini is skittish and tanking from age and being moved around a lot, so if these new MacBooks can match speed (and provide a better screen) and provide portability, I'm buying.
 
Not much detail out there but Amber Lake likely is/has:

Double-digit performance increase over Kaby Lake Y. So, I'm thinking maybe 10-15% increase.
14 nm (but a more advanced 14 nm than Kaby Lake)
2 core 4 threads (just like Kaby Lake)
? 4.5 Watts (just like Kaby Lake)
? No LPDDR4 support (just like Kaby Lake)
? No Thunderbolt 3 support (just like Kaby Lake)
? No USB-C Gen 2 10 Mbps support (just like Kaby Lake)

Given the above, IMO a 2017 Kaby Lake MacBook still is a contender at refurb pricing vs a hypothetical 2018 Amber Lake MacBook, since the Kaby Lake MacBook already includes the multimedia codec upgrades, 4K DRM support (at least in the hardware), and better keyboard.

---

So yeah, there will likely be a 2018 MacBook, but it would just be a speed bump over the 2017 models, with not much else.
 
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Is any of this worth waiting for or is it just worth buying now?
We are only taking edumacated guesses right now.

But my edumacated guess is the changes of Amber Lake over Kaby Lake won't be substantial, aside from the "double-digit" speed boost (which I'm totally guessing to be in the 10-15% range for some tiers).

However, even if my guess is true, there is no guarantee that Apple would just drop in a new CPU. Who knows if Apple will redesign the MacBook, for example to add a second USB-C port (and remove the headphone jack).
 
We are only taking edumacated guesses right now.

But my edumacated guess is the changes of Amber Lake over Kaby Lake won't be substantial, aside from the "double-digit" speed boost (which I'm totally guessing to be in the 10-15% range for some tiers).

However, even if my guess is true, there is no guarantee that Apple would just drop in a new CPU. Who knows if Apple will redesign the MacBook, for example to add a second USB-C port (and remove the headphone jack).

It's a gamble that's for sure, my 2011 MacBook Pro is still working however it is on it's last legs i think (fans kick in and it get's hot, also the Apple logo light bleeds through the screen and the last couple of times that i've started up it has frozen with a black screen) At this stage i can wait until October i just wish Apple would say something about the Mac's.
 
It's a gamble that's for sure, my 2011 MacBook Pro is still working however it is on it's last legs i think (fans kick in and it get's hot, also the Apple logo light bleeds through the screen and the last couple of times that i've started up it has frozen with a black screen) At this stage i can wait until October i just wish Apple would say something about the Mac's.

It is 7 years old and is probably full of dust. Open it up and give it a dust with some compressed air, may work wonders for you. Also the CPU paste is probably done too probably worth doing that too will dramatically reduce temps. Stick in an SSD in it and give it a fresh install of OSX.

Super easy to do and all the guides are on iFitit

Could give it a completely new lease of life.
 
If they come out with a stopgap measure (so to speak), and add another port, and maybe do some other things, i might go for that, but I will not be jumping on it, that's for sure.

I'm happy as it is. I've accepted my fate :D

(Intel's worst nightmare: People happy with what they have)
 
I've waited this long, gonna wait until sept/oct. At least the iPad Pro will tide me over, so glad I didn't wait for that.
 
It is 7 years old and is probably full of dust. Open it up and give it a dust with some compressed air, may work wonders for you. Also the CPU paste is probably done too probably worth doing that too will dramatically reduce temps. Stick in an SSD in it and give it a fresh install of OSX.

Super easy to do and all the guides are on iFitit

Could give it a completely new lease of life.

I'm extremely satisfied that it's lasted 7 years, previous to having the MacBook Pro i had Windows machines and they wouldn't last that long. To be honest i do think it's time for a new machine, even if i were to do those things or even send it in to be looked at and any repairs to be done (if needed) i wouldn't be able to install the new MacOS on it later this year as it only supports MacBook Pro's from 2012 onwards.

I think my 2012 iMac may end up the same next year, while it still works great i think Apple will probably remove the ability to install the new OS next year.
[doublepost=1528265897][/doublepost]
If you feel you could benefit from a new machine now, buy that new machine now......

I could certainly benefit from a new machine, things like boot up times and so on would be a lot faster with SSD compared to my current machine, i was hoping to hold out until this years update but with nothing at WWDC i'm not sure when that will be, my only guess is probably October now.
 
I'm extremely satisfied that it's lasted 7 years, previous to having the MacBook Pro i had Windows machines and they wouldn't last that long. To be honest i do think it's time for a new machine, even if i were to do those things or even send it in to be looked at and any repairs to be done (if needed) i wouldn't be able to install the new MacOS on it later this year as it only supports MacBook Pro's from 2012 onwards.

I think my 2012 iMac may end up the same next year, while it still works great i think Apple will probably remove the ability to install the new OS next year.
[doublepost=1528265897][/doublepost]

I could certainly benefit from a new machine, things like boot up times and so on would be a lot faster with SSD compared to my current machine, i was hoping to hold out until this years update but with nothing at WWDC i'm not sure when that will be, my only guess is probably October now.

Its more the fact it will stop the machine from failing. The fan and heat issues are most likely the fact its had 7 years of use and is full of dust. 6 screws underneath get it blown out. Still 3-4 months away.

It would make sense for Mojave to be released first before the hardware refresh.
 
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It is possible that they will announce the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros at the time they are releasing Mojave, so that the machines would come with it installed. ?? I think last year we got High Sierra in September, so it is possible that it could be late September or very early October.......
 
Highly doubt it, they will probably not announce/update the new MacBook’s until October.

Yes, Given no new Hardware announcement, I think cramping MacBook, iPad, iPhone, possible new AirPod, possible new Apple Watch or anything thing else will just be too much. We may likely see an October event this year.
 
For all you know, that could be an Intel Atom part like this thing:
https://ark.intel.com/products/97930/Intel-Atom-Processor-C3508-8M-Cache-up-to-1_60-GHz

^ supports 256GB RAM, btw...

So we're waiting a long time now.
Nope.

That one I linked specifically references Ice Lake Y, which supports LPDDR4x.

EDIT:

To clarify: Y series is what is in the MacBooks, and the reference is about ICL-Y, which is Ice Lake Y. Furthermore, the MacBooks and MacBook Pros only use low power DDR, which in the case of the current (and likely the 2018 models), is LPDDR3, which maxes out at 16 GB. ICL-Y is spec'd to work with LPDDR4x, which can support 32 GB. I don't expect the 2019 MacBook to support 32 GB, because it's a MacBook, but the chipset can support it.

The chip you linked is an Atom that Apple never uses, and it's a server SoC that is already shipping. Plus it does not use low power RAM.
 
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