MacBook Air to get new Intel chips?

The MacBook Air could be getting a new chip in short order.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple's MacBook Air could be getting a fresh new look--inside at least--in the coming weeks.

Rumors of new Apple notebooks have been all over the place this summer, given the length of time since the last redesign of the MacBook and Intel's new Montevina chips. But Phone News believes that the MacBook Air will also get a new Penryn chip that will improve performance at the cost of battery life.

The MacBook Air's performance doesn't really compare to that of the rest of the MacBook lineup, but it was designed to be thin and light, not as a gaming rig. Still, adding one of the new Penryn chips to the MacBook Air could help improve performance for things like video playback, noted by some as an issue with the early MacBook Air units.

The problem is the standard Penryn chip consumes more power than the chip currently used inside the MacBook Air. Phone News thinks Apple will compensate for the increased power draw with a larger battery and a more powerful charging adapter.

Engadget points out that Intel will likely have low-voltage and ultra-low voltage Penryn-class chips out fairly soon, in line with Intel's historical product segmentation. That would ease some of the power concerns, although the lower voltage chips have historically underperformed their standard counterparts.

[electronista]

The low-voltage chips are all but guaranteed. The real question is whether Apple will use the stock processors, which actually won't be that much faster in practice (1.6/1.83GHz) but could be cheaper, or if it will bump up the clock speeds to make it seem like more of a tangible upgrade. And, of course, give Apple a reason to keep prices higher.

My tentative guess is that we'll see 1.73GHz and 2GHz systems, 3GB or more of memory, and that fabled 120GB hard drive.

[biznatch11]

I can't wait until they got one of those new-fangled DVD drives!

[dadsgravy]

That's completely old school thinking. And you can buy one for $99.


There's plenty of places to buy and download movies and music. There's a ton of places to just download movies and music. The list of sites to stream movies, video and music are endless.


So why build an optical drive into a laptop when you really don't need it. You might be the exception, but there's plenty of people that hardly ever use their optical drive. I haven't used mine in months.


IBM understood this light years before Apple and the macbook air.


So the short of it is, this product was built for me and millions of people like me. It wasn't built for you, nor is it marketed towards you or the millions of people like you.


Personally, I find your computer with the "DVD drive" to be an archaic and idiotic piece of technology. Try blu-ray or HD-DVD drive in place of DVD drive next time, grandpa!

[make_or_break]

dadsgravy: some people DO like to use their existing media...rather than following some obscene business model that requires the repurchase of something you already own in order to FIT a new (yet still recognizable) hardware platform.

[dude7895]

ha ha ya

[DrtyDogg]

that is prety good

[Tony Evertsz]

Unlikely, more power is bad. MBA's overheat and suffer from core shutdowns given the right situation. With me, one core will shut down after about 5 - 10 minutes if I run the Merom at over 80% activity and have the MBA on my lap. There is a 2.1GHz Penryn with 3Mb cache - with the 45nm process, would that run slightly cooler?

[jake49]

looks like a way for apple to gouge money out of people who have the 1st gen macbook airs...

[xZero2007x]

jake49: How long has the first generation Macbook Air been out? It's about time for an upgrade, you ******, not money *******. I mean, think about it: would you see flocks of customers rushing to their nearest retail store selling the Air asking if it's available just because the processor got a bump? They're targeting an odd-ball segment of customers with the Air (travelers and enthusiasts in my quick opinion), and the only way I see them reaching out to other segments if whether or not they can jam another (fully powered) USB port and either include the optional wireless drive or cram that in there as well. I know that's what MY customers have asked about in the past (when I used to work retail anyways--just got out recently).

[IowaNinersFan]

Those that bought the 1st gen airs will be the ones to line up to buy the 2nd gen too. Sheeps!

[tipoo_]

Penryn chips would IMPROVE battery life, not decrease it.

[sath71]

Some of the new Penryn mobile chips that are a possibility for the Macbook Air would consume more power than the current Merom - it's the equivalent Penryn chip @ 1.6ghz and 1.8ghz that will consume less power. The article is making the point that if Apple does offer a Penryn with a higher clock speed than the current Air, it will consume more power.

[xbrando7]

I definitely HOPE That apple does this, as i think it doesnt make sense that people would pay 1800 or even 3000 for a Laptop with equipment as low as that. It doesnt even compare to the other Mac notebooks.
Im more interested in a redesigned macbook though, as im in the market for a new mac.

[mpitogo]

I've got both a MacBook Pro 2.16 and the Air 1.6. Besides the slow drive on the 1.6, I rarely notice the speed drop. Light on its feet is what's all about.

[swapee]

i just bought my macbook air (1.8Ghz)! Now i feel bad reading about all these updates! Is there a even a good side to having prematurely bought my MBA?!