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Macintosh1984

macrumors 6502
Dec 15, 2012
323
46
Yes, 2560x1440 with every possibly option turned on or turned up to the highest setting (with the exception of Uber.)

Honestly this is not just about how great the gpu is. This iMac is what I would consider all around to be the single best computer you can buy on the market. The screen alone puts every other LCD I've seen to shame. You can't find a display with this tremendous amount of richness and the smallest amount of glare I have seen on a glass display. Opinions about the lack of optical drive aside, I haven't had a piece of tech on my desk that elicits such a positive emotional reaction from 360 degrees of visibility in my life no matter who approaches it at work. When you walk up to it this thing just screams "I'm sexy, and I'm powerful and you know you want to come work on me ;)". So the fact it also comes with a kick ass GPU couldn't make people any happier.

And sorry Hacke, no Battlefield 3 on steam :/

Fenn, thank you so much for your tests!

Can you describe better temperature and noise of your i7 with 680MX after a few hours of play game?

It would be great if you try the same game but with a lower resolution to see difference in heat and noise. Specify if a lower resolution fullcreen the game looks graphically well or you see pixels.

What about also performance 650M vs 675MX vs 680MX?

I am unsure whether to buy the 21.5, i7, Fusion Drive or 27, i7, Fusion Drive with 675MX or 680MX.

I'm not a great player, but I want to have fun, but I'm afraid of the heat that could damage the computer and I do not like the noise.

What can you tell me?
 

druiddriveby

macrumors newbie
Nov 27, 2012
4
0
I've got a 680mx + i7 on the way, my primary reason for buying the top end was for hd video editing in premier CS6 with magic bullet looks other FX, with some 3D work, a lot of photoshop work large format print work with a fair bit of photo editing.

So I know nothing about gaming (but am keen to try some games when I get my hands on the beast!) but has anyone who has got one been using it for this kind of work?

I'm upgrading from a late 2006 iMac, so whatever happens this is going to be a big upgrade in performance.

Just interested to see if anyone is using it for heavy 'graphics / video' work, and how it fares....
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
more benchmarks coming today!

Too my surprise, our iMac 3.4 with 680MX is on the Fedex truck for delivery TODAY instead of Monday!

So I'll have more GPU test results posted here before today is over.
 

Macintosh1984

macrumors 6502
Dec 15, 2012
323
46
Too my surprise, our iMac 3.4 with 680MX is on the Fedex truck for delivery TODAY instead of Monday!

So I'll have more GPU test results posted here before today is over.

Fantastic! Please consider the dissipation of heat and noise when play games (also at lower resolution) and/or Pro Apps vs. iMac 21,5.

Thanks!
 

aure28

macrumors newbie
Dec 12, 2012
24
0
Too my surprise, our iMac 3.4 with 680MX is on the Fedex truck for delivery TODAY instead of Monday!

So I'll have more GPU test results posted here before today is over.

Barefeats have the best real world benchs :)

Please do some benchs on Windows with the last beta drivers of Nvidia if you can in native resolution (Fenn said there are better that the one from bootcamp).

Keep up the good job!
 

MojoRisinSD

macrumors regular
Nov 1, 2012
139
1
Barefeats have the best real world benchs :)

Please do some benchs on Windows with the last beta drivers of Nvidia if you can in native resolution (Fenn said there are better that the one from bootcamp).

Keep up the good job!

OSX also! A lot of us are not going to bootcamp just to game. Thanks!
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
OS X benchmarks coming soon. . .

Dec 15, 2012 11:10 AM PDT, Delivered one 3.4GHz i7 with GTX 680MX and Fusion Drive.

The GPU benchmarking under OS X begins now! Be back here soon.
 

ReanimationLP

macrumors 68030
Jan 8, 2005
2,782
33
On the moon.
Guys i need your help. I am having trouble to decide what Windows i should use in Bootcamp.

I own a 32bit Win7 and a 64bit Win8. Given the fact that Win8 is not officially supported in Bootcamp, what system should i use for maximum performance gaming with my iMac?

Side note: I am currently running an old Win8 Dev Preview on my MacBook Pro via Bootcamp that runs perfectly fine with all drivers working.

Download the 64-bit version and use the key that comes with your 32-bit version to install and activate. http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
Which GPU benchmarks?

Yay! :p

What tests are you considering?

For starters, Heaven (OpenGL), LuxMark (OpenCL), FurMark (OpenGL), and GiMark (OpenGL).

Then WoW, X-Plane 10, and Dirt 2. I would like to do some newer games but there are no timedemos or other means of benchmarking or capturing average frame rates -- at least not that I know about at this moment though the search continues.

Then on to Pro Apps with GPU intensive functions like Photoshop's Iris Blur, After Effects Ray Trace 3D, Premiere Pro's Gaussian Blur, Final Cut Pro X's Directional Blur, Motion's RAM Preview, etc.
 

rand0

macrumors newbie
Nov 18, 2010
6
0
For starters, Heaven (OpenGL), LuxMark (OpenCL), FurMark (OpenGL), and GiMark (OpenGL).

