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GPU Predictions for next 15' MBP Refresh

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MacMusician33

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 29, 2015
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Hi all, first time posting :)

Based on your experiences with Apple, what video card are you expecting for them to implement in their next high-end 15" MacBook Pro iteration?

Currently, the ASUS 501JW which sports an exterior design fairly similar to previous MacBook Pros is offering a GeForce GTX 960M chip. So in saying that, I would like Apple to implement a GTX 960M or 950M at the least. But from what I understand, I don't believe Apple has ever used a GTX chip in its MacBook Pro lines.

I also noticed that Apple also seems to switch between Nvidia and AMD video cards in its MacBooks so this is why I expect a Nvidia card for the next model as the Radeon M370x is the current high end chip.

So what do you think Apple will implement for its next high-end GPU?
 
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I'm more inclined to thinking apple is trying to move away from the dgpu. I still think the next dgpu will be a midrange one. Although a 950m or 960m would definitely be nice.
 
The power and heat...Probably not.

Logistically it would be cheaper to offer one dGPU. Offering a mid-range will be 1) cheaper 2) better for power 3) less heat 4) satisfy a large portion of potential buyers.

Those who won't buy it because of the weaker dGPU would probably find another fault with the Macbook Pro for gaming.
 
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MacMusician33 said:
Hi all, first time posting :)

Based on your experiences with Apple, what video card are you expecting for them to implement in their next high-end 15" MacBook Pro iteration?

Currently, the ASUS501JW which sports an exterior design fairly similar to previous MacBook Pros is offering a GeForce GTX 960M chip. So in saying that, I would like Apple to implement a GTX 960M or 950M at the least. But from what I understand, I don't believe Apple has ever used a GTX chip in its MacBook Pro lines.

I also noticed that Apple also seems to switch between Nvidia and AMD video cards in its MacBooks so this is why I expect a Nvidia card for the next model as the Radeon M370x is the current high end chip.

So what do you think Apple will implement for its next high-end GPU?
Click to expand...

I predict another adequate, midrange GPU choice, which some will pronounce the worst card ever, while others will claim they can game at native res with maxed settings.
 
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2016 would be the year of 16nm dGPUs, so anything is possible in what Apple will pick next year. Both AMD and nVidia are planning to adopt HBM rapidly, so it will be interesting to see how efficient they will be compared to today's mobile chips.
 
inhalexhale1 said:
I predict another adequate, midrange GPU choice, which some will pronounce the worst card ever, while others will claim they can game at native res with maxed settings.
Click to expand...
Hahahaha, pretty much. Since Apple tends to be a couple generations behind in the gpu department, I predict a Kepler 860m. That is assuming they decide to switch back to nvidia
 
I don't know if Apple will go with Nvidia at all. Their Metal architecture works better with AMD from what I hear. I would like to see a 960m but I don't think it will happen. They may even stay with the x370m... But lets hope for a 960m :)
 
I vote: who cares! Since the trend is smaller and thinner, don't get your hopes up for anything "comparatively" faster in the future. If you want to game, buy a gaming PC or proper gaming laptop. If you want to do hardcore video and 3D work then buy a proper Mac Pro or use the aforementioned gaming PC for those tasks as well. I think for most people, including many pros, the dGPU of the current 15" provides ample power to drive their tasks. So stop worrying...

You're only going to ever get so much power out of a machine designed to be portable - especially from Apple. So what's the point in worrying about what's next? It's not going to be special if history is any indication.
 
Also don't forget that thunderbolt 3 will support external GPU. I rather have a light laptop and hook up 980 ti to the laptop for gaming whenever I want it.
 
nStyle said:
I vote: who cares! Since the trend is smaller and thinner, don't get your hopes up for anything "comparatively" faster in the future. If you want to game, buy a gaming PC or proper gaming laptop. If you want to do hardcore video and 3D work then buy a proper Mac Pro or use the aforementioned gaming PC for those tasks as well. I think for most people, including many pros, the dGPU of the current 15" provides ample power to drive their tasks. So stop worrying...

You're only going to ever get so much power out of a machine designed to be portable - especially from Apple. So what's the point in worrying about what's next? It's not going to be special if history is any indication.
Click to expand...

