9500M looks more and more likely...

[LoneWolf121188]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/08/nvidia_posts_specs_of_geforce_9m_series/

Looks like Asus officially unveiled their laptops with the 9500M and 9300M, making me think there's a damn good chance we'll see it in the new MBPs. Maybe that's why they weren't at MWSF?

Don't forget that the MBP was the first laptop on the market with the 8600M (or close to it, anyway, I don't remember exactly).

On the flip side, the 9500M and 9300M look EXACTLY the same as the 8600M and 8400M...I found that a little odd. Maybe that's just a mistake on the nVidia website?

 

[7even]

Well, if this means anything, the 9500M GS (lower-end 9500M?) has the same specs as the 8600M GT (higher-end 8600M), which lets nVidia make a higher-performing 9500M GT that differs somehow?

 

[The Flashing Fi]

Well, if this means anything, the 9500M GS (lower-end 9500M?) has the same specs as the 8600M GT (higher-end 8600M), which lets nVidia make a higher-performing 9500M GT that differs somehow?

Just because the specs are the same, doesn't mean that the performance will be.

 

[add2mac]

9500M is still based on same basic structure as 8600M GT with reported spec of somewhat between 8400M and 8600M so if Apple uses this chip it is sort of downgrading.

Also, as far as I know since they yse same architecture, there will no power saving whatsoever compared to 8600M GT. If Apple wants to change it, ATI is only way to go at the moment(either 36XX or 38XX). As 8700M GT or 8800M GT will require quite a sacrifice in terms of thickness unless Apple comes up with radical new cooling system.

 

[blurb23]

From what I've heard, there's pretty much no difference between the 9500/9300s, and their 8xxxM series counterparts.

They're much like the 3xxx series from ATi; not really the "next generation" of video cards, but rather a die shrink with full DX10.1 support.

 

[LoneWolf121188]

9500M is still based on same basic structure as 8600M GT with reported spec of somewhat between 8400M and 8600M so if Apple uses this chip it is sort of downgrading.

Kind of curious to see where you got that info.

Also, die shrink = power savings.

 

[add2mac]

Kind of curious to see where you got that info.

Also, die shrink = power savings.

I am typing on iPod so I will make it short.
google notebookcheck.com and you should be able to find the list of all the avaiable mobile GPUs in the market.

If you can find that page you will see that they have same g84 core only slight difference. This is why we are yet to see 9600M GT. I also found 9500M Gt to be rated higher than 8600M gt but I think that is because 8600m gt has been in the market longer.(I.e. Some results were created with system that has lower CPU or ram spec)

 

[chrmjenkins]

There are some important things to point out...

Apple underclocked the 8600M stock. We know the 9xxx are 65nm, so that means lower power, better battery life, less likely to underclock.

The specs on nvidia's website are for the GS, but the 8600m part we are comparing to is the GT. If there is a 9500m GT, it will have better specs.

Another thing we don't know is the type of memory. Dependent upon the type, you'll get better latencies.

Unfortunately, we don't know if we will get a 9600m or not. If you look at the previous gen, there is no 8300, but there is a 8400. It could be that Nvidia is allowing the first revision parts to have odd numbers, and then we'll get 9400 and 9600 with updated architectures, or we just won't get anything new until high end parts come out (like a 9700 or 9800, but what will they be? The desktop 9800 is two 65nm 8800's sandwiched together).

The 9500 will also bring support for the latest revision of directx if you are into bootcamp gaming.

Edit: Personally, I would welcome the update, even if the specs on paper are still the same. The smaller die size will mean better power consumption, plus more clocking headroom. If you're serious about using it, you'll have bootcamp and the necessary software for clock adjusting.

 

[Freyqq]

honestly wouldn't be supprised if they just released it exactly the same, but slightly overclocked the cards back to stock speeds instead of the current slight underclock. Ironically, you can just overclock it yourself with the current version..

 

[badgerpoison]

9500M may offer power savings through nVidia Hybrid Power. http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/NVIDIA_Hybrid_SLI_and_nForce_700a_Chipsets/

Hybrid Power can dynamically turn off a GPU to save power and also enable SLI mode for budget performance. So maybe the MBP would have a 9500 and an Intel IGP turned on when performance is needed, and would turn the 9500 off to save power when not needed.

 

[bubble27]

9500M may offer power savings through nVidia Hybrid Power. http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/NVIDIA_Hybrid_SLI_and_nForce_700a_Chipsets/

Hybrid Power can dynamically turn off a GPU to save power and also enable SLI mode for budget performance. So maybe the MBP would have a 9500 and an Intel IGP turned on when performance is needed, and would turn the 9500 off to save power when not needed.

BRILLIANT!!! hope that would really happen
Got my doubts on that though

 

[blurb23]

BRILLIANT!!! hope that would really happen
Got my doubts on that though

It could happen. A couple Vaio's and Alienware's m15x/m17x have it, for example, so it shouldn't be too hard for Apple to implement.

 

[Pressure]

I thought people were more interesting in getting a performance increase instead of a part that performs the same as the one it replaces.

To get excited you should be looking at the Geforce 9600M GT, if one exists.

 

[aiterum]

I really don't care, as long as there is a change in GPUs, and as long as it is better than what is currently in it right now (as in, isn't somehing that is pretty much the same as is currently in just with a different model or something. you know what I mean)

 

[We Healthy]

A die shrink means the chip will run cooler and use less power. This is a good thing for the MBP even if it runs at the same speeds as the 8600m gt.

 

[Diversion]

Uhhh.. I might be bumping the wrong thread but from what I understand the Nvidia 9500M is nothing more powerful than the existing 9400M that's found in the regular Macbook 13".. It received a 9500M title because it also features a 9200M for low power mode. Silly to me, because the Macbook downclocks voltage and speed on it's 9400M to achieve the same battery life (if not better) than a 9500M equipped notebook with similar such as the Dell Studio XPS 13.

Jay

 

[cathyy]

Uhhh.. I might be bumping the wrong thread but from what I understand the Nvidia 9500M is nothing more powerful than the existing 9400M that's found in the regular Macbook 13".. It received a 9500M title because it also features a 9200M for low power mode. Silly to me, because the Macbook downclocks voltage and speed on it's 9400M to achieve the same battery life (if not better) than a 9500M equipped notebook with similar such as the Dell Studio XPS 13.

Jay

There are two variants of the 9500M. The first is the 9500M G which is a 9400M + 9200M combined in hybrid SLI. It can use the 9200M in low power mode which consumes less power than the 9400M. If it needs more power, it's able to use both the 9400M and the 9200M together to achieve better framerates than the 9400M.

The other variant is the 9500M GS (note the extra S behind). It is an entirely different and far more powerful chip; probably around twice as powerful.

 

[Diversion]

There are two variants of the 9500M. The first is the 9500M G which is a 9400M + 9200M combined in hybrid SLI. It can use the 9200M in low power mode which consumes less power than the 9400M. If it needs more power, it's able to use both the 9400M and the 9200M together to achieve better framerates than the 9400M.

The other variant is the 9500M GS (note the extra S behind). It is an entirely different and far more powerful chip; probably around twice as powerful.

Ah ha! Thanks for the clarification.. I was wondering why people would be excited over a 9400M in a 15" and larger Macbook Pro lol.