Apple Passing on Next Generation Intel Arrandale Notebook CPU

Submitted by lalit on December 7, 2009 - 2:06pm.

It has been rumored for past few months that Apple will release new MacBooks based on Arrandale processor early next year. However, BrightSideofNews claims that Apple has refused to adopt the Arrandale processor that comes with integrated graphics chipset. The website says:

According to sources close to the heart of the matter, Apple allegedly refused to adopt Intel’s Arrandale and Calpella platform in its default form. In order for Apple to implement Calpella design with their next refresh of Mac mini / MacBook / MacBook Pro lines, Intel will have to provide Apple with the 32nm version without the integrated graphics part. Again, we cannot confirm the information about the replacement CPU, we only know that Apple rejected Arrandale.

Apple stopped using Intel’s integrated graphics in its laptop lineup since 2008 and replaced it with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M chipset, which is way faster than Intel’s chipset. Intel’s next generation on-processor graphics engine will provide better performance than their current lineup, but it won’t match the performance of last year’s GeForce 9400M chip.

Along with the integrated graphics on the processor, Arrandale CPU will bring many new features to the table like integrated memory controller and Hyperthreading. That will make the processors faster and more efficient. It is estimated that Arrandale processor will offer around 25 percent performance boost when compared to current Core 2 Duo notebook processer lineup, so its in Apple’s interest to adopt the new processor as soon as possible.

Apple won't be updating white MacBook anytime soon, so one thing that Apple can do is use discrete graphics card in its complete next generation MacBook Pro lineup, which is rumored to be updated in Q1 2010. This will maintain the premium tag of the Pro lineup as well as offer improved performance like all other notebooks that will adopt the Arrandale processors.