HD 5000 on all the Macbooks Air

[Serban]

I think it really is nice. I thought they will put the HD 4600

 

[Time Less]

gives me hope for the 13r getting iris pro.

 

[gman901]

Just bought the 11" model (128 SSD). I was impressed with the 9 hours of battery life! I figure I'll get maybe 4-5 hours when dual booting to Windows 7, but most of my time will be in OSX. The kicker was the Intel 5000HD! I was really thinking they were going to use the weaker 4400 version, but this GPU is much better! I also bought the new Airport Extreme. 🙂

 

[basketball762]

How do you think gaming performance will be on these computers? I currently have a macbook pro early 2011 with Intel 4000 Graphics Chip. Would the performance be better on these new computers?

 

[AlabamaSlammer]

I am still having trouble with Apple's store but will the new Air be able to handle a (1) 4k monitor? I know the new Mac Pro can handle 3 but I don't know if they said anything about the Air.. Thanks

 

[robE89]

only up to 1600p

 

[barrk]

Can the new air handle running Windows 8 in Parallels?

 

[kaellar]

Can the new air handle running Windows 8 in Parallels?

it sure can, as well as the last two generations do. it depends more on Parallels version you use.

 

[UBS28]

Can the new air handle running Windows 8 in Parallels?

Easily due to the SSD. Also upgrade to 8 gb if you are going to be using VM.

 

[fa8362]

How do you think gaming performance will be on these computers? I currently have a macbook pro early 2011 with Intel 4000 Graphics Chip. Would the performance be better on these new computers?

You have the 3000, not the 4000.

 

[basketball762]

You have the 3000, not the 4000.

Sorry your right! This probably means that there would be a somewhat noticeable performance increase?

 

[omgitscro]

Sorry your right! This probably means that there would be a somewhat noticeable performance increase?

The 4000 was around 60% faster than the 3000. And the 5000 is around 40% faster than the 4000. So with the 5000 you should be getting around 224% the performance you got on the 3000.

 

[tgi]

The 4000 was around 60% faster than the 3000. And the 5000 is around 40% faster than the 4000. So with the 5000 you should be getting around 224% the performance you got on the 3000.

My brain just exploded.

 

[B...]

My brain just exploded.

Why? Say 3000 was 1 unit. 4000 was 1.6 and 5000 is 1.6*1.4=2.24 or 224% of 3000 graphics power.

 

[tgi]

Why? Say 3000 was 1 unit. 4000 was 1.6 and 5000 is 1.6*1.4=2.24 or 224% of 3000 graphics power.

Well that was very well put. Thanks for simplifying it.

 

[adiddas125]

Why? Say 3000 was 1 unit. 4000 was 1.6 and 5000 is 1.6*1.4=2.24 or 224% of 3000 graphics power.

Some people just cant think in terms of pure numbers 😉

 

[omgitscro]

Some people just cant think in terms of pure numbers 😉

Haha, my bad. I study mathematics so it seemed simple enough to me. B's explanation is good.

 

[fa8362]

Haha, my bad. I study mathematics so it seemed simple enough to me. B's explanation is good.

Yes and no. If the 3000 isn't dropping frames or lagging, there won't be any perceived difference with the 5000 on the same tasks.

 

[Eidorian]

Eh...

http://anandtech.com/show/7047/the-haswell-ultrabook-review-core-i74500u-tested/7

 

[B...]

Yes and no. If the 3000 isn't dropping frames or lagging, there won't be any perceived difference with the 5000 on the same tasks.

For gaming? Yes you will see the difference.

 

[theuserjohnny]

Eh...

http://anandtech.com/show/7047/the-haswell-ultrabook-review-core-i74500u-tested/7

That's for the 4400, if I'm not mistaken the Airs got the 5000.

 

[InfinitiG]

this was a surprise, is the 5000 the 4600? renamed

 

[B...]

this was a surprise, is the 5000 the 4600? renamed

No it's a different GPU.

 

[gman901]

Notebookcheck rates the HD 5000 above the GT 540M which was used in the 3rd version of the Alienware M11x. I think the new Airs should pack plenty of punch when needed!

 

[adiddas125]

Notebookcheck rates the HD 5000 above the GT 540M which was used in the 3rd version of the Alienware M11x. I think the new Airs should pack plenty of punch when needed!

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

Looking pretty good for a casual game or two.