MacBook Pro 2010 Predictions

The launch of new MacBook Pros could be as early as this week (Feb 8-12). Intel’s new Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs were launched at CES in early January, and come Tuesday morning, Nvidia is going to be dropping their new mobile GPU technology, code-named Optimus.

My prediction for the new MacBooks is straight-forward…

13″ MB (possibly not released until May along with new MBA, possible lower price)
$999 – 2.26Ghz Core i3 350M (w/ Intel GPU)

13″ MBP
$1200 – 2.4Ghz Core i5 520M + Nvidia “Optimus” tech
$1500 – 2.53Ghz Core i5 540M + Nvidia “Optimus” tech

15″ MBP
$1600 – 2.53Ghz Core i5 540M + Nvidia “Optimus” tech
$2000 – 2.53Ghz Core i5 540M+ real discrete GPU (Nvidia 335M, or ATI 5650M)
$2200 – 2.66Ghz Core i7 620M + real discrete GPU

17″ MBP
$2500 – 2.66Ghz Core i7 620M + real discrete GPU
Plus BTO options of better GPUs (Nvidia 350M, ATI 57xxM)

The key is the Optimus technology. The idea is to use the Intel GPU for what its good for (basic 2D desktop-type stuff, GPU accelerated video decoding – the GPU can decode 2 H.264 streams simultaneously), and then use the Nvidia GPU for 3D games and CUDA/OpenCL. The goal is to maximize battery life while still giving users a great 3D an OpenCL experience that Intel’s integrated GPU cant deliver by itself.

Last summer, there were some rumors about OEMs prodding Intel to make sure their GPU on the Arrandale CPU was switchable for exactly something like this. OEMs know that Intel cant produce a modern GPU (they’re slowly getting closer, but still they lag last generation’s GPUs by 20-30%), so they want to make sure they can package a cheap GPU with the system (a 40nm 40 “core” GPU would be very small indeed – roughly 85-90 mm² which is about 680 chips per wafer before yields, a raw cost of $10 each based on the price of $5,000/40nm 300mm wafer).

I would hope they show up this February – I really want a new 13″ MBP! The $1200 2.4GHz model would be the one for me! I’ve got my 80GB Intel SSD ready to go inside it to make it blazing fast!