With Apple's new MacBook line approaching its (inevitable) official confirmation, speculation is starting to emerge regarding NVIDIA's new MCP7A chipset line. It is proposed that NVIDIA's latest chipset will make up the basis of new MacBooks in a move that would see Apple dropping the standard Intel laptop motherboard.

NVIDIA's MCP7A IGP chip, expected to launch by the end of the month, is touted for its high performance per Watt ratio, DDR3-1333 memory and the ability to include HDMI output, 9to5mac notes. The site adds that this feature alone (HDMI output) could bring even more benefits, should Apple finally decide on supporting Blu-ray in its Macs.

Talking about Apple's plans with the iPod line and the iTunes media player, Digg's founder, Kevin Rose, once stated that upcoming versions of Leopard should include Blu-ray support. Most of Rose's predictions turned out to be true, like the new iPod line, iTunes 8.0 and iPhone OS 2.1, all announced at Apple's Let's Rock event. However, Apple is yet to confirm the part where it will supposedly support Blu-ray in its Macs.

It is also rumored that Apple is planning to offer up new notebooks, among which a MacBook Pro packing a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor, with a clear black frame around the screen (much like the aluminum iMac), priced at €1,797. Images depicting such a MacBook were earlier published on German retailer T System's website and then removed.

According to the international financial conglomerate known as Citigroup, Apple's new MacBook line had already started shipping to retailers' warehouses earlier this month. In Citigroup's report, the new laptops are depicted as encased in aluminum, sporting LED backlit displays, and integrated Multi-Touch capabilities. According to them, “the first shipments of Apple's next-generation 13-inch MacBooks have left China ahead of a large-scale manufacturing ramp scheduled for later this month”.

It is believed that MacBook fans are to be introduced to the new models come October 14.