Intel's Custom Processor for MacBook Air
The CPU in the MacBook Air is a 65nm Merom based Core 2 Duo, with a 4MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB and runs at either 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz. The packaging technology used for this CPU is what makes it unique; the CPU comes in a package that was originally reserved for mobile Penryn due out in the second half of 2008 with the Montevina SFF Centrino platform. Intel accelerated the introduction of the packaging technology specifically for Apple it seems.
The details of the processor technology may not be of interest to most, but that Intel would take special steps to accommodate Apple is interesting. In the past, Apple has previously gained early access to certain Intel processors for use in its Mac Pro.
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The microprocessor in the MacBook Air is an Intel Core 2 Duo with the following features:
1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessor
Optional 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessor
4 MB shared, on-chip L2 cache
Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost
Connection to the North Bridge over an 800 MHz frontside bus
Supports Intel 64 Architecture
See the Intel Core 2 Duo Processors support site for detailed microprocessor documentation.
Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost accelerates data manipulation by applying a single instruction to multiple data at the same time, known as SIMD processing. SIMD technology accelerates vector math operations and floating-point calculations. Advanced Digital Media Boost supports Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) versions 1, 2, 3, and 4 and allows the processor to execute most 128-bit instructions every clock cycle.
For information on Advanced Digital Media Boost, refer to Technology@Intel Magazine.
Intel 64 Architecture increases the linear address space for software to 64 bits and supports physical address space up to 40 bits. The technology also introduces a new operating mode referred to as IA-32e mode. IA-32e mode operates in one of two sub-modes:
Compatibility mode enables a 64-bit operating system to run most legacy 32-bit software unmodified
64-bit mode enables a 64-bit operating system to run applications written to access 64-bit address space
In the 64-bit mode, applications may access:
64-bit flat linear addressing
8 additional general-purpose registers (GPRs)
8 additional registers for streaming SIMD extensions (SSE, SSE2, SSE3, and SSSE4)
64-bit-wide GPRs and instruction pointers
Uniform byte-register addressing
Fast interrupt-prioritization mechanism
New instruction-pointer relative-addressing mode
An Intel 64 Architecture processor supports existing IA-32 software because it is able to run all non-64-bit legacy modes supported by IA-32 architecture. Most existing IA-32 applications also run in compatibility mode.
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/HardwareDrivers/Conceptual/MacBookAir_0801/Articles/ProductDeveloperNote.html
Wow, what a great relationship Apple and Intel have! This is great for the future of Apple's dedicated creative consumer base.
yes it is great. looks like an upgrade to the macbook air at the end of this year also.
Rocketman
The 2nd half of 2008? I sure hope Intel and Apple's relationship is good enough to deliver a new MBP sooner than that!
Actually I believe Montevina is targeted for May which isn't 2nd half 08. Note some mobile Penryns are "available" now (announced Jan 6th) while more will come out in May (higher clocked parts) along with the Montevina platform (depend on).
SSSE4 is looking more like a typo. It's more then likely a Merom now.
Yeah it is a typo but did they mean to type SSE4 or SSSE3 (the later is the SSE3 supplemental extension added in the Merom). Note the block of text also states SSE 1, 2, 3, and 4 but that blocks looks like text from the Mac Pro tech note./me confused
Hehe... I wonder how hot the thing is going to run.
Wondering that was one reason I went for the SSD config. Should help some. Otherwise I guess it can double as a tortilla griddle.
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