Why No I3 Processor?

[gwsat]

You need only to take a look at the logic boards for both the macbook air/macbook pro 13 inch and 15/17 inch macbook pros. Having a chip with integrated graphics as well as discrete graphics requires 3 separate chips soldered on to the logic board. The core2duo plus 320m only requires 2.

Why is it that so many of those who are whining about Apple's use of C2D processors in its 13 inch Macbooks instead of one of the i series processors seem not to understand three important facts: First, the GPU built in to the i series chips is woefully inferior to the NVIDIA lineup of GPUs. Second, Intel has taken the position that use of another manufacturer's integrated GPU, such as the NVIDIA 320, would be a violation of Intel's licensing agreement governing the use of i Series chips. Third, although a discrete GPU, such as the NVIDIA 320, can be used with the i series chips, there is no room for a discrete GPU on the either the 13 inch MBP's or the MBAs' logic boards. There, was that so hard?

 

[macbook123]

Errrr... The United States is not the only country in the world that uses a currency called a 'dollar', you know...

He posted a comparison to the MBA toping out at below $2k. In a currency with a lower value of the dollar compared to US$ it wouldn't top out at below $2k.

 

[sushi]

Besides, MBA isn't targeted at power hungry users. SSD makes bigger difference for average Joe than any CPU in the world does.

Definitely with today's technology.

Trying out the MBA 11, I was surprised how responsive it is for common type tasks. Switching to the newer form factor SSD was a good idea.

 

[Parrotlet]

I don't really care about processors or raw horsepower. I do HD video streaming, word processing etc....... I ussualy go for the lowest end processor when buying a mac since it suits my needs. I see many people getting a macbook pro for example and using maybe only 5 percent of its power

 

[CaoCao]

The Z is $1,899.00 ($2199 for 256gb ssd)...

i5 460m
Auto/Manual switchable Nvidia GT 330m / intel intergrated graphics
1600x900 matte screen
Carbon fiber/Aluminum chassis
128gb raid 0 ssd
DVD Drive
3.03 lbs
GB ethernet
Smaller footprint/ (but thicker compared to MBA 13.3)

The VAIO Z is a master piece

And only Sony can achieve it
Vaio Z teardown

On the far right is a "quad" SSD that has four chunks in Raid 0, look at the size, this capitalizes on Sony being an SSD maker, plus not user replacable

new fan on right, very creative

is it me or does that top case look remarkably similar to Apple with a hint of fugly?

OMG look at optical drive!

macbook123, the A$ is actually worth slightly more than the USD

 

[macbook123]

macbook123, the A$ is actually worth slightly more than the USD

I know, but what is your point?

macbook123, the A$ is actually worth slightly more than the USD

I know, but Chundles was quoting a comparison between the Air and the Vaio Z, and the Air price he quoted was comparable to the price in US$.

From his follow-up post it seems that Sony is pricing its laptops in Australia higher compared to the US, while Apple is keeping them at the same level as in the US. In the US the Vaio Z is hardly more expensive than the Air with similar specs except for the vastly faster processor and graphics card. I guess in that light the Australia price difference makes more sense. You get almost twice the speed for almost twice the price with the Sony.

 

[ja12ke]

The VAIO Z is a master piece

Yes it is...I have one from work and I just ordered a MBA 13 with 4gb of ram.

BTW, the quad raid drives are made by samsung i believe. You can replace the drives on Z...There's a thread on NBR on how to do it. You can get 1.8 SSD but have to take it out of the casing in order to make it fit! Anyway, the Z is one fine machine...My only gripe is that the damn palmrest is a little too small...I tried out the MBA 13 at the store and I find it easier to type on compared to my Z.

 

[CaoCao]

I know, but Chundles was quoting a comparison between the Air and the Vaio Z, and the Air price he quoted was comparable to the price in US$.

From his follow-up post it seems that Sony is pricing its laptops in Australia higher compared to the US, while Apple is keeping them at the same level as in the US. In the US the Vaio Z is hardly more expensive than the Air with similar specs except for the vastly faster processor and graphics card. I guess in that light the Australia price difference makes more sense. You get almost twice the speed for almost twice the price with the Sony.

Sony has crappy pricing in Australia, Apple doesn't, as an Aussie he can and should point that out. There you get almost 50% more power for over twice the price!

From experience VAIO Zs turn to **** over time, mine can't do anything difficult for more than five minutes without shutting itself down

 

[Chundles]

Yup, that was my point. The Vaio is faster, but much more expensive. It might not be THAT much more expensive in the US but those prices don't mean anything to me.

 

[Hellhammer]

You need only to take a look at the logic boards for both the macbook air/macbook pro 13 inch and 15/17 inch macbook pros. Having a chip with integrated graphics as well as discrete graphics requires 3 separate chips soldered on to the logic board. The core2duo plus 320m only requires 2.

