That means that these processors still require an additional, though less-capable and power-hungry, controller chip to handle the traditional southbridge functions, like USB and FIreWire I/O. In designing the Arrandale mobile processor family, Intel moved the memory controller, PCIe bus controller, and integrated graphics onto a separate, on-package die right next to the CPU. The 9400M also had the benefit of being CUDA-compatible, which was more important down the line when Apple rolled support for the CUDA-like OpenCL into Mac OS X 10.6. The 16-core integrated GPU in the 9400M far exceeded the capability of the integrated Intel GMA950 or X3100 graphics in the Intel controllers used in previous Mac models. All of them were equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor, a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M controller with integrated graphics, and, in the case of the 15' and 17' models, a second discrete GPU. It turns out that there are several reasons that factored into Apple's decision, including cost, graphics performance, battery life-and the laws of physics.įirst, consider the basic architecture of the previous MacBook Pro models, first launched in October of 2008.

So why didn't Apple give the 13' MacBook Pro some Arrandale love? The update to Nehalem-based cores, as well as a die shrink to 32nm, gives these Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 mobile processors clear performance advantages over the Core 2 Duo that Apple retained for the 13' MacBook Pro. Fans of Apple's most diminutive professional notebook were let down this week when the newest 13' MacBook Pro revision didn't get an upgrade to Intel's latest processor architecture.

Macbook pro 13 logic board upgrade