Fan-less MacBook with Intel CoreM

[Pawan Fangaria]

During Apple watch event, iWatch was in the limelight. However, a noteworthy thing Apple unveiled was the new MacBook 2015. And you know what's inside it? It's Intel CoreM processor, that's with Intel 14nm process technology. Interestingly coreM has lowest TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 4.5 watts. That's the reason Apple could do the new MacBook without a fan in it!

View attachment 13569

The MacBook is also thinnest (13.1mm) and lightest (2 pounds). The 12 inch retina display is another attraction. Look at the detailed report at Apple website here.

By the way, Apple Mac sales seem to be increasing, more than 5 million units in each quarter since last two quarters. That's a good reason to invest in this segment. Is the PC/Notebook trend reversing? Intel seems to be doing the trick with it's legacy and vast experience in processors and leveraging that expertise in new processors.

Later this year, Apple plans to use coreM in its new iPad as well. Microsoft is also planning to release 14 inch Surface Pro 4 with Intel Core M and Windows 10. Does that provide Intel with further horizons of growth? I guess yes! Comments welcome!

 

[astilo]

I was very disappointed by the core M processor. Sure, low power, but also extremely weak, slower than the 22nm Haswell. And still very pricy, so probably a MacBook is really the only sweet spot for it.

Later this year, Apple plans to use coreM in its new iPad as well

Any details on that, very curious?
I really wonder how a 281$ chip can fit the IPad BOM.

 

[hist78]

I was very disappointed by the core M processor. Sure, low power, but also extremely weak, slower than the 22nm Haswell. And still very pricy, so probably a MacBook is really the only sweet spot for it.

Any details on that, very curious?
I really wonder how a 281$ chip can fit the IPad BOM.

I have started looking for a new Windows notebook since last summer. One thing I noticed is the availability of the Intel Core M based models. It wasn't many out there last year. Now we are quickly approaching the end of Q1 2015 and I still don't see too many Core M based notebooks for me to choose. For example at shopping site </SPAN>www.newegg.com</SPAN>, among more than one thousand Intel i3, i5, i7, and Core M notebooks, there are only 7 Core M models for sale. Is it because the yield, cost, chipset, performance, or something else?

Intel officially launched the Core M processor on September 5, 2014 in Berlin.</SPAN>

Intel Launches the Intel® Core

</SPAN>

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

MacBook is scheduled to be in the market by April. It's expected to exceed 2.4GHz with dual core Intel core M.

Apple may come out with bigger 12.9 inches iPad later this year after Sep. It's speculated to have Intrel core M because with that it can be compatible with industry standard software. Of course pricing has to be seen. We won't know much specifically about Apple.

 

[astilo]

Hi Pawan, just one side note about the CPU frequency. The turbo one is not telling you the true story.
The best core M I have seen so far, has a turbo boost at 2.9 Ghz (that sounds very good), but unfortunately the base frequency is just 1.2 Ghz.

[table] style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; width: 531px; color: rgb(83, 86, 90); font-family: intel-clear, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px"
|-
| colspan="3" style="padding: 5px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1.1em; background-image: none; background-color: rgb(0, 113, 197) !important; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial" | Performance
|- id="CoreCount"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | # of Cores
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 2
|- id="ThreadCount"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | # of Threads
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 4
|- id="ClockSpeed"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Processor Base Frequency
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 1.2 GHz
|- id="ClockSpeedMax"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Max Turbo Frequency
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 2.9 GHz
|- id="MaxTDP"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | TDP
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 4.5 W
|- id="ScenarioDesignPower"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Scenario Design Power (SDP)
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 3.5 W
|- id="ConfigTDPMaxFrequency"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Configurable TDP-up Frequency
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 1.4 GHz
|- id="ConfigTDPMax"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Configurable TDP-up
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 6 W
|- id="ConfigTDPMinFrequency"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Configurable TDP-down Frequency
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 600 MHz
|- id="ConfigTDPMin"
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 307px; background: rgb(230, 234, 238)" | Configurable TDP-down
| style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 200px; background: none rgb(230, 234, 238)" | 3.5 W
|-
[/table]

 

[Li Yisuo]

Core M is too huge for ipad. Just looked though the datasheet carefully, 5th Generation Intel® Core, you will find a lot of features catering for office usage only. It supports 2 x 4k2k + 1 embedded display. I can not imagine how we need it at home. Atom x7 is enough for ipad, which has more GPU cores and should be good at lighter tasks such as video editing and so on. And it is really not possible to run 3D rendering software, blender or maya, on a small ipad.
Need to merge ios and osx as quickly as possible to defend win10 attack. Compiling everything on Intel cpus is a solution. However high mark up from Intel will squeeze the AAPL's profit margin. Since DAN told everyone ipad will load TSM, it could be also some heavy wind intending to blow down the 16FF+ price.

