Is Apple About to Drop NVIDIA Graphics Processors From Future Macs?

SemiAccurate, a site devoted to technology news and rumors, is reporting that Apple and NVIDIA are about to part ways. While SemiAccurate offers no source for its information, not even a “highly reliable unnamed source,” it claims that Apple is dissatisfied with the quality of manufacturing of NVIDIA devices. SemiAccurate specifically mentions the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT, which had a manufacturing problem that caused the graphics chips to fail in some notebooks, including the previous generation of the MacBook Pro.

Apple did experience problems and extend warranties on affected MacBook Pros to cover the NVIDIA-related issues. But soon after, Apple was busily stuffing NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics processors into the latest MacBook Pro lineup. So far there have been no new manufacturing issues to report, just satisfied customers enjoying the higher level of graphics capabilities these chips bring to Apple.

Of far more interest is the speculation that NVIDIA may lose a lawsuit with Intel over a licensing deal between the two companies that allows NVIDIA to create chipsets that work with Intel processors. Intel claims the NVIDIA license does not cover Intel processors that contain a built-in memory controller. Intel’s Nehalm line of processors contains a built-in memory controller, and it has been speculated that Apple will be using mobile versions of the Nehalm processors in future iMacs and MacBook Pros.

Intel’s suit is probably more about forcing a new cross-licensing agreement than trying to keep NVIDIA from creating graphics chipsets.

Should the Intel suit not lead to a new cross-licensing deal with NVIDIA, Apple may have to return to using integrated Intel graphics, or look to mobile graphics from other sources.

Or perhaps we can start a new rumor. Apple could either buy NVIDIA or buy a license to its designs, and then pursue an agreement with Intel over their use. Would Intel tell Apple to take a running leap?