Following a closer look at Intel's upcoming Skylake processor lineup for the MacBook Air, CPU World has shared new details about sixth-generation Core M chips appropriate for the 12-inch Retina MacBook. Intel reportedly may brand the low-power Skylake-Y chips as Core m3, Core m5 and Core m7 based on performance.
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The low-end Core m3 6Y30 has a 900 MHz dual-core processor with Turbo Boost up to 2.2 GHz. The chip has 4MB of L3 cache, HD 515 graphics, a maximum GPU frequency of 850 MHz and 4.5 watt thermal design power (TDP). This chip would likely be suited for the base model 12-inch MacBook sold for $1,299.
The mid-tier Core m5 6Y54 and Core m5 6Y57 are similar chips with 1.1 GHz dual-core processors and Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz and 2.8 GHz respectively, 4MB of L3 cache, HD 515 graphics, a maximum GPU frequency of 900 MHz and 4.5 watt TDP. These chips would likely be suited for the high-end stock model 12-inch MacBook sold for $1,599.
The high-end Core m5 6Y75 is a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz, 4MB of L3 cache, HD 515 graphics, a maximum GPU frequency of 1 GHz and 4.5 watt TDP. This chip would be suited for the top of the line 12-inch MacBook model that carries a $150 premium over systems with the high-end stock chip.
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CPU World shared further details about the processor specifications, noting that Core M chips can be run at 7 watts to allow for higher CPU clock speeds. Apple boosted the 900 MHz 5Y31 chip to 1.1 GHz, 1.1 GHz 5Y51 chip to 1.2 GHz and 1.2 GHz 5Y71 chip to 1.3 GHz for the current 12-inch MacBook lineup.
All chips have up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports, 10 lanes of PCI-Express interface, 6 USB2/USB3 ports and eMMC 5.0 interface. They support USB OTG and Rapid Storage Technology 14. The Core m microprocessors work with DDR3L-1600 and LPDDR3-1866 memory, and they are rated at 4.5 watt TDP and 3 watt SDP. They can also run at higher 7 watt TDP if needed.
Last month, a leaked Intel slide deck revealed that "Y" series Skylake processors appropriate for the 12-inch Retina MacBook will have up to 17% faster CPU performance, up to 41% faster Intel HD graphics and up to 1.4 hours longer battery life compared to current-generation Core M architecture.
Intel's sixth-generation Core M processors are expected to launch next month, possibly at the IFA Berlin trade show this September 4-9.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Just give us a Retina Macbook Air already!! :mad::mad:
The rMB - IS - the retina MBA. As soon it is affordable enough it will kill the MBA.Does it matter? rMB does not have thunderbolt
Oh yes it does matter, because TB 3 uses the USB-C port. If the Skylake CPUs + platform support TB3, then the MacBook may support eGPUs + 5k Displays + regular TB hardware.Have you learned nothing? I will bet the farm that they have one in the lab right now. So the question that's debatable is, would it be realistic? Maybe. Neither of us have any idea of what Apple has in the works in the Ax department. They apparently caught the market off guard by releasing 64bit 2-4 years earlier than market analysts and competitors were expecting.
What would I do with a A-series macbook? Run Microsoft Office... no... wait... That's built for x86. Okay, run ____. Nope, also built for x86. Run Windows under bootcamp or virtualization? Nope.On top of it, have you not learned that Apple is all about optimization? That only can be had when you control the hardware & software. Lets be honest, we're nearing the point where more cpu "power" isn't noticeable to the AVERAGE user. I'd even go as far to say that the iPad currently is powerful enough for most use cases of an average user.
The biggest issue I see is how their product portfolio would work. You'll need Intel based computer for power users (video editing, graphic design, etc...) while most would be just fine w/ an Ax based solution. That would be my hang up... but never underestimate Apple.
Btw, what would your "Very far away" equate to in years roughly? Just curious.
Well, I suppose you could browse the web, but then it's little more than a chromebook - and a freaking expensive one at that... at least until others work through the platform transition and make fat binaries like its 2006 all over again.
Well, I suppose Apple could make a iCloud service to host your x86 apps in the cloud and deliver them to you on the fly... but wait. Apple absolutely sucks at cloud anything.
I bet Apple hates having to wait for Intel (like IBM - G5 and Motorola G4, G3, etc... before) to be able to make the best computer.