 

[Daniel Payne]

Pawan,

I'd be very surprised if Apple used an Intel Core M in their large iPad, instead I'd expect them to use another A-series processors to continue the trend of A8 in iPhone and A8x in iPad.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

Hi Pawan, just one side note about the CPU frequency. The turbo one is not telling you the true story.
The best core M I have seen so far, has a turbo boost at 2.9 Ghz (that sounds very good), but unfortunately the base frequency is just 1.2 Ghz.

I agree to your point about the base frequency. However, I believe, the core CPU frequency is getting to its limits. Now a day, it's multi-core architecture and how that gets exploited by software is the key.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

Pawan,

I'd be very surprised if Apple used an Intel Core M in their large iPad, instead I'd expect them to use another A-series processors to continue the trend of A8 in iPhone and A8x in iPad.

Daniel,
It's to my surprise as well, but that's the rumor running.

On a side note, I see Apple, Intel collaboration strengthening. It's also brewing up that Apple mobile products, including iPhone in 2016 may use Intel 4G modem XMM 7360. If that happens, then Intel can definitely regain mobile market.

 

[hist78]

For example at shopping site www.newegg.com, among more than one thousand Intel i3, i5, i7, and Core M notebooks, there are only 7 Core M models for sale. Is it because the yield, cost, chipset, performance, or something else?

Intel officially launched the Core M processor on September 5, 2014 in Berlin.

Intel Launches the Intel® Core

Intel just announced that they will cut $1 billion out from their 1Q 2015 revenue forecast. I thought with those new Apple Macbook models start using Core M processors, Intel's revenue should get a boost. It makes me wonder the PC market is probably much worst than many people thought. And Intel might have more serious structure problems hard to be solved quickly. It also puts the continuation of so-called "Contra Reveneu" practice into question.

 

[Daniel Payne]

The laptop and tablet markets are in a slow decline overall, although Apple Mac sales are gaining some market share.

Intel never caught on to the mobile markets, and is madly trying to play catch up. Time will tell if they can find new markets poised for growth.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

Intel just announced that they will cut $1 billion out from their 1Q 2015 revenue forecast. I thought with those new Apple Macbook models start using Core M processors, Intel's revenue should get a boost. It makes me wonder the PC market is probably much worst than many people thought. And Intel might have more serious structure problems hard to be solved quickly. It also puts the continuation of so-called "Contra Reveneu" practice into question.

Yes, it was a surprise, Intel is reducing its guidance on PC sales whereas Apple MacBook is showing rising trend since last two quarters. That means without Apple, the PC sales guidance from Intel may have been still lower. I somehow do not like "Contra Revenue" model. Let's see.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

The laptop and tablet markets are in a slow decline overall, although Apple Mac sales are gaining some market share.

Intel never caught on to the mobile markets, and is madly trying to play catch up. Time will tell if they can find new markets poised for growth.

That's true. One should not hope on PC sales, the overall market will not improve, if not decline. On mobile front, if Intel can replace Qualcomm, e.g. 4G base band modem, may be they can gain ground.

 

[hist78]

That's true. One should not hope on PC sales, the overall market will not improve, if not decline. On mobile front, if Intel can replace Qualcomm, e.g. 4G base band modem, may be they can gain ground.

But an Intel modem chip can't be priced anywhere near an Intel desktop/Server processor. For example, the cheapest Intel i3 processor is selling for $115 on newegg.com.

Intel Core i3-4130 Haswell Dual-Core 3.4GHz LGA 1150 54W Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4400 BX80646I34130 - Newegg.com

It's very hard for Intel to gain enough mobile market, in the combination of unit quantity and unit price, to offset the diminishing PC/Laptop demand. So in the coming months, Intel is facing toughest challenges on gaining new market and on maintaining revenue from existing market. Intel has to act very quick because their cost structure on research, marketing, and manufacturing are based on the market condition that will not come back soon (or never come back).

Example one, in 2014 Intel spent $4 billion on "Contra Revenue" to pay mobile device manufacturers to use Intel's processors.

Example two: in January 2014, Intel shut down their Fab 42 construction in Arizona. The construction may cost Intel $1 billion already.

