6970M vs GTX 675MX Performance?

[gnow3623]

All,

How do you think the performance of the new top end (not BTO) graphics card will stack up vs the 2011 top end (not BTO)?

I'm weighing a refurb vs. new and I wonder how these two will compare performance wise. Thanks.

 

[naiver12]

The 675mx should be roundabout 30% faster than the 6970m.

 

[forty2j]

The primary problem with the 6970m (non-BTO) is that the 1GB VRAM hurts your framerates in a bad way at native resolution on AAA games. You need to run at a lower resolution, accept some choppiness, or accept some lower settings.

My fear is that the 675MX will experience the same problem. That they only give 1GB VRAM to these computers at 2560x1440 is criminal.

 

[gnow3623]

Is it possible to run at a lower, non-native resolution? I'm just trying to determine if the $350 premium over a refurb (educational) is worth it.

 

[forty2j]

Is it possible to run at a lower, non-native resolution? I'm just trying to determine if the $350 premium over a refurb (educational) is worth it.

Yes; if you can, walk into an Apple store or another retailer and try it out. The 6970m 1GB performs well at 1920x1080. But since it's not the native resolution of the screen, it might or might not appear slightly blurry to you. No way to tell if it bothers you without experiencing it first hand.

 

[karpich1]

Is it possible to run at a lower, non-native resolution? I'm just trying to determine if the $350 premium over a refurb (educational) is worth it.

Most games let you run at various lower resolutions. Lower the resolution and bump up the anti-aliasing a little, and the quality won't be QUITE as good as native rez but it will be decent.

Honestly, besides that... the only place where GPU performance matters is some rendering stuff (CGI, some video work, etc).

 

[gnow3623]

Hmm. I don't know if its worth the premium to me to get the newer model. I like having a DVD and don't need usb 3.0. I wonder if Apple will continue supporting the AMD cards for a few more years.

 

[cirus]

The primary problem with the 6970m (non-BTO) is that the 1GB VRAM hurts your framerates in a bad way at native resolution on AAA games. You need to run at a lower resolution, accept some choppiness, or accept some lower settings.

My fear is that the 675MX will experience the same problem. That they only give 1GB VRAM to these computers at 2560x1440 is criminal.

yep, seems kinda pointless to install a gpu 30% faster with 1 GB vram and still only give it 1 GB, specially since nvidia does not sell the 675mx in any other configurations save apple's with only 1 GB vram.