Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
Summary: Rumor has it that Apple will shift to using Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge processors for its MacBook line, ousting NVIDIA from its budget notebooks lineup.
Rumor has it that Apple will shift to using Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge processors for its MacBook line, ousting NVIDIA from its budget notebooks lineup.
The Sandy Bridge processor, which Intel will formally unveil at CES in January next year, is the first mainstream processor to feature a GPU built directly onto the CPU package. Fewer parts means a cheaper system.
CNet's sources have this to say:
MacBook models with screen sizes of 13 inches and below are expected to switch to Sandy Bridge-only graphics, while higher-end MacBook Pros are expected to use graphics from Advanced Micro Devices, according to sources. Whether NVIDIA will still be present in higher-end models is unclear.
OK, on paper the idea makes sense. Sandy Bridge certainly has the potential to deliver an acceptable level of performance for low-end notebooks. It should also offer better battery life.
But it's a gamble.
Intel has made big promises when it comes to graphics, but hasn't been able to deliver the goods. Integrated Intel graphics offer at best mediocre performance. Many an OEM has suffered black eyes in reviews for choosing to opt for integrated Intel graphics. Seeing Sandy Bridge silicon in hardware from OEMs known for 'budget' hardware is one thing, but when it comes to Apple, even the budget end is priced pretty high.
The we need to bear in mind that Sandy Bridge is first-generation. Apple could be gambling its substantial reputation on unproven technology. Apple likes to live on the cutting edge of technology, but I hope it's done its homework if it plans on making a total shift to Intel for its cheaper notebooks.
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Talkback
My prediction: no, Apple will not suffer from this
And you'll go and buy one...
Not likely
lulz. [nt]
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
Less money on things like MacBook Pros and Kinnects and maybe you can afford a house and move out of the condo.
You'd finally be able to fire up the Strat and not worry about the neighbors and make your wife proud.
Or you can start making some money by getting a real job. If you did, then you would probably not have time to post on Zdnet anymore and then what would we laugh at?
@mask: Wondering how you came to your conclusion?
What makes you think I couldn't afford a house had I wanted one? I admit, it would be difficult for me to afford a house in the neighborhood I live in but that is only because it is a very nice neighborhood. :)
I weighed the pros and cons very carefully and in the end, being mortgage free in a few years and having a (relatively) maintenance free home in a fantastic location beat out being able to play my Strat loudly at 3am. I'll admit, sometimes I do wish I could crank that movie at 11 PM but I'm not yet rich enough to afford the best of all worlds. :( And the couple thousand that I've spent on my MBP and Kinect wouldn't have made any difference at all. Interesting though that you felt $2,000 is a large sum of money when considering someone's net worth. :)
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
That is your biggest problem. You look down on others who don't choose the same as you. Somehow you have convinced yourself that your choices should fit everyone else.
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
I can't hear you over the view in my place.
I just find $2000.00 a waste on a depreciating asset. I'll spend it if it makes sense.
@MG537: LOL! Sorry the sarcasm was missed on you
I figured this was so over the top that there was no way anyone would think I was serious. It is actually quite telling though that you thought Apple users could actually be that conceited. In hind sight, you are right, most Apple users are that conceited. I'm not though. :)
@mask: Explain
Most assets are depreciating. Obviously then, there is more to a purchase than that.
[i]I'll spend it if it makes sense.[/i]
What makes you think that these purchases didn't make sense to me? My MBP is a tool that I am able to use for both work and home and my Kinect is a leisure activity. You spend money on leisure activities that don't appreciate in value, right? :)
[i]I can't hear you over the view in my place.[/i]
Hey, if you are wealthier than I, I'm happy for you! I stopped measuring my happiness based on my comparative wealth to those around me. It would make me miserable. I'm going to make an educated guess that there are plenty of people far wealthier than you too. That doesn't matter to you though, right?
price?
Good grief!
Oddly I find I am agreeing with NZ!
I have long been stunned at how while decisions made by Apple which would earn ANY OTHER company a whole world of pain from the backlash (recent example being Apple's decision to cease all support for Flash in both the iPad and the iPhone 4+ models), the Apple community just mutely nods their collective head and say "it's for our own good". Insanity.
As highlighted above, the high-end Mac users will remain unaffected, so no flak there. Meanwhile the lower-end Mac users will mutely trot along with the usual "we're not worthy" attitudes, and continue not to question their turtle-neck-wearing Masters. Again decisions made which, although would result in clamour and revolt from any other consumer market, will leave Apple unscathed!
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
Apple did not drop or "cease all support" for flash, it was NEVER THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Also, at the time of the first 3 iPhones, NO smart phones had ay real support for flash. Only in the past few months have *SOME* certain Android phones gotten limited flash support.
The reason there hasn't been some mass consumer uprising (which surprises you so much) is because people bought Apple's mobile devices KNOWING there was no flash, no reason the think there would be flash in the future, and Apple stating OVER A YEAR AGO that since flash didn't perform well on their devices that they wer moving towards HTML5.
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
I would be right on board with this statement if I hadn't seen some different numbers from the new Sandy Bridge chipsets posted on Engadget.
They listed some surprising results:
:. In 3DMark06 a 2GHz Core i7-2630QM machine running Intel's integrated graphics scored 15,940, while a 2.2GHz i7-2720QM with AMD Radeon HD 6900M graphics nailed a 20,155 mark, and a 2.3GHz i7-2820QM chip paired with a GeForce GTX 460M GPU did 16,957. "
So the Intel is keeping up with the GTX 460M.. and not far off from the top of the line AMD chip. They may have actually made it happen this time... At this point though I don't even look at a laptop that runs Intel graphics. It will be interesting to see how this plays out with better benchmarking.
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
Hey that is interesting.
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
Wow if this is as you say. Then ATI & NVIDA look out
I still think there is a X factor.
RE: Apple risking performance (and reputation) by switching to Intel for budget notebook graphics?
Go take a look at the reviews and number on the likes of AnandTech.