Intel Announces New Quad-Core Broadwell Processors Appropriate for 15-Inch MacBook Pro

Tuesday June 2, 2015 8:41 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Intel today at Computex 2015 announced its next-generation lineup of quad-core Broadwell processors for notebooks and desktop computers, including a trio of Core i7 processors appropriate for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro: i7-5950HQ, i7-5850HQ and i7-5750HQ. The new processors have base frequencies of between 2.5 GHz and 2.9 GHz and feature integrated Intel Iris Pro 6200 graphics.

Intel New Broadwell Chips
The fifth-generation Broadwell chips are expected to be available in the next 30-60 days, meaning the first notebooks and desktop computers with the new processors should be available in July or August.

Interestingly, Apple refreshed the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro just last month, but noticeably missing were processor upgrades, as the new machines continue to use the same Haswell processors from the previous generation. While appropriate Broadwell chips will soon be available over the next few months, it is possible that Apple did not want to wait that long to refresh the notebook.

It is also possible that Apple will skip fifth-generation Broadwell processors entirely for the MacBook Pro and release Skylake-based notebooks as early as later this year. Intel also announced the future availability of Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C, and USB 3.1 and DisplayPort 1.2 support, and the new spec would be suitable for inclusion in the next refresh to the Mac lineup.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tags: Intel, Broadwell
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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MyopicPaideia
59 months ago
Well this announcement coming so close to the release of the updated 15" rMBP must mean that Apple is skipping Broadwell for it completely.

Why? Brand new thinner rMBP design with Skylake and TB3/USB-C!
Rating: 13 Votes
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maflynn
59 months ago
My guess is that apple will skip this and go straight to skylake.
Rating: 6 Votes
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dollystereo
59 months ago
silent update incoming
Rating: 6 Votes
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HumpYourWayUp
59 months ago
The current 15" Macbook Pro refresh is probably the last worthwhile laptop to get. If they redesign the Skylake laptops with a thinner design it means they probably gonna ditch discrete GPUs. And that means performance is gonna be ****...
Rating: 5 Votes
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Razeus
59 months ago
I will wait for Skylake
Rating: 4 Votes
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jmh600cbr
59 months ago
nooooooooooo my hope for Skylake MBP just died
Rating: 4 Votes
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Teber
59 months ago
It's about time Intel!!!
Rating: 3 Votes
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Eithanius
59 months ago

Well this announcement coming so close to the release of the updated 15" rMBP must mean that Apple is skipping Broadwell for it completely.

Why? Brand new thinner rMBP design with Skylake and TB3/USB-C!


I just don't understand... Just how thin would Apple wanna go...? It's a MacBook ****ing Pro...!
Rating: 3 Votes
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vault
59 months ago
These processors are drop-in replacements for Haswell, so another update before Skylake is a possibility. Skylake on the other hand requires a motherboard redesign.

This is rather bad news for anyone wanting the latest and greatest.
Rating: 3 Votes
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phrehdd
59 months ago
Looks like an okay processor for the laptop but an excellent choice for the now castrated Mac Mini. Even the lowest end of these processors would be a welcome/relief for those of us who prefer to buy a headless computer other than the nMP.
Rating: 3 Votes

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