Desktop versions of Intel's next-gen processor architecture have made appearances in the top-end iMac models, but we shouldn't have a long wait for mobile versions to show up in Apple's portable line. A sales promotion for Intel retailers offers a chance to win a MacBook Pro featuring a Core i5 processor during the month of January, though such a machine does not currently exist in Apple's lineup.

Promotional materials sent this week to members of the Intel Retail Edge Program, which gives technical information and sales incentives to retail employees, describes a contest which features 2 MacBook Pros as the top prize. "Pass this month's trainings for 2 chances to win one of 2 MacBook Pro laptops with the accelerated response of an Intel Core i5 processor," the promotion reads. The materials were sent to multiple countries—including France, Spain, and the UK—suggesting that the error wasn't merely a typo.

However, Apple's entire notebook line is still using Core 2 Duo processors mated to an NVIDIA 9400M chipset with an integrated 16-core GPU. Higher-end MacBook Pros also offer an additional discrete GPU, but the NVIDIA 9400M gives Apple an OpenCL-compatible baseline for all currently shipping Macs.

MacBook Pro users have been pining for a Nehalem-based update for a while, though, especially since such processors demonstrate a clear performance advantage. But a licensing spat between Intel and NVIDIA has prevented the latter from creating chipsets for Nehalem-based processors. It wasn't a matter of if MacBook Pros would get some new processor love, but when and how.

Quad-core mobile processors based on the Nehalem architecture have been available since last year, though the power and thermal requirements weren't suitable for a MacBook Pro's thin casing. However, Intel dropped its 45nm dual-core Nehalem part, code-named Auburndale, from its roadmap. Instead, Intel wanted to accelerate the launch of a 32nm dual-core version, codenamed Arrandale. Intel announced the launch of those parts last week at CES.

It looks like Intel has, in fact, leaked the forthcoming availability of Core i5-powered MacBook Pros, which may appear at a rumored Apple media event believed to be scheduled for January 27 at Yerba Buena Arts Center. At any rate, it appears that the "when" question has been answered, which is to say, "soon."

As for the "how," though, we still don't have solid answers. Arrandale processors have an integrated graphics processor packaged inside along with the dual-core CPU, but Apple is unlikely to want to move back to using Intel's graphics. Though an MCM GPU may offer some useful power savings, it's not compatible with OpenCL, and we don't believe it would offer graphics performance worth the trade-off.

Apple most likely would adopt a tiered strategy like that used for the current iMacs—the 21.5" and base 27" models still use Core 2 Duo processors, while the 27" model is available with Core i5 or Core i7 processor options. So, base MacBook Pros may still use Core 2 Duo processors mated to an NVIDIA 9400M, while higher-end models would come equipped with Core i5 processors and discrete GPUs.

Rumors have suggested that Apple may demand a custom processor without the included GPU, which is doable, but we doubt Intel or Apple would go that route. However, the Core i5 processors at 32nm may offer enough power savings that including a discrete GPU in all MacBook Pros is still an option while maintaining the 7 hours of battery time of recent models.