MacBook Pro Refresh Seeing Only Minor Delays Due to Intel Problems?

162229 2010 macbook pro front

Much has been made of Intel's issues with a design error on its new Cougar Point chip used with its Sandy Bridge processors and whether the company's need to produce revised hardware will delay a highly-anticipated refresh of Apple's MacBook Pro lineup.

But a new report from AppleInsider suggests that any delays appear to be minor, on the order of two weeks for machines already in production.

However, one person familiar with the matter tells AppleInsider that some -- not all -- of the company's upcoming MacBook Pros were affected by the situation. According to this person, the Mac maker elected to make minor tweaks to the logic boards of those models, but that those changes would translate to a delay of less than two weeks.

Reading between the lines can only lead to speculation that Apple was an early recipient of some of those Cougar Point chipsets from Intel, and that the changes it's making involve tweaks to SATA ports that those MacBook Pros will utilize.

The report notes that supplies of the MacBook Pro continue to tighten beyond the initial constraints we reported late last month. Notably, Apple had reportedly offered major retailers restocking dates of late January for MacBook Pro models but has since pushed those dates out by a week several times.

Intel has officially announced that it will begin shipping the dual-core Sandy Bridge chips for notebooks on February 20th, with those chips expected to be used in the revised MacBook Pros.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plans for iPad Mini 8

Friday November 28, 2025 8:39 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors about Apple's upcoming iPad mini 8. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The next-generation version of the iPad mini is expected to feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...

Top Rated Comments

MagnusVonMagnum Avatar
193 months ago
I know this is off topic but kind of related as far as what people want out of a MacBook Pro but I'm curious. Why do people want to game on a laptop when playing games on a dedicated gaming console seems like it would be a much better experience and much cheaper overall?
First of all, I want to be able to game on a "Mac" not necessarily a Macbook Pro. In other words, my next computer I build will be a desktop, not a notebook. I already have a MBP and I don't use it for gaming. I use it as a portable recording studio (with Logic Studio) and for video editing and a few other things when docked. I game on my PC desktop tower. But I'm going to replace that tower soon (and turn the old tower into a core for a MAME arcade cabinet) and I'd rather run OSX. But I'll have to boot it into Windows to play most games and not out of choice.

Consoles are "cheaper" and they're convenient for sitting on a couch and playing certain types of games, but they get out-of-date fast, can't do higher-resolution things a newer PC can do in the mean time and aren't as suitable for certain types of games. Admittedly, these days they are more suitable than they used to be with all the connectivity options and add-on controllers, but I still prefer playing some games with a mouse and keyboard. More to the point, if I need a newer computer anyway, why not game on it since I already have it?


I'm a "power-user" and I'm completely fine sacrificing a quad-core CPU (on the 15" and 17" models) and a discrete GPU (on the 13") to retain the ODD, and I know for a fact that I'm not alone and that a majority of Mac users (as in, y'know, people not on this forum) agree.
Interesting. Where do you get your statistics from that you know for a "fact" that a majority agree??? Oh. That's right. You just made that up. :rolleyes:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
laurim Avatar
193 months ago

I'm a "power-user" and I'm completely fine sacrificing a quad-core CPU (on the 15" and 17" models) and a discrete GPU (on the 13") to retain the ODD, and I know for a fact that I'm not alone and that a majority of Mac users (as in, y'know, people not on this forum) agree.

A "fact" without data to back it up is just opinion. And your opinion is no more valid than anyone else's. One of my old bosses once told me when someone tells you something is fact and you don't agree, ask them "Where's your data?".
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iEdd Avatar
193 months ago
I'm know this sounds like I'm trolling, but the reasons my friends PC game is because the console is free (they have a PC anyway), and all the games are free (torrents or 7 day EB 'rentals'). I'm sure there are 'legit' PC gamers, but I've yet to meet one.

I prefer a controller, as it was designed to game, not to type. Between my PS3 and Wii, I have all the best exclusives from LBP to MP3. (My DS and PSP get occasional use, while my Xbox 360 is gathering dust somewhere...)

I think Magnus has some good ideas though. It would be great if Apple opened up some new pathways for NVidia and ATi to make Mac cards and develop software and drivers, so the experience is improved, even if Apple want to stay out of it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
laurim Avatar
193 months ago
I know this is off topic but kind of related as far as what people want out of a MacBook Pro but I'm curious. Why do people want to game on a laptop when playing games on a dedicated gaming console seems like it would be a much better experience and much cheaper overall? I'm obviously not a big gamer but I do own an XBox 360 and Kinect and can't imagine sitting hunched over a computer killing zombies for any reasonable length of time. What makes computer gaming more desirable than console gaming?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rjbruce Avatar
193 months ago
Another Tuesday come and gone...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fraaaa Avatar
193 months ago
Wasted space for you maybe. Not for enough people for Apple to nix it in what is arguably their most popular Mac.



Like downloading Adobe After Effects, Office 2011, or StarCraft II (let alone Apple's own high-end software like Final Cut Pro) is really more or even just as convenient as doing so by way of install disc. Oh wait, it's not.


You haven't read through the lines..

It's wasted space when you are putting some $30 hardware occupy 20% of your computer and is not use so often.

If they take off the ODD you can buy an external one for less then $50.

I downloaded Office 2011 with no problem, and $50 dvd drive is not that hard to afford. IF you argue that Apple sells software like Logic and Final cut - beside that I don't think is going to be for digital download considered that they have many manuals that come bundled with - and you are spending $500 to $1000 of software I am sure that $50 dvd drive WON'T make the difference.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)