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Intel will release 17 desktop CPUs and 8 notebook Ivy Bridge processors in early April, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday. The initial chips are said to include models 3820QM and 3720QM, priced at $568 and $378, respectively, which could be candidates for Apple's MacBook Pro lineup.
The notebook Ivy Bridge processors will feature the new Intel HD Graphics 4000 architecture. Intel's M-Series lineup is expected to have nominal thermal design power of between 35 watts and 55 watts.
Set for a "later" launch, according to the report, are the Core i7-3667U and Core i5-3427U processors, intended for Intel's Ultrabook lineup. Those processors would also be possible candidates for Apple's own thin-and-light notebook, the MacBook Air.
Earlier reports have said the i7-3667U processor will be clocked at 2GHz, and can overclock to 3.2GHz in single-core mode, while the i5-3427U will run at 1.8GHz and overclock to 2.8GHz in single-core mode. Both models are said to feature a graphics processor clocked at 350MHz that can run as high as 1150MHz.
The rumored April 8 launch date for the first Ivy Bridge processors is slightly earlier than what a leaked roadmap from Intel showed earlier this month. Those documents showed a tentative launch date of May 2012 for the new chip platform.
Recent reports have pegged a MacBook Pro update from Apple to arrive in the second quarter of calendar 2012, a timeframe that would fit with the April debut of Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge processors. The new MacBook Pros are rumored to feature a redesigned look with new high-resolution 2,880-by-1,800 Retina Display screens.
Retina Display MacBook Pros would be possible with Ivy Bridge because the next-generation architecture will bring support for 4K resolution. That gives Apple and other PC makers the option to build a display that is 4,096 pixels across.
For high-end MacBook Pro models with dedicated graphics cards, one report from November claimed Apple will switch to Nvidia for its 2012 notebooks. The last MacBook Pro models to feature Nvidia graphics arrived in 2010.
As for the MacBook Air, Apple is expected to expand the lineup and add a 15-inch model. Currently, its ultraportable notebook is available with screen sizes of 11.6 inches and 13.3 inches.
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
28 Comments
WHile I was first they mentioned iMac in the sumamry then took it out - so my question on where is the iMac news is now moot ... but can;t figure out how to delete reply
Remember when this kind of article was the big news (and sometimes all we had) on AI? Nanometers, MHz, and Intel roadmaps...
Then came articles about the iPhone and, for a while, there were complaints--"I'm tired of articles about iPhones--what about real computers?"
LOL, here we are and no one has anything to say...
"Out with the old, in with the new" as they say.
I suspect people don't know what to make of a Retina display for a computer. At first it seems most needed for an iPhone so small text will be sharper to read - but the screens on laptops and desktops are so beautiful, why increase resolution? What's the benefit? What can I expect?
Generally we think of everything just getting smaller and we can fit more stuff, but most people don't want to, we're happy with how it is.
But what we haven't seen yet is higher pixel density in photos. Most photos we see on our computers have been down-res'd.
But a pic with double or more pixel density is stunning. Instead of it being huge where we have to scroll back and forth, up and down, it will fit, and it will be stunning. And then you can zoom in to areas if you want and it will still be sharp.
Also, we think icons, buttons etc, look excellent now - but higher res elements are beautiful. It really can get a lot better. It makes the whole experience richer.
When discussing these changes coming, we need to think of how our experiences will change.
I'm excited about the Ivy Bridge platform but really it's just another incremental step forward.
I'm more excited about the opportunity to refresh the Mac lineup and really tailor the platform for today's computing usage. Meaning.
I would love to see the optical drive become optional. I want EVERY Mac to offer a minimum of 64GB of NAND storage for boot drive, for applications and ~user library (with the easy ability to take large folders like Pictures and Movies and place them on the HDD.
Throw in USB 3.0 and second generation Thunderbolt ports plus Bluetooth 4.0 and it should be a solid upgrade.