Low-power versions of Intel's latest and greatest "Sandy Bridge" processors are populating the chipmaker's database, giving a pretty clear view of what kind of chips future thin MacBooks will use.

MacBook Air

Thin, in this case, could be anything from a future 13-inch MacBook Pro (currently 0.95 inches thick) to an updated MacBook Air (currently 0.11 to 0.68-inches)--the latter expected in the summer timeframe.

The "launch date" for the low-power chips highlighted in the graphic below is listed in Intel's database as "02/20/2011."

It's important to remember that with the 32-nanometer Sandy Bridge generation, Intel combines the graphics function (previously a separate slice of silicon) with the main processor--a first for Intel in its Core series of products.

So, a power-efficient Sandy Bridge processor rated at 17 watts is comparable to older, less-integrated Core 2 Duo 10-watt chips. Note that in Intel nomenclature, the wattage rating is called TDP, or thermal design power (see graphic). It's also worth pointing out that the most power-efficient Intel mobile processors have historically been called ULV, or ultra-low voltage.

Which leads to a sore point for some prospective 2010 MacBook Air buyers (or current users). The 11.6-inch Airs use the old 10-watt ULV Core 2 Duo combined with Nvidia's GeForce 320M graphics-based chipset, as I've pointed out before. (Nvidia, by the way, does not disclose TDPs for its graphics chips and chipsets--I've asked them more than a few times to no avail.)

The use of older Core 2 Duo chips is probably not an issue for the vast majority of people that buy the new Airs but for some (like me) it is a bit vexing that Apple essentially uses the same Intel processor technology as the original MacBook Air introduced three years ago.

Low-power Sandy Bridge chips highlighted in black

But on a more positive note, these upcoming MacBooks are certainly something to look forward to. And Intel is just now getting ready to push these power-efficient versions of Sandy Bridge out the door in volume, packing goodies like Turbo Boost 2.0 and Hyper-Threading.

And let me end with some wishful thinking: the sooner, the better--though I'm pretty sure Apple isn't listening.