Then WoW, X-Plane 10, and Dirt 2. I would like to do some newer games but there are no timedemos or other means of benchmarking or capturing average frame rates -- at least not that I know about at this moment though the search continues.

Then on to Pro Apps with GPU intensive functions like Photoshop's Iris Blur, After Effects Ray Trace 3D, Premiere Pro's Gaussian Blur, Final Cut Pro X's Directional Blur, Motion's RAM Preview, etc.

You mind posting about WoW first?!? I'd really like to see what this thing can do with Ultra settings. Please?!

I've had a late 2009 iMac and have only been able to play in "Fair" settings with around 30ish FPS.
 

skyenet

macrumors regular
Jun 26, 2012
146
6
Near Glasgow - Scotland
really interested in the x-plane 10 benchmark, also you might consider assembling a large panorama using full-size dslr images.

Yes, I am really interested in X-Plane 10 performance as that was one of the main reasons I bought the new iMac.

Got the 64bit version ready in a folder to drag onto my iMac when it arrives. AT the moment it is having a long rest in a warehouse in Germany (been there since Thursday night) but do expect it on Monday.

In the meantime I loaded up the 64bit Windows version of X-Plane onto an HP Sleekbook running Windows 8. Quite amazed at the performance and FPS I was getting from its AMD Dual-Core A6-4455M APU with Radeon HD 7500G Discrete-Class Graphics (2.6 GHz, 1 MB L2 cache), well compared to my present 2009 iMac that is.
 

Blkant

macrumors regular
Jul 27, 2012
114
312
We really need to see some more standard or demanding games though. Anyone have the opportunity to do Skyrim, Borderlands 2, BF3, Arma 2/Day Z? Even older demanding games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.?
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
OS X speed tests on 680MX -- OS X vs Windows

Heaven defaults at 2560x1440 = 38.8 FPS w/OS X OpenGL vs 51.6 FPS w/Windows DirectX 11

LuxMark OpenCL Sala test = 814K samples/sec w/OS X vs 427K w/Windows

FurMark defaults at 2560x1440 = 31 FPS w/OS X vs 30 FPS w/Windows

GiMark defaults at 2560x1440 = 60 FPS w/OS X vs 58 FPS w/Windows

If you want to compare your Mac to these number, go to this page for links to these benchmarks and procedures:
http://barefeats.com/imac12g1.html

Now on to WoW, X-Plane 10, etc.
 

cosmicjoke

macrumors 6502
Oct 3, 2011
484
1
Portland, OR
Looks like its 3DMARK score is 6883, benching somewhere between a desktop GTX 660 & Radeon 7870. Twice the benchmark score of the 6970m, which benched close to a GTX 460. Not too shabby for mobility card.
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
680MX World of Warcraft speed tests

WoW: Mists of Pandaria. This is our Narache Village Totem to Tree to Totem test results for various Macs. All were running Ultra Preset.

iMac 3.4 680MX
2560x1440 = 86.7 FPS average
1898x1068 = 111.8 FPS average
1456x820 = 118.2 FPS average

iMac 2.9 650M (got similar numbers for rMBP 15")
1920x1080 = 58.2 FPS average
1456x820 = 71.0 FPS average

2011 iMac 3.4 Radeon HD 6970M
1456x820 = 59.7 FPS average
(will get more examples of this Tuesday but clearly slower than 680MX)

Mac Pro 3.3 Radeon HD 5870
2560x1440 = 57.4 FPS average
1898x1068 = 70.4 FPS average
1456x820 = 78.9 FPS average

Mac Pro 3.3 GeForce GTX 680 Classified
2560x1440 = 107.5 FPS average (only beats 680MX on top rez)
1898x1068 = 108.2 FPS average
1456x820 = 111.2 FPS average
 

MythicFrost

macrumors 68040
Mar 11, 2009
3,940
38
Australia
If they need Windows for something like gaming, which is a common bootcamp scenario on here, they may already have a Windows 7 retail license. That would be the expensive one. An oem license for that machine would be significantly less, and they do pop up in legitimate retail channels. $100 on an oem license isn't that bad unless you just wanted wanted it for one or two applications, in which case I'd see if they'll run under Wine:p.
I was actually thinking of OEM licenses. No way I'd ever recommend anyone to buy the retail.
It could be a combination. It's what is offered by Apple in terms of desktops. The mac pro isn't really aimed at that market. My point was they referred to it as the best "mobile" graphics chip, yet it's not really in the context of mobile hardware. Traditional desktop cards are too hot and bulky for such a machine, but it should be referenced against other desktop hardware in terms of capability. In that sense it's not the fastest. It's quite fast, just not the fastest.
I see your point, but I also see the OP's point, and agree with both of you. I think it should be compared against desktop cards, but it's also worth noting it's the most powerful mobile graphics chip available. Remember that the iMacs have used mobile graphics for a while, and that it's only very recently that they've become really powerful. So bragging of sorts is only natural.
 

