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Apple Shifting to Intel Graphics for Future MacBooks and 13-Inch MacBook Pros?
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Not really sure why you're raging at me, when I'm the one defending the Intel GPU.
Considering the CPUs aren't released yet, and I haven't seen any real (ie. fps numbers) benchmarks of the GPU under OSX, it was better to say "might be less powerful" than "will be more powerful".
Wow. I went into a new M$ store last week. I thought I was in an Apple store with ugly mix matched equipment on tables. M$ copied everything Apple did right down to the lanyard's and colored T-shirts the employees wear. Doesn't M$ have a new idea in their whole company? Pretty pathetic.
Typical though -- people/companies always trying to duplicate the success of somebody else. Can't blame them for that I suppose. Rarely works though. I remember way back when Apple announced they were going to open retail stores. All the financial Gurus predicated doom & gloom. Maybe M$ is on the right path but I dunno...seems they're pretty late to the party.
So they're saying future Intel IGPs will hopefully perform as fast as the solutions that Nvidia have been shipping for the past 8 or 9 months? Considering this is Intel we're talking about (inventors of the craptacular GMA IGPs), that would actually be quite the improvement in how they do business!
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You're gravely misinformed about my Mac ownership. I've been questioned about my demeanor quite often. I'm not a happy person.
+1, thank you. Also, I have no idea why windows people come here to whine and put down SJ either. Us Mac users have no need to go to windows forums to tell people windows is terrible.
Macs have been the best computers I have ever owned. I am new Mac convert (October 2009) and will never go back to crappy Windows or PC's like VAIO/HP/Dell/Compaq ( I have owned all of them and all crapped out while my Macs "just work.")
I used to only buy Macs before they were big and as popular as they are now. Last Mac I got was my 400mgz G4 tower. Before going to Uni I decided to build my own pc because I couldnt justify the high price for lower specification hardware. Now I just build my own pcs and put whatever operating system I was on it. Its always nice to power on a computer which you built
It would seem like a logical step, since AMD bought ATI, but no, Intel is trying to do graphics on their own.
But I guess the question that has to be asked is whether it is better for them to buy out nVidia and graft a nVidia GPU into their CPU or would the better thing to do is to create a GPU from the ground up in tandem with their CPU so that the compliment each other rather than having some sort of frankensystem.
Oh, I've known what make's Apple's products specials since the Apple II...
Some can't afford it, though (I ended up with a TRS-80
)...You do get what you pay for, at least I know that the 11.6" formfactor is not for me, and I only spent $200 to find out - as opposed to $1,000...
Looks like one of those "cheap" $999 13" MacBooks with whimpy Intel Graphics for me... LOL...
Seeing how Intel has been failing at creating any kind of GPU since the i740 10 years ago, it woud seem the better thing to do would be to buy up the expertise at nVidia.
really??
I'm really disappointed at Apple and surprised by most of the replies in this forum.. if the Sandy Bridge was equal to 320 that would be an acceptable solution??
After one year waiting for an upgrade, I'm expecting components to improve sensibly, not slightly. For a 1499 laptop, I pretend a top notch dedicated card, as most of other brands feature nowadays. Space here is not an issue (would suffice to remove the optical drive), neither is the debacle between Intel and NVidia, but simply Apple's marketing policy, as they don't want a dedicated card on the 13'', to keep the difference with the more expensive 15'' version.
I own a MacBook now and I will wait for the new MBP 13 to come out, but if they stick to integrated intel solutions and sell design instead of hardware, I'll be more than happy to convert to HP or Sony..
I'm really disappointed at Apple and surprised by most of the replies in this forum.. if the Sandy Bridge was equal to 320 that would be an acceptable solution??
After one year waiting for an upgrade, I'm expecting components to improve sensibly, not slightly. For a 1499 laptop, I pretend a top notch dedicated card, as most of other brands feature nowadays. Space here is not an issue (would suffice to remove the optical drive), neither is the debacle between Intel and NVidia, but simply Apple's marketing policy, as they don't want a dedicated card on the 13'', to keep the difference with the more expensive 15'' version.
I own a MacBook now and I will wait for the new MBP 13 to come out, but if they stick to integrated intel solutions and sell design instead of hardware, I'll be more than happy to convert to HP or Sony..
I just took apart the 13" MacBook Pro the other day to replace a logic board. You have no idea what you're talking about. The optical drive won't make the difference.
That's not set in stone yet. You'd hope that it would be, but knowing Intel...
I'm with the people who say "if Apple goes with Sandy Bridge's graphics, AND if those graphics are a step up in every possible technological aspect from the GeForce 320m, it's a good thing". Though, I'm also with the people who are skeptical that such an offering from Intel will be such a thing. I was very much impressed when Apple's use of IGPs with shared memory went from the Intel GMA X3100 to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400m. The latter still wasn't amazing, but the damn thing could finally run Doom 3 and therefore be privy to at least SOME graphical power.
