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MacBook Air 2020 will offer the new Intel Core i3-1000NG4, i5-1030NG7, and i7-1060NG7 as processor options; i3 and i5 spotted on Geekbench 5

The MacBook Air 2020 utilizes non-configurable TDP Ice Lake parts from Intel. (Image source: Apple)
The MacBook Air 2020 utilizes non-configurable TDP Ice Lake parts from Intel. (Image source: Apple)
Apple has just unveiled the new MacBook Air model, but the specifications list on the official website did not disclose the full processor options. It appears buyers of the MacBook Air 2020 will be able to select from a choice of new Ice Lake SoCs: Intel Core i3-1000NG4, Intel Core i5-1030NG7, and Intel Core i7-1060NG7. These processors do not offer configurable TDPs unlike their similarly named counterparts.
Apple Ice Lake Laptop Ultrabook MacBook

A few days ago we reported on the news that Apple had revealed the new MacBook Air (model identifier MacBookAir9,1), and while it was mentioned that there would be Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 Ice Lake processors involved, it wasn’t certain which specific SKUs would be used. Geekbench 5 records for the MacBookAir9,1 have been discovered by Tum Apisak that show the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 and Intel Core i5-1030NG7 being tested. The Intel Core i7-1060NG7 is mentioned elsewhere.

The older Ice Lake Intel Core i3-1000G4, i5-1030G7, and i7-1060G7 chips differ from their new “N” counterparts in some subtle but crucial ways. There are some differences in default TDPs and base clock rates, but the main difference is that the newer processors do not offer configurable TDPs. The package sizes are also different and there are a couple of differences in the included technologies:

Intel Core i3-1000G4 i3-1000NG4 i5-1030G7 i5-1030NG7 i7-1060G7 i7-1060NG7
Base clock rate 1.10 GHz 1.10 GHz 800 MHz 1.10 GHz 1.00 GHz 1.20 GHz
TDP 9 W 9 W 9 W 10 W 9 W 10 W
Configurable TDP down to 8 W N/A up to 12 W N/A up to 12 W N/A
Package size 26.5 mm x 18.5 mm 22 mm x 16.5 mm 26.5 mm x 18.5 mm 22 mm x 16.5 mm 26.5 mm x 18.5 mm 22 mm x 16.5 mm
Intel Optane support Yes N/A Yes N/A Yes N/A
Intel Trusted Execution Yes No Yes No Yes No

As for the Geekbench 5 results, the quad-core Intel Core i5-1030NG7 in the MacBook Air 2020 scored 1,174-1,192 points in the single-core test and 3,238-3,253 points in the multi-core test. The dual-core Intel Core i3-1000NG4 managed 1,074-1,094 in the single-core benchmark and offered up a result of 2,332-2,412 points in the multi-core run. 

Source(s)

@TUM_APISAK

Intel (processor comparison)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 03 > MacBook Air 2020 will offer the new Intel Core i3-1000NG4, i5-1030NG7, and i7-1060NG7 as processor options; i3 and i5 spotted on Geekbench 5
Daniel R Deakin, 2020-03-23 (Update: 2020-03-23)