cosmicjoke

macrumors 6502
Oct 3, 2011
484
1
Portland, OR
WoW: Mists of Pandaria. This is our Narache Village Totem to Tree to Totem test results for various Macs. All were running Ultra Preset.

iMac 3.4 680MX
2560x1440 = 86.7 FPS average
1898x1068 = 111.8 FPS average
1456x820 = 118.2 FPS average

iMac 2.9 650M (got similar numbers for rMBP 15")
1920x1080 = 58.2 FPS average
1456x820 = 71.0 FPS average

2011 iMac 3.4 Radeon HD 6970M
1456x820 = 59.7 FPS average
(will get more examples of this Tuesday but clearly slower than 680MX)

Mac Pro 3.3 Radeon HD 5870
2560x1440 = 57.4 FPS average
1898x1068 = 70.4 FPS average
1456x820 = 78.9 FPS average

Mac Pro 3.3 GeForce GTX 680 Classified
2560x1440 = 107.5 FPS average (only beats 680MX on top rez)
1898x1068 = 108.2 FPS average
1456x820 = 111.2 FPS average

I've always found Illidan server during peak hours outside Org AH to be the real FPS test for WoW
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
Some X-Plane 10 benchmarks for 680MX vs others

Launching X-Plane 10 from Terminal with this command:
./X-Plane.app/Contents/MacOS/X-Plane --no_fbo_minify --fps_test=3003 --load_smo=Output/replays/p3.rep --pref:_prefs_found=1 --pref:_is_full_ALL=1 --pref:_x_res_full_ALL=1440 --pref:_y_res_full_ALL=900 --pref:_bpp_full_ALL=32

iMac 3.4 680MX = 35.6 FPS
iMac 2.9 650M = 29.7 FPS
Mac Pro 3.3 Radeon HD 5870 =31.8 FPS
Mac Pro 3.3 GeForce GTX 680 Classified = 29.9 FPS

The replay is the take off and 180 deg turn of a Phantom F4 fighter jet with the "camera" in the chase position.
 

racher

macrumors member
Apr 14, 2010
44
0
Seattle, WA
I've got a 680mx + i7 on the way, my primary reason for buying the top end was for hd video editing in premier CS6 with magic bullet looks other FX, with some 3D work, a lot of photoshop work large format print work with a fair bit of photo editing.

Just interested to see if anyone is using it for heavy 'graphics / video' work, and how it fares....

Then on to Pro Apps with GPU intensive functions like Photoshop's Iris Blur, After Effects Ray Trace 3D, Premiere Pro's Gaussian Blur, Final Cut Pro X's Directional Blur, Motion's RAM Preview, etc.

I'm also interested in seeing how the 680MX performs using Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 (Mercury Playback Engine) and After Effects CS6 (Ray Trace Engine). My fully loaded 27" is on the way and should arrive Tuesday, but I'd love to see some testing of such pro apps before it arrives.

The gaming benchmarks are interesting and very encouraging, but I bought my iMac for business purposes with the hope that this new GPU would really knock things out of the park in CS6. My current Nvidia 330M in my MacBook Pro is sorely lacking in GPU power, and I can't wait to see how the new iMac fares. Thanks again for everyone's efforts!

-racher
 

barefeats

macrumors 65816
Jul 6, 2000
1,058
19
I'm also interested in seeing how the 680MX performs using Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 (Mercury Playback Engine) and After Effects CS6 (Ray Trace Engine). My fully loaded 27" is on the way and should arrive Tuesday, but I'd love to see some testing of such pro apps before it arrives.

The gaming benchmarks are interesting and very encouraging, but I bought my iMac for business purposes with the hope that this new GPU would really knock things out of the park in CS6. My current Nvidia 330M in my MacBook Pro is sorely lacking in GPU power, and I can't wait to see how the new iMac fares. Thanks again for everyone's efforts!

-racher

I hear you. I will post results using Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 (Mercury Playback Engine) and After Effects CS6 (Ray Trace Engine) before today is over. Bonus: I'll have some DaVinci Resolve results, too.
 

theturn

macrumors newbie
May 12, 2012
28
0
Launching X-Plane 10 from Terminal with this command:
./X-Plane.app/Contents/MacOS/X-Plane --no_fbo_minify --fps_test=3003 --load_smo=Output/replays/p3.rep --pref:_prefs_found=1 --pref:_is_full_ALL=1 --pref:_x_res_full_ALL=1440 --pref:_y_res_full_ALL=900 --pref:_bpp_full_ALL=32

iMac 3.4 680MX = 35.6 FPS
iMac 2.9 650M = 29.7 FPS
Mac Pro 3.3 Radeon HD 5870 =31.8 FPS
Mac Pro 3.3 GeForce GTX 680 Classified = 29.9 FPS

The replay is the take off and 180 deg turn of a Phantom F4 fighter jet with the "camera" in the chase position.

I guess this isn't the mac that will run everything at max settings at native resolution
 
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