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MacBook Air Revisions This Summer?
- Thread starter mattingly
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Well at that time, do you think the price will go down/up?
I mean... what is likely that they would add? more ram?(4 gig?), update the dedicated GPU to something other than x3100? add a higher Mhz frequency on the processor?
And what about dimensions? is it possible that they would sacrifice weight/size for costs and power?
SDD is the real bottle neck in the price aint it? if it had a regular hard drive the price would be much much lower right? could they make a mini hard drive or something instead? or add another usb port?
I mean... what is likely that they would add? more ram?(4 gig?), update the dedicated GPU to something other than x3100? add a higher Mhz frequency on the processor?
And what about dimensions? is it possible that they would sacrifice weight/size for costs and power?
SDD is the real bottle neck in the price aint it? if it had a regular hard drive the price would be much much lower right? could they make a mini hard drive or something instead? or add another usb port?
A mini hard is already available. It's what's in the $1800 version.
The $3000 version has an SSD drive.
Apple prices very rarely go down. Ipods and
TVs withstanding. The computer prices don't go down much. The specs might go up (2.0/120) and the price will stay at $1799.
I have heard rumours of Apple are looking at the Intel Atom processor. I have been told Diamondville is the processor of choice.
Intel Atom wiki
Do I trust the info I have been given. In a word no. But I thought I would throw it out there.
Intel Atom wiki
Do I trust the info I have been given. In a word no. But I thought I would throw it out there.
If they switch to the Atoms, I will be very surprised.
The Atoms are much slower, and don't fit in with Apple's reasonably powerful performance with the current C2D.
Revisions will come after September 2008 when the next round of small-form-factor processors are released.
i don't see a revision until possibly late, late fall or next spring. don't forget: the ram is soldered on the board so they can't just plug in another stick.
and the processor was a one off. there is no processor currently released that they can "bump" to. the 45nm mobile penryn with the TDP heat output that could be used in the macbook air hasn't been released yet.
and the processor was a one off. there is no processor currently released that they can "bump" to. the 45nm mobile penryn with the TDP heat output that could be used in the macbook air hasn't been released yet.
From what I understand the penryn mobiles being released still have the older merom package size, not the reduced package size they used for the Macbook Air. So intel will still have to do another reduced package size Penryn just for the Air. For a product that's more specialized than the regular macbooks, I would expect them to update that line first and the air later.
But you seem bent on hoping for an update soon. I certainly could be wrong.
Currently have a rev A white macbook, next computer will either be a redesigned macbook pro or a 2ghz, 128gb ssd, 3gb ram macbook air... whichever comes first.
I'm hoping one of them gets updated by feb 2009
I'm hoping one of them gets updated by feb 2009
A bunch of new Penryn processors will be released in May, using the small form factor design. This includes the low voltage and ultra low voltage ones. If wikipedia is right, that is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_future_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors
I don't know the TDP and voltages of the current processor they use in the Air, but it is not a Penryn I guess. So they might switch to the low voltage Penryn ones in June.
If the processor is just a drop in with no other redesign I can see them switching when the new ones come out. In fact, Intel seems to force apple to use the latest chips (maybe by discontinuing the manufacturing of older chips). That's why I think the MBP was updated in Feb, because Intel forced the issue somewhat. 45nm chips might make the MBA significantly cooler and maybe a quick change to the so-called heat sink could be slipstreamed in.
I'm no expert, but this is what I've read so far:
The current processor is a 65nm Merom Core 2 Duo that has a special 60% smaller package size and is undervolted so it has a TDP of 20W (normally this processor is 35W).
The processor most likely to replace it is the 45nm Penryn Core 2 Duo SL9300 (or SL9400) that has a TDP of 17W.
The problem seems to be that all the new Penryns (except the ultra low voltage ones) will have the OLD package size (The package is the green bit of silicon that is the 'base' that the actual CPU core sits on.) This seems to be so they can just be drop-ins for all the old motherboards out there that still have the larger package size. This means it can't be drop in for the macbook air with its reduced package size.
So, although the new Penryns are coming out in June, Intel would have to do another one-off design with the reduced package size for it to fit in the Air. I'm no sure how long this would take, but it seems like it would add time to the revision process.
But like I said, I'm no expert and I'd love to be wrong about this.
"The code-name Montevina refers to the fifth-generation Centrino platform, now formally named Centrino 2 to avoid confusion with previous Centrino platforms. It is scheduled for release at Computex Taipei 2008, taking place on June 3-7, 2008.[5] Montevina will support Penryn, Intel's 45nm die-shrink version of Core 2 processors."
-wikipedia
-wikipedia
Wikipedia states that the low voltage cpu's that you mentioned will be released in May as small form factor. I thought small form factor meant a reduced package size?
No, small form factor means they're targeted for small form factor platforms (rather than full desktops) such as the Imac or shuttle PCs:
Wikipedia on small form factor
(my response on this was incorrect. i didn't know SFF applied to CPUs also)
Yes. 45nm is the die. My post above yours explains that it's the package size that appears to be the problem.
It would be great if the info I have so far is wrong. I'd like a 45nm Air too.
NO, he's right!
SSF means the package size of the CPU. the PCB is 35x35mm for normal, the SFF-CPUs have 22 by 22 mm and should fit into the MBA!
I really hope for a update soon! The MBA needs a cooler processor and SATA