VR-Zone leaks a roadmap for Intel's next generation mobile processors, called Ivy Bridge. Apple currently uses Intel's mobile Sandy Bridge processors in its MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks.
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Ivy Bridge will offer a number of benefits for Apple's notebook lines, opening the door to quad-core processors in the 13-inch MacBook Pro and bringing significantly faster graphics and new OpenCL capabilities to the MacBook Air. Ivy Bridge will also support ultra high resolution displays and Intel has committed to Thunderbolt support alongside USB 3.0 in the platform.
VR-Zone details a wide range of processors with Thermal Design Power (TDP) ranging from 17W to 55W. The TDP tends to be the limiting factor in the size of Apple's notebook designs. Apple presently uses 17W processors in the MacBook Air designs and 35W-45W processors in the MacBook Pro. The new processors will include the improved Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics chipset.
The 35W-45W (MacBook Pro) processors range from Dual/Quad Core 2.6GHz to 2.9GHz with single core turbo speeds of up to 3.6GHz, while the 17W (MacBook Air) processors range from Dual Core 1.8GHz to 2.0GHz with single core turbo speeds of up to 2.8-3.2GHz.
Apple's choice of processors may depend on how dramatically it redesigns the MacBook Pro next year. Rumors have persisted that Apple is working on ultra-thin models that may represent a complete overhaul of some of the MacBook Pro models, making them more Air-like in design. VR-Zone notes that the TDPs on these processors are programmable, so Apple may be able to reduce their TDPs at the expense of processor speed.
VR-Zone reports that the new mobile platform is expected to launch around May, with some high-end processors possibly launching in April. This gives a rough timeframe of when we should expect updates to Apple's notebooks.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)All I want is a 15" MacBook Air... forget about the internals.
So you would take a MacBook Air with Intel Celeron processor 1GB of RAM and 80GB hard drive?
:rolleyes:
Getting rid of the 20th century optical brick will result in an all-new case design.
To replace it with 21st century Blu Ray.
Macbook pro IS DUE FOR REDESIGN. It has been same since 2008. By 2012, it needs redesign.
What is so terrible about the current physical design that needs updating? It still looks more advanced - and better - than anything else on the market.
New internals, yes but I see no pressing and urgent need for a new casing.
Macbook pro IS DUE FOR REDESIGN. It has been same since 2008. By 2012, it needs redesign.
Despite the MBP looking the same since 2008, it still looks way, way better than any other laptop out there right now.Put thinner bezel and SSD inside.
Quad core on 13 inch? Give me.
Hopefully they don't do a redesign for redesigning's sake.