Intel mothballs new Arizona factory | OregonLive.com


There isn't any room for Intel to keep throwing billion of dollars and not getting meaningful result.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

But an Intel modem chip can't be priced anywhere near an Intel desktop/Server processor. For example, the cheapest Intel i3 processor is selling for $115 on newegg.com.

Intel Core i3-4130 Haswell Dual-Core 3.4GHz LGA 1150 54W Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4400 BX80646I34130 - Newegg.com

It's very hard for Intel to gain enough mobile market, in the combination of unit quantity and unit price, to offset the diminishing PC/Laptop demand. So in the coming months, Intel is facing toughest challenges on gaining new market and on maintaining revenue from existing market. Intel has to act very quick because their cost structure on research, marketing, and manufacturing are based on the market condition that will not come back soon (or never come back).

Example one, in 2014 Intel spent $4 billion on "Contra Revenue" to pay mobile device manufacturers to use Intel's processors.

Example two: in January 2014, Intel shut down their Fab 42 construction in Arizona. The construction may cost Intel $1 billion already.

Intel mothballs new Arizona factory | OregonLive.com


There isn't any room for Intel to keep throwing billion of dollars and not getting meaningful result.

That's true. But the other thing is that the 4G Modem chips are made by Intel's Infineon unit. Earlier Infineon was supplying 3G modem chips to Apple. If Intel can win Apple with modem chips, I guess that strengthen Intel in mobile space. True, there are initial losses, but that can break even and turn profitable if Intel plays its cards well.

Apple on the other hand doesn't like to depend on one vendor, so naturally they would like to see Intel rise as another vendor for mobile chips.

 

[hist78]

That's true. But the other thing is that the 4G Modem chips are made by Intel's Infineon unit. Earlier Infineon was supplying 3G modem chips to Apple. If Intel can win Apple with modem chips, I guess that strengthen Intel in mobile space. True, there are initial losses, but that can break even and turn profitable if Intel plays its cards well.

Apple on the other hand doesn't like to depend on one vendor, so naturally they would like to see Intel rise as another vendor for mobile chips.

My concern with the Intel's modem chip offering is that it can't bring huge amount of revenue and profit to offset the shrinking PC market.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

My concern with the Intel's modem chip offering is that it can't bring huge amount of revenue and profit to offset the shrinking PC market.

If we consider just one modem chip, then the concern is valid, it cannot offset the PC market. But there are couple of things here - i) The success of modem chip in mobile market will boost Intel's confidence and that can bring new life to its other offerings in that market including IoT, ii) There will be some cushion provided from tablet market, iii) Intel is offering other promising SoCs, it launched Xeon D that will be used for web servers, storage and networking hardware.

Moreover, my guess is that PC market will be between flat to slight decline, it will not go down severely. As long as Intel can bring >50% revenue from other markets that PC, it should be good. But then Intel has to work hard for that. It has to work to bring down its cost structure of mobile product line rather than relying on 'contra-revenue' for too long.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

Look at the report here. It cannot be without Apple releasing the data.
It clearly says that iPhone and iPad will be using Intel XMM 7360: 28nm in 2016.
XMM 7360 will be 30% of Apple's overall order.

It's also in the air that Apple may be using Intel RealSense technology for the camera in their iPhone.

 

[Pawan Fangaria]

The new Apple MacBook is making more news than even Apple Watch, I learn.
It's not only because of Intel Core-M Broadwell processor designed at 14nm and Fan-less architecture due to very low power design and some power saving techniques.

To save space, Apple has added a dynamic port based on universal connectivity standard, the brand new USB-C port that accomplishes multiple functions including charging, quick USB 3 data transfers, and video output that supports HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort connections.

The versatile USB-C port that offers faster charging and speedy data transfers is setting a new standard. Following up with Apple, several chip vendors are working on USB-C chip solutions that are expected to come out later this year.

 

[Daniel Payne]

Apple has an almost fanatical zeal to reduce complexity on their devices as witnessed with the latest MacBook announcement, using only a single USB-C port. This may work for a segment of the market, however on my MacBook Pro the following connectors are used simultaneously:

• Power
• Ethernet
• Firewire - connected to a disk drive backup
• DisplayPort - connected to a 24" external monitor
• USB - connected to a 24" external monitor
• USB - connected to a 24" external monitor

Clearly, power users will avoid the new MacBook because it is missing much-used ports. A more logical design would have multiple USB-C ports on it.

Same issue with the iPhone versus Android, where the iPhone has a single button while my Android has three buttons. These three buttons allow me to perform tasks with fewer clicks on an Android than on an iPhone. The Apple zeal for minimalism hurts usability, so with Apple at the moment they favor Form over Function.