The 320m actually gave me a hope that while it won't top my gaming PC tower, a 13" MacBook Pro with one, while serving me for all my Final Cut Studio functions and certainly every other aspect of my digital life (as screw doing that on a Windows machine), it could also run most of the games that are even out there for Mac.
The idea of Apple halting this progress with NVIDIA or even deviating from it for a rev or two (and let's be realistic here, would Apple completely ditch NVIDIA for all of its offerings as suggested by the Cnet article?) sounds completely absurd unless Intel is really putting its best game forward (no pun intended) with its graphics. Though that notion also sounds far-fetched, knowing their track record. Just as likely is the notion that, as previously rumored, Apple will open up to using AMD's fusion platform as there is no infighting between AMD and ATI (also AMD) like there is between Intel and NVIDIA. And frankly, ATI's graphics beat the **** out of Intel's and NVIDIA's for the price that either cost.
Though, I don't see either as being all that likely. If Apple wants Core i3 power on their lower-end line (13" MBP, MB, MBA, and Mac mini) and they want NVIDIA, I think they also have the option to wait it out. MacBook Pros have had long refresh times in the past; as have Mac minis and MacBook Airs. If NVIDIA and Intel are also making progress to settle out of court, then all Apple need do is wait and then we'll have the Core i3 coupled with either the 320m or something newer and better from NVIDIA.
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Intel doesn't play well with others. Even if the FTC would allow an Intel takeover of Nvidia, I'm not sure the EU would approve it.
The 5830 appears to be a perfect fit for the next generation MBP.
This still seems curious to me. If the 15" is going to have the graphics that you want, why not get the 15"? A 15" MBP is still pretty svelte compared to a lot of 13-14" Windows laptops. I know certain folks don't like it, but, Apple has long had lower capability graphics in the 13" models-- and, like it or not, the benefit has been longer battery life, which matters most to most of the folks who use these systems on the go, for web and email, etc. If you want something with gaming graphics, go 15" (or 17" which I prefer).
You might find "The Geography of Bliss" mildly amusing.
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Sure, if I had an unlimited budget I would. But the price tag of almost 2000$ tends to discourage me, considering that a 15'' Sony, with better hardware components, costs almost half.
You see, I like Apple design, durability, and the OS, but not to the point of doubling the investment for a weaker hardware.
I'm going to say HD 6600M Series.
Imagine my surprised that there is a copy only about 50 feet away from me right now.
You kidding? I've taken them apart many times too. The optical drive takes up about 50-70% of the space taken up by the logic board, and that's only in horizontal space, not to mention volume (granted, the newest drives are thinner, so the vertical space savings isn't great, but I don't think that was the point being made). If you removed the optical drive, the logic board could be 40-50% larger, which could allow for better graphics because of both space and cooling issues that current constrict them. Perhaps it wouldn't be as amazing of an impact as some people would hope, but they could certainly improve those specs if they removed the optical drive.
jW
im pretty sure your being sarcastic but intel graphics are on chip as in both CPU and GPU cannot be seperated anymore, its no longer on the northbridge
This argument goes out the window if you simply increase the thickness of the machine so one could have their cake and eat it too. The problem with the machine is thinness, not the optical drive. But it's a moot argument either way; Apple isn't going to kill the optical drive on the 13" Pro, nor are they going to give those customers discrete graphics performance; though with the 320m being on par with the 9600m GT, if they kept up that trend with whatever NVIDIA were to do next IGP-wise being on par with the 330m GT, it wouldn't be so bad at all. Though even that notion stands a fair chance of going out the window with a potential switch back to Intel. :-/
Instructions:
Take a current 15" Macbook Pro with the dual Intel and Nvidia GPUs. Install GfxCardStatus and FORCE the machine to use the Intel GPU.
Now, fire up your favorite OpenGL (3D) game. Observe the performance.
Bang your forehead against the desk repeatedly as you realize this absolute utter crap mediocre performance (I'm being generous here) is what "Intel HD Graphics" is capable of.
Now you know why this is a horrible idea. Intel can't make GPUs.
Switch back to the 330M and watch the frame rate jump up fivefold.
Sap some sentries, yo.
Take a current 15" Macbook Pro with the dual Intel and Nvidia GPUs. Install GfxCardStatus and FORCE the machine to use the Intel GPU.
Now, fire up your favorite OpenGL (3D) game. Observe the performance.
Bang your forehead against the desk repeatedly as you realize this absolute utter crap mediocre performance (I'm being generous here) is what "Intel HD Graphics" is capable of.
Now you know why this is a horrible idea. Intel can't make GPUs.
Switch back to the 330M and watch the frame rate jump up fivefold.
Sap some sentries, yo.