Apple Seriously Considered Switching to AMD in 2011 MacBook Air

in upcoming profile of amd, forbes reports company's llano family of fusion combination cpu-gpu systems under consideration apple used brains behind macbook air 2011 revision. amd lost out intel, however, necessary parts late in being delivered apple , had unacceptably high failure rates.

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amd struggled new fabless model while trying crank out "fusion" processors combined cpu , gpu in single part. on paper idea promising. notebook processor dubbed "llano" got close apple update ultralight macbook air, scheduled launch in mid-2011.

amd couldn't working samples of llano apple on time, 1 former employee says. several former amd employees disagree on how close amd came. "we had it," 1 says. many of llano parts faulty. amd lost deal.

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the company reportedly pitched apple on using brazos family of fusion systems in apple tv, apple proved uninterested in proposal.

forbes' brian caulfield has more on amd's efforts lure apple in separate article in talks further yield issues on fusion chips planned macbook air.

claim echoes november report semiaccurate alleging amd's fusion platform apple's "plan a" 2011 macbook air , such machines "on verge of production" before apple decided stick intel.

apple had been struggling chip options in small portables several years licensing issues prevented graphics companies such nvidia developing integrated graphics solutions intel's latest processors. apple being forced choose between slower core 2 duo processors paired fast nvidia graphics , faster intel core i-series processors hampered slow integrated graphics intel, apple opted continue using aging core 2 duo processors longer have otherwise liked.

improvements in intel's integrated graphics did allow apple transition improved core i5 , i7 processor in current generation of macbook air models, seems apple weighing amd's offerings sought work way out of constraints of intel's graphics issues.

article link: apple considered switching amd in 2011 macbook air

 

not amd please!

 

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