Creative graphics, or gaming graphics?

[raymondu999]

Do you guys think, the new MBP would have more of a "creative creation" card, something LIKE the Quadro (no, I don't want a 5" thick MacBook Pro), like basically geared for more of video editing etc, or do you think they would put another card more geared towards gaming (like the current nVidia 8600mGT)? By the way, of these two categories, what does the old ATi X1600 actually fall into?

Thanks

 

[Eidorian]

The ATi X1600 is a consumer/gamer video processor.

 

[raymondu999]

Ah I see. Do you think the new one will be a consumer card, or a creative pro card?

 

[J the Ninja]

Gamer card. Pro cards are FAR more expensive, and offer no real benefit beyond some driver optimization and testing for certain apps. You might see one as a BTO option (like in the Mac Pro), but I doubt it would be the stock choice.

 

[Eidorian]

Gamer card. Pro cards are FAR more expensive, and offer no real benefit beyond some driver optimization and testing for certain apps. You might see one as a BTO option (like in the Mac Pro), but I doubt it would be the stock choice.

This is where I fall as well. A consumer/gamer card is a much more cost effective GPU solution for the majority of cases.

Hopefully Apple can get a hold of an early batch of ATI Mobility HD46xx chips for the MacBook Pro. nVidia's mobile solutions aren't as inspiring. Maybe Apple can start using hybrid grahpics modes to save on power usage.

 

[raymondu999]

IMagine a 17" MBP with Hybrid GPU tech.. imagine the battery life.. what? 7? 8 hours?

 

[J the Ninja]

Montevina doesn't support any sort of hybrid graphics though, does it? IT would have to be one of the rumored "alternative" chipsets if that were true

 

[Eidorian]

Montevina doesn't support any sort of hybrid graphics though, does it? IT would have to be one of the rumored "alternative" chipsets if that were true

It would have to be nVidia or ATI. I believe I have seen some driver changelogs that mention the enabling of hybrid graphics on what seem to be Montevina based laptops with a discrete GPU though. I'll see if I can dig then up.

 

[m1stake]

I remember reading that it would be possible to switch between intel integrated graphics and a discrete card as a feature of the Centrino 2 chipset.

Don't feel like finding it, and I don't remember it very clearly.

 

[CaptainChunk]

Do you guys think, the new MBP would have more of a "creative creation" card, something LIKE the Quadro (no, I don't want a 5" thick MacBook Pro), like basically geared for more of video editing etc, or do you think they would put another card more geared towards gaming (like the current nVidia 8600mGT)? By the way, of these two categories, what does the old ATi X1600 actually fall into?

If you use Final Cut Studio for editing and possibly other Apple Pro apps, the current ATI chipsets generally have better Core Image performance than NVIDIA does. NVIDIA Quatro chipsets use driver optimizations that mostly benefit those who do 3D modeling, CAD, etc.

If you ask me, the new MBPs should have ATI chipsets. On the Mac Pro, the Radeon 3870 smokes the GeForce 8800 GT offering in a lot of areas for less money.

 

[alphaod]

It would probably have the gaming card, but it would preferable to have the workstation version.

 

[raymondu999]

if in fact... Apple goes ATi again with the next rev... then which is it more likely to be? I've heard many conflicting things regarding this. Will it be 3470? 3670? 3870? 46xx?

 

[masse]

it would be the 3670 at least. 4670 likely if it is available soon. 9650 likely if it's an nvidia.

 

[raymondu999]

aww... What's actually the difference between 9600 and 9650? And when is the 46xx actually slated for release?