Will Apple ditch NVIDIA for Intel graphics?

I'm planning on making the switch to a Mac but I don't need a new notebook till Q3 09/Q1 2010. I know the next major hardware refresh is coming soon and I want a Macbook to last through uni but I don't know Apples sales strategies.

My main concern is the integrated graphics that the MB may come with when it is refreshed. What I wanted to ask is if anyone knows the likelihood that Apple will drop NVIDIA and go back to Intel.

Because if that was to be the case, I might as well buy one now (or once SL is released) because i'd rather have a Centrino 2 based MB w/ NVIDIAs iGPU then go back to Intel (harsh, i know... but it's the truth).
Even with all the benefits the Calpella chipset/Westmere CPU would bring i.e. USB 3.0, SATA-III, Bluetooth 3.0, native SSD support, removal of FSB, integrated memory controller, DDR3-1600, improved wireless tech (w/ finalized 802.11n spec), lower power consumption, 32nm Nehalem.

Man I wish Apple would stick with NVIDIA for their next platform. NVIDIA has greater compatibility than anyone else and I know for a fact that the integrated graphics that will come with Arrandale are just a higher clocked 4500MHD so it will still be a lot weaker then even todays Macbook offering (9400m) which is like taking two steps back.
Would be frickin AWESOME if we could get Calpella with a variant of Arrandale without its integrated graphics core. Instead, couple it with a 40/32nm shrink of the current 9400m based on the G300 architecture.

So does anyone know the likelihood of Apple dropping NVIDIA in their next gen products? What kind of decisions have they made in the past? I read something about a lawsuit between Intel & NVIDIA a while back, would that effect their decision?

Edit: In terms of the design for the MB, it looks great. I especially like the manufacturing methods which was what drew my attention in the first place. The only thing they really need to add for the next gen product is the battery technology (w/ Adaptive Charging) currently being used by the 17-inch MB Pro. And maybe rethink Firewire/eSata.

 

Maybe ATI, but i doubt INTEL.

 

Well, Larrabee is predicted to be released in the first half of 2010, so maybe Apple will upgrade their machines to Nehalem+Larrabee as opposed to Nehalem+GMA.

 

Also if you look at whats been mentioned so far about mobile Nehalem, the only dual core version to be made available will have the integrated graphics built in. Unless i'm mistaken, this won't allow for any other integrated graphics. Unless Apple decide to use the 45nm quad core (Clarksfield) or add a discrete gpu in the MB I still don't see how that will work.

If this is true, it would mean Intel is literally forcing it's integrated graphics onto manufacturers and consumers alike.

Budding, that does make sense but from what i've read it's pretty much confirmed what will come with Arrandale. And I do think Larrabee would work well with the OpenCL in the future. But isn't the first iteration a discrete solution? It might well come with Sandy Bridge though who knows. But imo we'll only see integrated Larrabee in Haswell because its the same team working on it.

 

I doubt the macbooks would switch from the 9400, its already powerful enough and uses little power, and still relevantly new. The macbook pros still use the 9600m gt so I doubt they feel a need update the 9400. I bet the macbook will use the 9400 until they switch completely to GPGPUs.

 

I think nvidia is currently involved with legal proceedings regarding intel chipsets. This will likely mean that when nehalem based mobile cpu's arrive, there will be no available nvidia chipset.

If Apple does a refresh at the same time it is likely it will return to intel integrated if no other solution is found.

 

Kami- Nvidia has stated that they will continue development of new chipsets, etc for Nehalem-based systems throughout the legal proceedings, will ship those chipsets, and will not take them off the market until every legal test has been tried.

 

there is a 0% chance that apple will revise their computers with worse parts.

don't worry.

 

i think there will be hybrid sli with igp on the cpu and dedicated ati gpu on the board

 

Can I get a link to the source please? Do they include mobile variants? Idk, they might be forced to cease manufacturing the chipsets. :/

Lol. Thanks for the reassurance. I was kinda freaking out about this.

 

From: http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2009/02/18/intel-files-lawsuit-against-nvidia/1

I couldn't find the original article I read about Nvidia "using all legal options", so although I'm sure i read it, I'm willing to withdraw that part of my statement.

 

As it stands, it's almost certain that Apple will have to drop nVidia IGPs. The problem is not just legal, it's technical. All mobile Nehalem processors do not include QPI meaning that they do not include a high-speed link to the chipset. The 45nm quad core Lynnfield coming this year includes a northbridge with memory controller and PCIe controller. Next years 32nm dual core Arrandale include a northbridge with memory controller, PCIe controller, and IGP. Both will only have a low bandwidth DMI link to connect a southbridge for USB ports and such. DMI just doesn't have the bandwidth to hang an IGP off of even if nVidia decides to integrate one in a southbridge, especially because the memory controller would then be external from the IGP's perspective so all memory access would have to go through the CPU using the DMI link.

In theory, an nVidia IGP in the southbridge could include it's own dedicated memory controller with it's own small dedicated memory pool like ATI's Sideport. However, by the time you give an IGP a dedicate memory controller and memory pool you might as well consider putting in a more full featured dedicated IGP since it wouldn't take up much more space and can be a lot faster without the thermal and size constraints of being stuck in a southbridge.

The thing is that the lack of QPI in mobile Nehalem has been widely known for a long time since before the nVidia IGP partnership with Apple. So either nVidia has a secret plan around the legal and technical constraints or Apple went in knowing that the 9400M was a temporary solution until Intel gets it's IGP act together or finally switching to low-end GPUs in the MacBook.

 

Commander- you answered your own issue in your post.

"The 45nm quad core Lynnfield coming this year includes a northbridge with memory controller and PCIe controller. Next years 32nm dual core Arrandale include a northbridge with memory controller, PCIe controller, and IGP."

Why can't nVidia's graphics use that PCIe link to connect? That's actually how most current IGP solutions work- one example is ATI's 790GX. The chipset is the same as the 790FX, which has dual x16 links. The difference is that the 790GX sacrifices one of those x16 links to the IGP.