13" rMBP + 2 x 27" screens

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blurobot

macrumors member
Original poster
May 28, 2009
67
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- have to buy 2 13" rMBP for work NOW. Can't wait for updates unfortunately

- we all use dual 27" screen (not apple thunderbolt screens but hp with the same resolution)

Will the current hd4000 in the 13" rMBP be able to use these dual monitors without any lag issue in clamshell mode?

I've tried to search everywhere for an answer but all I find are articles about the 15" or apple's initial specw which says it will work but Im unsure about lag. Integrated graphics arent usually that good and apple overshoot or ubdershoot their specs sometimes.. Anyone has experience with this?
 

C

Ccrew

macrumors 68020
Feb 28, 2011
2,035
3
Mr MM said:
Sorry, but why it wont work?
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it's not that it won't work, it's just that the question was will it work without lag. My experience with a 13" rmpb and twin thunderbolts is that it's laggy as heck.
 
Mr MM

Mr MM

macrumors 65816
Jun 29, 2011
1,116
1
Ccrew said:
it's not that it won't work, it's just that the question was will it work without lag. My experience with a 13" rmpb and twin thunderbolts is that it's laggy as heck.
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ahh... I was guessing on hardware incompatibility, the HD4000 aint enough to drive 2x 1440p displays
 
pgiguere1

pgiguere1

macrumors 68020
May 28, 2009
2,157
1,081
Montreal, Canada
Let's do the math here:

  • If your displays are 1080p: 1920 x 1080 x 2 = 4,147,200 pixels in clamshell mode.
  • If they're 1440p: 2560 x 1440 x 2 = 7,372,800 pixels in clamshell mode.
  • Native resolution: 2560 x 1600 = 4,096,000 pixels if you only use the internal display.
  • "Looks like 1680x1050" scaling setting : 3360x2100 = 7,056,000 pixels on your internal display.

So if you want to get a good idea of how it runs in clamshell mode with two 1080p displays, try the computer at default resolution on its internal screen only. The number of pixel to render will be roughly the same. It should actually run a bit better on the external displays than the native one since your computer won't have to handle HiDPI @2x assets.

If both your displays are 1440p, do the same but with the "Looks like 1680x1050" scaling setting.

I think it's powerful enough. Your main limiting factor will be the CPU anyway, not the integrated graphics. Mavericks will bring software optimisations that should make everything buttery smooth, until then you can use the Webkit nightly instead of Safari to make sure scrolling while browsing is fine.
 
C

Ccrew

macrumors 68020
Feb 28, 2011
2,035
3
pgiguere1 said:
Let's do the math here:


I think it's powerful enough. Your main limiting factor will be the CPU anyway, not the integrated graphics. Mavericks will bring software optimisations that should make everything buttery smooth, until then you can use the Webkit nightly instead of Safari to make sure scrolling while browsing is fine.
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On the math though, it's one thing on paper and another in the real world. Scale a 13" rmbp machine by itself to full resolution on it's own screen it lags.
 
MacModMachine

MacModMachine

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2009
2,251
141
Canada
Ccrew said:
it's not that it won't work, it's just that the question was will it work without lag. My experience with a 13" rmpb and twin thunderbolts is that it's laggy as heck.
Click to expand...
i run 2 27" 1440p....NO LAG at all, you must have had something wrong somewhere.


stock 13" rMBP
 

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