13" MBPr owners with external displays, is the GPU good enough?

[Xelo]

Hi,

I am thinking about buying the new MBPr 13" 2.6 GHz and hook it up to a 2048 x 1152 external display.

As a lot of other people, I am a little bit worried that the GPU is underpowered for the retina display (with a connected external monitor). This was heavily debated when the product was released, but after numerous software updates and some time I want to know the general thought from the people that own the machine.

Do you think the GPU is underpowered and do you feel that the UI lags noticeably because of this? Do you have an external monitor? Resolution? Does connecting this change the performance? Is this an issue at all?

Thanks!

 

[Robin Chung]

I have the 15-inch model and notice the difference between HD4000 or when the 650M is activated. Also think the 13-inch is really 'pushing it' in terms of offering clear financial benefit for the -2 inch and handicap in raw firepower.

 

[robvas]

I ran a pair of 1920x1080 monitors (both over Mini DP/Thunderbolt) and they were fine.

 

[thatappleguytoday]

I can't answer your GPU concern, but I can tell you that it's not as bad as your thinking. Not 15 comparable of course, but the everyday user and somewhat power user won't worry about the GPU. It depends on what your usage is going to be. No problems here.

I run my retina with this monitor
http://www.amazon.com/Acer-S211HL-21-5-Inch-Widescreen-Ultra-Slim/dp/B003U4IROY

Hooks up thunderbolt port and runs great

You shouldn't have any problems with external displays

 

[leman]

It depends on what you want to do. Running 3D games? Not going to happen. Software which heavily uses Quartz animations? Could get a bit choppy at times. Working with multiple windows across multiple desktops? No problems.

 

[Xelo]

I'm not really worried about gaming or other heavy GPU stuff. The most demanding stuff I will do is probably photo post processing (photoshop/lightroom).

These worries are regarding UI smoothness (scrolling, OS X animations etc.), everyday use. I don't like lagging interfaces.

 

[dusk007]

In specs at least the HD 4000 can handle 4k*4k. Which means it can drive two times 3840x2160 displays simultaneously. You are still a bit off from that.
In theory at least the pure resolution shouldn't matter all that much for GUI performance. How many windows you have open and in the foreground and what kind of funky stuff goes on with animations matters more. The rest is primitive static stuff that doesn't matter.
The Intel GPU is also quite decent with simple stuff. In games it also does well with low settings but really looses ground to AMD and Nvidia at more complex detail settings. Depending on 2D use alone you can probably bog down your HD 4000 on a 1280x800 res while somebody else runs fine with 7MegaPixels because he has less going on.

 

[stewacide]

I play 1080p movies over HDMI while using the internal desktop for various things and it's all smooth.

 

[yusukeaoki]

I use the Apple Thunderbolt Display on my MBA and it works great.
Considering that, it would work.
Dont expect to do anything graphic intensive with the 13in though.