+GDDR chips since discrete GPU requires its own memory

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I3 = apple must use intel's crap graphics card. You obviously can see that having a good graphics card is helping in some area.

In my opinion, i would rather have a C2D and a good graphics card then a i3 and grap graphics. It's more well rounded.

Also, apple knows that if they change to i3, they have to use new chipsets. From a cost standpoint, this was the move they wanted to do. If they launch a i3 + nvidia card. I think i would sell my mba for it.

 

[maflynn]

Personally, I'd want an i3 processor and a slower GPU. For my needs and I suspect for many people, a faster processor will benefit more.

 

[rkahl]

The i3 was released a year ago in January... it was not just released... The core 2 duo has been out since 2006

1500.00 bucks for a machine with a 4 year old proc?

Wow, it's been out for 11 months, geez that's a long time! Did you see what Apple and Intel had to do to get the c2d to fit into the MBA? Customizing always takes longer. If you don't believe just order an MBA with 4gb of ram instead of 2gb of ram and watch your CTO in China.

 

[maflynn]

Wow, it's been out for 11 months, geez that's a long time! Did you see what Apple and Intel had to do to get the c2d to fit into the MBA? Customizing always takes longer. If you don't believe just order an MBA with 4gb of ram instead of 2gb of ram and watch your CTO in China.

The current MBAs are using stock processors not customized ones and there are other laptop makers out there with 11" laptops with a core i7.

The only reason apple went with an ancient cpu (and in computer terms it is ancient), is because they could use a different (and faster) GPU

 

[Fraaaa]

The VAIO Z is a master piece

macbook123, the A$ is actually worth slightly more than the USD

If only Sony would make the non optical drive version with the SSD that would be awesome.

 

[KPOM]

It seems to me the obvious question hasn't been answered: Why can't the MBA have integrated AS WELL AS discrete GPU, i.e. for example i7 CPU plus 330m or 320 m like the Sony Vaio Z?

One word: Space.

There's no reason, IMO, why the 13" MacBook Pro shouldn't have an i5 with a discrete GPU, and I suspect that the the next refresh (likely in January or February) will see it upgraded. However, the MacBook Air is about thinness, so there isn't enough room.

The Intel GPUs don't perform very well and don't support OpenCL, which was one of the major improvements in Snow Leopard intended to let the GPU handle certain tasks instead of the CPU. Thus, if Apple went with the current i3 or i5, then they would be putting in a faster, more efficient CPU, but also giving it more work to do, thus negating its benefits. They would also be using a slower GPU.

Sandy Bridge, which is Intel's next chipset, does have a better GPU. It operates at approximately the same speed as the nVidia 9400m.

 

[csixty4]

Why do you think Apple did not use the I3 processor in the new Air? Cost? I think it uses less power and is faster the much older Core 2 duo. I have not been able to find any information on it.

I'm surprised nobody's linked to Ars Technica's article on Why Apple saddled the MacBook Air with "gimped" CPUs.

 

[magbarn]

I'm surprised nobody's linked to Ars Technica's article on Why Apple saddled the MacBook Air with "gimped" CPUs.

One reason why MBA/Mini/MBP 13 are "gimped": INTEL
More likely we'd be on Arrandale MBA's with a Nvidia southbridge if Greedy-ass intel allowed Nvidia to cross-license.

 

[gwsat]

Why do you think Apple did not use the I3 processor in the new Air? Cost? I think it uses less power and is faster the much older Core 2 duo. I have not been able to find any information on it.

One word: Space.

Exactly. The Sony Vaio Z is a portly 1.3 inches thick, compared to the MBA whose width varies between .11 and .68 of an inch, which works out to an average thickness of less than .5 of an inch. That simply didn't leave any room for a discrete GPU.

 

[CaoCao]

Exactly. The Sony Vaio Z is a portly 1.3 inches thick, compared to the MBA whose width varies between .11 and .68 of an inch, which works out to an average thickness of less than .5 of an inch. That simply didn't leave any room for a discrete GPU.

That's thicker than a MBP 17"!

 

[TMRaven]

It's not the thickness, its' the surface area. Apple notebooks are 3/4ths battery in terms of surface area. No other notebook is like that.

 

[CaoCao]

It's not the thickness, its' the surface area. Apple notebooks are 3/4ths battery in terms of surface area. No other notebook is like that.

What are you trying to say?

 

[macbook123]

What are you trying to say?

Perhaps confusing surface area with volume

 

[CaoCao]

Perhaps confusing surface area with volume

He's wrong in both cases

 

[Tom8]

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Anybody expect to see an iX processor in the White MacBook/Pro 13" when the next refresh hit?
Or just another speed bump for the C2D with increased battery?