First Benchmarks for MacBook Pro With New Radeon Pro Vega Graphics Surface

[MacRumors]

Apple last week introduced new upgrade options for the high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro, allowing customers to add Radeon Pro Vega 16 and 20 graphics cards to the device for superior graphics performance.

Benchmarks for the 15-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with the Radeon Pro Vega 20 option have been shared by a MacRumors reader, giving us an idea of the performance improvements over 15-inch MacBook Pro models with the standard Radeon Pro 560X graphics card that was previously the highest-end option available.

The machine, which includes a 2.6GHz Core i7 Intel processor, a Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics card, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD, earned an OpenCL score of 72799. Additional benchmarks found on Geekbench with a similar machine using an upgraded Core i9 processor demonstrated OpenCL scores of 75817, 76017, and 80002.

In a separate benchmark uploaded to Geekbench, the new high-end MacBook Pro with Core i9 processor also earned a Metal score of 73953.

Comparatively, machines with similar specs and Radeon Pro 560X graphics cards on Geekbench earned maximum OpenCL scores of right around 65000 and Metal scores of approximately 57000, suggesting much higher graphics performance with the new Radeon Pro Vega 20 card.

At the current time, benchmarks are only available for the higher-end Radeon Pro Vega 20 card, with no data available for the Radeon Pro Vega 16 card. CPU benchmarks on Geekbench between machines using the new cards and the existing cards are similar because there have been no changes to the CPU.

The new Radeon Pro Vega graphics cards can only be added to the high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro model, which starts at $2,799. The Radeon Pro Vega 16 costs an additional $250, while the Radeon Pro Vega 20 costs an additional $350.

Article Link: First Benchmarks for MacBook Pro With New Radeon Pro Vega Graphics Surface

 

[BuCkDoG]

This is awesome! I might actually upgrade from my 2012 model!

 

[Squirrelxb]

Oh that's the OpenCL score, I thought it was the price.

 

[jiggad369]

but...but...where is the innovation?!?!

/s

 

[noraa]

Damn, I really wish the Vega was an option when I bought my machine back in August

 

[Larvas]

Woho! This is the GPU power I expected.

 

[tomscott1988]

Wow... a 10% increase for £315 more...

These should be direct replacements not £315 upgrades. These MacBook pros are getting so expensive its ridiculous that even a mid range option is in the £4000 region. Then add another £399 for AppleCare.

Plus once you have the CPU and these GPUs pinned the likely hood is they will perform far far less than their potential with the poor cooling so whats the point.

 

[Glideslope]

Impressive. Let’s wait to see the internal temps in these wonder machines. No need to fry eggs on your MBP.

 

[giggles]

But can the MBP with Vega replace your computer?

 

[tromboneaholic]

I'm actually impressed by the Metal score considering Adobe seems to be adding more support for it.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Ugh! All the non-Vega MBPs purchased over the last few months are now worthless. Might as well throw them on ebay for $1 ...

... so I can buy it.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Wow... a 10% increase for £400 more...

These should be straight replacements not £400 upgrades. These MacBook pros are getting so expensive its ridiculous that even a mid range option is in the £4000 region. Then add another £399 for AppleCare.

Plus once you have the CPU and these GPUs pinned the likely hood is they will perform far far less than their potential with the poor cooling so whats the point.

When time is money, the speed increase can quickly pay for itself.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Holy hell!!!!!! I don't think anyone can complain about performance on the MBP anymore (for the time being)

Honest question (I have very little knowledge on high performance laptops): how's the Apple Tax on these high-end 15" MBPs? Are they comparable to similarly-specced Windows laptops? Are they worth the extra price?

 

[Mythos99]

Wow... a 10% increase for £400 more...

These should be straight replacements not £400 upgrades. These MacBook pros are getting so expensive its ridiculous that even a mid range option is in the £4000 region. Then add another £399 for AppleCare.

Plus once you have the CPU and these GPUs pinned the likely hood is they will perform far far less than their potential with the poor cooling so whats the point.

I think it's more than 10%. I got an i9, with 32GB Ram, RX560X, and i get an OpenCL Score of 60.000, with Vega i would get 75.000-80.000, that would be like 25%-30% increase.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Yes but can it keep your coffee warm?

 

[AppleMad98004]

When time is money, the speed increase can quickly pay for itself.

Yes for professionals the speed will add up over a months time to higher productivity and billings.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Ugh! All the non-Vega MBPs purchased over the last few months are now worthless. Might as well throw them on ebay for $1 ...

... so I can buy it.

Next time around, I'll start some "new MBPs are throttling" and "this sucks" threads myself to destroy resale values on the things and get them for cheap. Genius strategy, really.

 

[Appurushido]

But can it run Crysis?

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Wow... a 10% increase for £315 more...

These should be direct replacements not £315 upgrades. These MacBook pros are getting so expensive its ridiculous that even a mid range option is in the £4000 region. Then add another £399 for AppleCare.

Plus once you have the CPU and these GPUs pinned the likely hood is they will perform far far less than their potential with the poor cooling so whats the point.

That’s just for OpenCL. The Metal bench looks like a 30% increase, if I read that right. There’s only so much power they can cram into a notebook, even if the MBP were thicker. A mobile GeForce would likely be the better option, but Apple sure seems to take issue with Nvidia.

 

[gaspitsjesse]

Next time around, I'll start some "new MBPs are throttling" and "this sucks" threads myself to destroy resale values on the things and get them for cheap. Genius strategy, really.

I will gladly by your obsolete MBP for one dollar.

 

[run1976]

When time is money, the speed increase can quickly pay for itself.

Or you just want a smooth running 15 inch notebook and suddenly it becomes ridiculous. In Germany the cheapest 15 inch macbook Apple sells costs just over 3000$. The new graphics card version starts at 4200$. My 2010 Macbook Pro with upgraded screen, Ram cost less than 2000$. Inflation is a b...

Still nice Apple offers these to whomever wants to afford them.

 

[antondonovan]

Holy hell!!!!!! I don't think anyone can complain about performance on the MBP anymore (for the time being)

Honest question (I have very little knowledge on high performance laptops): how's the Apple Tax on these high-end 15" MBPs? Are they comparable to similarly-specced Windows laptops? Are they worth the extra price?

They sure can, just because it's a performance improvement over it's predecessor doesn't mean it's beating competitors.

 

[mi7chy]

Instead of synthetic benchmarks how about real world performance like AAA games, Hashcat OpenCL, etc.?

 

[ChrisMoBro]

My PC cost £2000 (i9 9990k & 980ti) and the OpenCL score was over 120,000

 

[tomscott1988]

I think it's more than 10%. I got an i9, with 32GB Ram, RX560X, and i get an OpenCL Score of 60.000, with Vega i would get 75.000-80.000, that would be like 25%-30% increase.

10% is using the stats provided do the math. 72799 over 65000 is 10.7%

When time is money, the speed increase can quickly pay for itself.

Is it tho? How often are people rendering more than 10 min vids on the go... I doubt many most will do heavy lifting at the desk. For the difference in price you might as well get a 555X or 560X and buy a EGPU enclosure for £200 and a 580 for £200 and for the £85 difference get much faster performance.

The 580 8gb in my Mac Pro benches 143000.