Sure the trend is smaller and thinner, but this is what Apple is particularly emphasizing in its Air and New MacBook lines. The Pro always seemed to be a little bigger to accommodate for high end components, which I still expect in the next refresh.

On another note, I do have a PC with a dual GTX 670 setup more suited for games and video editing. However, it is by no means travel friendly which is why I'd like Apple to make a bit more of an improvement in the GPU department.

And regarding getting so much out of a machine that is designed to be portable, the 2014 Razer managed to fit a GTX 970m in a similarly slim design. If I'm paying around $3000 for a new laptop, I'd like Apple to include something competitive to that. Maybe not a 970m but a 950m at the least.
 
MacMusician33 said:
And regarding getting so much out of a machine that is designed to be portable, the 2014 Razer managed to fit a GTX 970m in a similarly slim design. If I'm paying around $3000 for a new laptop, I'd like Apple to include something competitive to that. Maybe not a 970m but a 950m at the least.
Click to expand...

Well another thing Apple isn't willing to compromise on is battery life. The Blade is exactly the same thickness as the 15" rMBP but it has a 30% smaller battery - which makes a huge difference. Apple has definitely never increased the thickness of their products, so unless a 950/970 is able to half itself in size, I don't see either of them coming.

Also, don't get me wrong, I desperately want Apple to give me an all in one computer that does EVERYTHING: portable, gaming, beautiful, light, etc...I have just given up! Even the 750M was nothing special at the time.

Integrated graphics have came a long way, as have mobile dGPUs in general. The gap between not playable at all and playable has most certainly shrunk in terms of even considering playing games on a Mac at all. I think in the next 10-20 years we'll start to see mobile GPUs catch up to their desktop counterparts. The desktop may not even exist since the extra power wouldn't be necessary. It's interesting that even the current high end 15" is capable of playing any modern game with settings adjustments. That just wasn't possible at all 10 years ago. So we're heading in the right direction. One thing's for sure: Apple could care less about gaming on a MacBook - it's just the natural progression of tech that has made gaming on a Mac feasible.

I don't think this is a bad conversation to have - it's good to look forward to things. I just firmly believe we have a LONG time before dramatic changes are made. I doubt the next iterative update will be anything to write home about.
 
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It definitely is possible for them to put in a 950m. With the new 14nm chips skylake has to offer, they could retain the same battery life they have now. Although I think it is unlikely for a 950m to appear. We'll most likely see just a midrange gpu. With external gpu support from tb3, increasing performance from integrated graphics, there is less and less reason for apple to put a real powerful gpu in the next macbook pro.
 
adamchris123 said:
It definitely is possible for them to put in a 950m. With the new 14nm chips skylake has to offer, they could retain the same battery life they have now. Although I think it is unlikely for a 950m to appear. We'll most likely see just a midrange gpu. With external gpu support from tb3, increasing performance from integrated graphics, there is less and less reason for apple to put a real powerful gpu in the next macbook pro.
Click to expand...

Mr. Retrofire said:
I predict that they use the Skylake iGPU instead of a dGPU.
Click to expand...

I guess we'll have to wait and see. If it's a decent midrange GPU that surpasses the 750m by some significant margin (let's say 20-30%), I'll probably still go for it.

If they do use an iGPU instead of a dGPU I think I'll be quite disappointed, unless of course the iGPU is orders of magnitude better than what we've seen before.
 
Actually I'm an idiot. The 970M is pretty much the same size as the 750M. I was thinking it was larger. Maybe it is, but not an incredibly significant amount. So yeah, it baffles me why Apple doesn't just go ahead and put the best in there since they obviously can. What's baffling is the 970M has over 50% the performance of the desktop 970 while being a small fraction of the size.
 
With next thunderbolt supporting officially egpu setups, it would make more sense to buy igpu model. I dont know how apple is going to counter that actually. Maybe they should support it too ?
 
It will be whatever the latest midrange offering from AMD is within their rather strict power usage range.
 
I vote for Thunderbolt 3 external GPU options that work out of the box and are relatively cheap.
 
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