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Intel Shipping New 1.7GHz-1.8GHz MacBook Air-Class Processors

Monday June 20, 2011 4:11 pm PDT by Arnold Kim

CNet reports that Intel has added new MacBook Air-class processors to their price list yesterday.

The processors, which appeared Sunday on Intel's updated processor price list, are faster than current power-efficient Sandy Bridge chips used in skinny laptops such as the Samsung Series 9.

Apple is expected to use this type of Intel chip in its upcoming MacBook Air refresh. The Air, to date, has used older-generation Intel Core 2 Duo chips.

We previously covered the rumors about these new processors which could be used in Apple's upcoming MacBook Air. The specs for the new chips are listed here:

• Core i7-2677M: 2 cores, 1.8GHz (turbos to 2.9GHz), 4MB cache, 17 watts, $317
• Core i7-2637M: 2 cores, 1.7GHz (turbos to 2.8GHz), 4MB cache, 17 watts, $289
• Core i5-2557M: 2 cores, 1.7GHz (turbos to 2.7GHz), 3MB cache, 17 watts, $250

The new MacBook Air is rumored to launch in June or July, but Apple may be holding its release for OS X Lion to ship.

Related roundup: MacBook Air

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

awer25

32 months ago

How much you wanna bet it won't be a $67 upgrade to go from the lower 1.7GHz chip to the 1.8GHz ;)

Rating: 10 Positives

Icaras

32 months ago

Not really. It's missed sales opportunity. Anyone buying now would get a free upgrade anyway.

Missed opportunity? You mean Apple not making a high profit margin off the current Core 2 Duo MBAs is missed opportunity? :confused:

Seriously, what average consumer walking into your local Apple store even know what a "Sandry Bridge" is? Forum dwellers on the internet dabbling in tech talk is such a tiny minority in the grander scheme of things.

Rating: 8 Positives

ratzzo

32 months ago

Excellent! I can see these becoming the most sold Apple laptop over the MBP. They are just amazing.

Rating: 7 Positives

42streetsdown

32 months ago

Maybe a Thunderbolt, but at the expense of one of the USBs of course.

You won't have to trade a USB port for ThunderBolt! ThunderBolt supersedes the mini DisplayPort

Rating: 4 Positives

jdechko

32 months ago

Man I want one of these Airs.

Rating: 4 Positives

kdimitt

32 months ago

Wow these are more powerful than the Sandy Bridge processors?

They are still Sandy Bridge, just newer, and better.

Rating: 4 Positives

Optimus Frag

32 months ago

Just thinking out loud here.

What will happen if after the new MBA's are released with these new CPU options and the benchmark results start coming in...

And the upgraded CPU in conjuction with the HD3000 make them game even better than the current models....

Will anyone who's dissed the integrated graphics hold up their hand and admit they were wrong?

I doubt it somehow.

Rating: 4 Positives

datuk

32 months ago

Built-in hedge-trimmer and espresso-maker?

Rating: 3 Positives