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Intel HD 3000 & 1080p via External Monitor

C

c.dub

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 6, 2009
44
0
I'm going to be buying a new Mac soon (to replace my '09 13" MacBook Pro) and it will probably be a 13" MacBook Pro or Air (when they get Sandy Bridge update).

Most of the stuff I do will work perfectly fine without a dedicated GPU, but my major concern is how capable the Intel HD 3000 graphics will be with 1080p video. I frequently connect my MacBook to my 46" HDTV via HDMI and watch 1080p video files (usually .mkv 8-16gb in size) in full screen. Also I like to stream 1080p flash video in fullscreen as well.

Anyone with a new MacBook Pro try this? Will it work smoothly and flawlessly?

If it does, I'll go with a new unit. If not, I'll grab a refurb with a 320m.

I look forward to the responses :) thanks in advance!
 
c.dub said:
I'm going to be buying a new Mac soon (to replace my '09 13" MacBook Pro) and it will probably be a 13" MacBook Pro or Air (when they get Sandy Bridge update).

Most of the stuff I do will work perfectly fine without a dedicated GPU, but my major concern is how capable the Intel HD 3000 graphics will be with 1080p video. I frequently connect my MacBook to my 46" HDTV via HDMI and watch 1080p video files (usually .mkv 8-16gb in size) in full screen. Also I like to stream 1080p flash video in fullscreen as well.

Anyone with a new MacBook Pro try this? Will it work smoothly and flawlessly?

If it does, I'll go with a new unit. If not, I'll grab a refurb with a 320m.

I look forward to the responses :) thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I do not have any personal experience with this, but I can assure you the 3000HD is plenty capable of doing this.
 
Also didn't they get the sandy bridge update a few weeks ago?

I just got the base model 13" today, but I don't need it for all your trying to do lol
 
My MacBook air 11" 1.4ghz!! Plays some of my mkv blurry rips but not all.
Some it plays flawlessly then It comes to Tron or another higher bit rate film? And it stutters like he'll. I've used every player and xmbc seems to be the best. Time to sell my air hopefully the sandy bridge update will cure my blurry movie wows. Dose anybody know if the 13 " air has any problems. I realise the pro would be the safest solution but until the new thinner models come out next year with a higher resolution, it's never going to attract me..
 
I'm curious, when the video stutters, is it the gfx or cpu inability to keep up? (assuming the video file is error free)
 
It's capable. I've had my mbp connected externally through displayport and everything has been running very smoothly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
gr8whtd0pe said:
Also didn't they get the sandy bridge update a few weeks ago?

I just got the base model 13" today, but I don't need it for all your trying to do lol
Click to expand...

The MacBook Pro got SB, the Air has not yet. Come onnn just one high bit rate mkv? Plleeaaassee? :D


darrellishere said:
Some it plays flawlessly then It comes to Tron or another higher bit rate film? And it stutters like he'll.
Click to expand...


That's my concern, should have mentioned it in the OP. Higher bit rate films like Tron Legacy are an excellent example. If the HD 3000 can handle that, I'd be happy.


ThaDoggg said:
It's capable. I've had my mbp connected externally through displayport and everything has been running very smoothly.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info! What kind of videos have you played? What player do you use?


Thanks for the replies everyone!
 
I have the base 2011 13".

I can play four 1080p videos from youtube simultaneously without a hiccup. I don't use my MBP to play video to my hdtv, for that I use this media player. But I'm sure you won't have a problem, since I used to connect a Toshiba laptop with Intel X3100 (which is a 4 generations older IGP) to a 50" LED tv without issues.
 
c.dub said:
I'm going to be buying a new Mac soon (to replace my '09 13" MacBook Pro) and it will probably be a 13" MacBook Pro or Air (when they get Sandy Bridge update).

Most of the stuff I do will work perfectly fine without a dedicated GPU, but my major concern is how capable the Intel HD 3000 graphics will be with 1080p video. I frequently connect my MacBook to my 46" HDTV via HDMI and watch 1080p video files (usually .mkv 8-16gb in size) in full screen. Also I like to stream 1080p flash video in fullscreen as well.

Anyone with a new MacBook Pro try this? Will it work smoothly and flawlessly?

If it does, I'll go with a new unit. If not, I'll grab a refurb with a 320m.

I look forward to the responses :) thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

It's not going to be decoded on the GPU, just the CPU.

If my 2.26GHz C2D can handle any high-bitrate encodes I throw at it, then
both of the 13" MBPs will be able to handle this no problem at all. However, if you're going to be playing non re-encoded blurays, I'd recommend the i7.

darrellishere said:
Some it plays flawlessly then It comes to Tron or another higher bit rate film?
Click to expand...

There's no such thing as a 'high bitrate film'. You could encode Tron Legacy at 500kb/s and Casablanca at 50,000kb/s if you wanted to.


KwanMan said:
my netbook can do all that flawlessly
Click to expand...

I'm willing to bet that it's using GPU decoding.
 
hmm. I'm not sure if what I'm going to say is true, but from what I've seen the 2011 mbp 15" requires the dedicated gpu on external monitors. For example if I'm forcing internal card with gfxcardstatus then external monitors don't even register. So the Radeon is going to be used automatically when using external monitor. That's just my observation. But the hd 3000 is perfectly capable of 1080p.
 
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Thanks for all the replies everyone! This helps a lot. I don't plan to play any games really, but I love my high quality 1080p rips so knowing the HD 3000 won't have any issues with that makes my decision a lot easier :)
 
gofightlose said:
hmm. I'm not sure if what I'm going to say is true, but from what I've seen the 2011 mbp 15" requires the dedicated gpu on external monitors. For example if I'm forcing internal card with gfxcardstatus then external monitors don't even register. So the Radeon is going to be used automatically when using external monitor. That's just my observation. But the hd 3000 is perfectly capable of 1080p.
Click to expand...

That is true, however the 13" doesn't have the AMD graphics, so it runs externals with the HD3000 as well.
 
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