New Apple MacBooks to use Intel’s Sandy Bridge graphics

Apple is planning to use Intel’s upcoming Sandy Bridge processors in its MacBook line of laptops, according to a report by CNET. Apple will switch to Intel graphics technology, thus abandoning NVIDIA’s GPUs in some low-end models of its popular line of MacBooks. Presently, Apple MacBooks use NVIDIA graphics chips along with Intel Core i series and Core 2 Duo processors.

Intel’s Sandy Bridge is the first mainstream processor that combines 3D graphics technology and a microprocessor in a single chip, functioning both as a CPU and a GPU. This means Sandy Bridge will boost product performance and also provide essential graphics function for free, which translated into lower product costs for Apple.

“Basically, we are very much putting together all that is required on a single piece of silicon,” David Perlmutter, executive vice president and general manager of the Intel Architecture Group, had told eWeek in September. Sandy Bridge will be formally announced on Jan. 5, 2011, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Photo: Intel's new processor code-named Sandy Bridge (Courtesy: trendgadget)

So, what could be the reason behind Apple’s revolutionary shift of processor architecture? Intel doesn’t allow NVIDIA’s chipsets to work with its Nehalem architecture, including the Core i-series processors, essentially pushing NVIDIA out of the chipset business. The issue has even sparked a court fight between the two companies. Apple can now either opt for NVIDIA’s graphic technology or Intel’s new generation of processors.

Apple chose NVIDIA’s graphic chips for its new MacBook Air, prompting some analysts to criticize the device for its (apparently slow) 1.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor. Intel, meanwhile, was working to improve it graphic technology. Now, due to the enhanced graphics capabilities of Sandy Bridge, CNET reports, Apple — at least for now — has determined that it will not continue using NVIDIA’s graphics processing units in some MacBook models.

It’s not that Apple would be using Intel GPUs for the first time. It already uses Intel graphics to some degree in MacBooks. In fact, the original MacBook Air used Intel graphics exclusively. But apart from that, Apple has not used Intel graphics exclusively because of its inferior performance when compared to NVIDIA and AMD. Apple is known to live on the cutting edge of technology and we hope it won’t gamble its reputation over unproven technology that first-generation Sandy Bridge is offering. Also see: NVIDIA Tegra 3

So, which of the MacBook models will continue to inherit NVIDIA graphics and which would use Intel’s Sandy Bridge? According to sources, MacBook models with screen size of 13 inches and below are expected to switch to Sandy Bridge. In 13-inch MacBooks, there isn’t much scope for discrete GPU. Hence, for increased performance, Apple seems to have no better choice than Sandy Bridge.

Intel’s spokesperson says that Sandy Bridge is one of the most popular products Intel has ever had in terms of acceptance by computer makers. But some experts who have previewed the lower-end MacBook argue that Apple doesn’t require discrete graphics when MacBooks already offer a good performance level with the existing graphic cards.

Higher-end MacBooks will use graphics from Advanced Micro Devices. It still remains a mystery whether Apple would make use of NVIDIA GPUs in its higher-end models.

The current scenario seems to be a win-win situation for Intel and Apple, and NVIDIA has the most to lose here. On the sidelines is AMD, which still remains something of a wild card in computer markets, though its graphics units are offered on MacBook Pros. We think that in future, should Sandy Bridge backfire, AMD could emerge as a good option for low-end MacBooks because of its Fusion technology which combines AMD’s Intel-compatible processors with high-performance ATI graphics chips.