“For years, Apple has used processors in the Mac Pro designed for workstations and servers — Intel’s ‘Xeon’ line,” Peter Cohen reports for iMore.
“The downside of the Xeon processor is that has higher power demands and produces more heat than other Intel processors. The RAM it uses is bigger and costs more, too. That’s why you find the Xeon only in the Mac Pro,” Cohen reports. “But that’s changing. Because Intel has announced plans to release, for the first time, a notebook version of the Xeon processor.”
“Intel says that it will release the Xeon Processor E3-1500M v5 this year. The new chip is based around Intel’s emerging ‘Skylake’ processor architecture. Skylake is Intel’s sixth-generation Core processor architecture. It’s a new, more efficient and more powerful design that’s just starting to see release,” Cohen reports. “This could pave the way for an extreme version of a MacBook Pro — something designed with Mac Pro levels of performance. That’s something that will surely appeal to digital video and audio professionals, graphic designers, artists, engineers, developers, scientists and others who want the most performance possible out of their Macs.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, an even more pro MacBook Pro would be a boon for Mac users who need portable high performance!
We need a Mac mini with a Xeon processor too.
I agree. We need a small form-factor box with a shedload of grunt. My maxed-out 2012 Mac mini packs a lot of punch for a little box.
=:~)
we need all new processors – screw the xeon – lets get things moving
Yes, we also need teleportation, anti-gravity, and warp drive.
However as an engineer, its much easier to make a move with it than really design it and make it work.
Just saying.
Just telling you; Skylake ok.
“The roadmaps published by FanlessTech show specifications for Intel’s 15-watt Skylake-U series, a low-power product targeting thin-and-light notebooks and ultralights,” Campbell reports.”
Could it hurt to have graphics cards in the Mac Pro other than AMD FirePros? If you want to appeal to Mac gamers, it would be nice to have.
Xeons in notebooks will be pretty cool, though. Video producers will most certainly enjoy them.
Also pro users. That PC Workstation where anything goes looks powerfully tempting (as much as Windows makes me gag) as opposed to the limits and slow upgrading of the new Mac Pro design.
With a 17in screeen!!
Apple pronounced the 17-inch MacBook dead years ago. Don’t expect a resuurection in your lifetime.
When?
We need to get a MBPr for my daughter in a couple of weeks for college.
Won’t happen by then. Back-to-school season is used by Apple and retailers to clear inventory either at discount or by bundling other stuff with a Mac or iPhone purchase. Note that the rumoured new iPhone event happens after school resumes in most places.
crap, thanks
buy something a few generations old to hold her over, you can always sell it without loss a few months later
It may even come with TWO USB-C ports.
Finally! The G5 Powerbook we have been waiting years for!
Yes! PowerBook G5 baby!!!
PowerBook E5, it would seem. 😛
A Xeon processor brings reliability for a limited set of very high end applications and more L2 cache. But a Xeon CPU does not bring more performance for 98% of desktop applications.
Also Xeons are pricier than equivalent desktops parts so I guess they will be used on the ultimate MBP only at close to 3K. Forget gaming on a Xeon as they are under performers for gaming as they are always lower clocked versions than desktop CPUs.
Just look at the entry Mac Pro with 4 cores and compare that machine to a top iMac. On CPU alone the iMac brings more performance for desktop applications.
In the end a Xeon is way more reliable but core by core they are not more powerful than a desktop CPU.
5K iMacs would also be great for these.
Seems like more of a natural fit for the iMac than the Macbook Pro, considering heat dissipation and energy usage are much less important priorities on an iMac. Apple has gradually transitioned the iMac to be an all-in-one pro machine in recent years, so I expect to see the Skylake Xeon there first.
I bet it’s a marketing thing. They just put the Xeon label on a processor, maybe the most powerful mobile processor they have, but still what specifically makes this Xeon on a technical level?
The downside of the Xeon processor is that has higher power demands and produces more heat than other Intel processors.
Give it a try Intel. But PLEASE no giant bizarro liquid ammonia cooling system that adds another 2 cm of thickness and another 2 kg to a laptop. That would not fly with laptop users.
Bring back the 17″ MBP – photo / video pros just love them! Plenty of battery and cooling area to run the hotter chips.