Apple Launches MacBook Pros with Thunderbolt, Quad Core CPUs, AMD GPUs - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Launches MacBook Pros with Thunderbolt, Quad Core CPUs, AMD GPUs

083858 mbp lineup early 2011

While not all the rumors leading up to the launch were true, many of the last minute leaks were accurate, and Apple still managed to sneak in a few surprises.

Apple launched the new MacBook Pros this morning after much anticipation. For the first time ever, Apple has included Quad Core CPUs into their notebooks. The 15" and 17" models offer Quad Core CPUs using the Intel 2.2GHz Quad Core 2720QM and 2.0GHz Quad Core 2630QM. While many applications may not take advantage of all 4 cores, these new Sandy Bridge processors include Intel's Turbo Boost 2.0, which should increase the speed of the remaining cores when the others are underutilized.

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 automatically allows processor cores to run faster than the base operating frequency if it's operating below power, current, and temperature specification limits.

The maximum Turbo clock speeds for the 2720QM and 2630QM are 3.2GHz and 2.9GHz respectively.

090815 lion

Apple has also introduced a hybrid Thunderbolt/mini Display port on the new MacBook Pros. This represents Intel's Light Peak technology which is said to offer high speed connections and is expected to replace the need for USB 3.0. We expect to hear more about it this afternoon at Intel's press conference. From Apple's PR:

"Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro."

Apple has posted a page dedicated to Thunderbolt.

The new models are at the Apple Store:

-17" 1920x1200 Display. 2.2Ghz Quad i7. 4GB RAM. 750GB HD. AMD 6750M 1GB. $2499
-15" 1440x900 (1680 option) Display. 2.2GHz Quad i7. 750GB HD. AMD 6750M 1GB. $2199.
-15" 1440x900 (1680 option) Display. 2.0GHz Quad i7. 4GB RAM. 500GB HD. AMD 6490M 256MB. $1799
-13" 1280x800 Display. 2.7GHz Dual i7. 4GB RAM. 500GB HD. Intel HD Graphics. $1499
-13" 1280x800 Display. 2.3GHz Dual i5. 4GB RAM. 320GB HD. Intel HD Graphics. $1199

Full specs available here

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

Apple HomeView lineup feature1

Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "HomeView," an all-new kind of smart home hub featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and Siri AI. Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said: Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user. It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience,...
Apple TV 4K 4th Generation feature4

New Apple TV 4K Announced With A19 Chip, Updated Siri Remote, More

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:08 am PDT by
Apple today announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with key features including an A19 chip, Siri AI support, an updated Siri Remote that has Find My support with Precision Finding, built in far-field microphones, support for surround sound with four HomePods in front and rear pairs, and more. The A19 chip in the new Apple TV 4K delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice...
iOS 26 Home Feature

RIP, homeOS

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:39 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to reveal the name "HomeView" last week, after discovering a trademark filing from a secretive shell company that we correctly suspected was linked to Apple. Apple was likely behind a "homeOS" trademark filing as well, but the company ultimately decided to stick with generic "HomeView software" naming, just like it refers to the HomePod's operating system as "HomePod...

Top Rated Comments

204 months ago
I personally sell 15-20 macs a day now at my job. I do not believe I have met a SINGLE person who would want to do what it takes for a hackintosh. Not saying I wouldn't, I am looking into building a hackintosh. But Buddy, we are in the less than 1%.

It is Apple's product, they can make it however they want. You do realize that is how it has been from the beginning? They are a software and HARDWARE company. You want them to release glossy? matte? i7s, i5s, radeon 6990s, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, in every option of all of their computers? What about including FW800 and 400, and I want them to use HUGE DVI PORTS, so their computers never get thinner, maybe we should use them forever actually? why not? Lets ALWAYS use 7200 drives, and get PC battery lifes of 3-5 hours, and lets throw in SSD drives, I mean come on, we could just slap in a little 60 gig right? Just as expensive as 250 gigs of HD, thats what people want right? Less hard drive space.

Think outside of your own realm of self absorption and I bet your distain for all things technology, not up to par with your standards, won't ride your pony through the river every 6 months.

That's funny. I thought I just said they were playing that game. :rolleyes:



I don't presume to speak for "most people" on here, but a lack of "tedious upgrades" is not even in my top 10 list of reasons to use OSX. In fact, it's not in the list at all. I already have one Hackintosh and most updates are the same as any other Mac through Software Update. Once I had to reload the audio driver. Once in awhile you update the program that provides the machine specific drivers. It's not exactly rocket science, dude.

I like/use OSX because it's free of malware and I like the interface better than Windows. I like it doesn't slow down as you add more software. I like the Unix underpinnings. I like not having a registry (for both speed and ease of installing and removing most software).

I don't like Apple telling me I cannot have a matte screen or that I don't need a card slot on a MBP or that they refuse to provide an access door so I can swap the battery if I need to (all about them providing a replacement for a fee, not "ease of use"). I don't like Apple using Mini-Display Port (my MBP has full size DVI which many monitors come with a cable for even) when very few monitors support it (means you have to keep track of adapters and probably purchase one or more adapters). I don't like them not offering BTO options for anything from 7200 PRM drives to SSD drives whenever they feel like not offering them (leaving me in a situation where I might have to void my warranty just to install something they don't want to sell on a particular model at a particular time while other companies offer any build option you might like (or let you build your own whereas Apple says you're not allowed). I also don't like Apple heading towards iOS features instead of keeping up with OpenGL, improving dual-display support, etc. (i.e. real features).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
204 months ago
Then start praying that sjobs dies soon?

Because the new CEO won't be interested in making a huge profit?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
revelated Avatar
204 months ago
Wrong.

$130 is only upgrade pricing, you need an existing OS X license to be able to use that $130 copy of OS X you've bought.

So you can say that OS X costs $1000, basically the difference between a PC and an equivalent Mac.

Huh? Are you referring to Snow Leopard's price? Because...you don't need Leopard installed to install Snow Leopard, and last I checked Snow Leopard was $49. What am I missing here?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mattsasa Avatar
204 months ago
Clearly a move by Apple to start moving away from Boot Camp.

Won't be long
till no more Win7 on our MBP's. !0.7 or nothing on your drive baby!! ;)

what?!

what are you talking about?!

you dont make any sense
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
204 months ago
wonder why windows puts those ugly stickers on laptops..

They're performance decals. Get it right.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
204 months ago
Seriously?

Okay so to everyone who's complaining about the new macbook pros.

I just ran geek-bench (just bought one as i've been waiting for months since i sold my old 15") and the "low end" 13 MacBook Pro for $1199 received a geek-bench score of 5850. Up significantly from last years MacBooks. Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't the 2010 17" MacBook pro receive a score of around 5200 overall. I know everyone doesn't need the new speed bump but DAMN this thing is smokin.

-Happy Customer
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8
Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8
3 hours ago
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
5 hours ago
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
7 hours ago
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
8 hours ago
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
8 hours ago
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
10 hours ago
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
10 hours ago
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
11 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
12 hours ago
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
13 hours ago
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
13 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
14 hours ago
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
14 hours ago
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
15 hours ago
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
15 hours ago
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
15 hours ago
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
1 day ago
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
1 day ago
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
1 day ago
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
1 day ago
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
1 day ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
1 day ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
1 day ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
1 day ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
1 day ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
1 day ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
1 day ago
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
1 day ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors