Intel processors on the new Retina MB(A): can they push the extra pixels without lag?

[Jobsian]

First, really excited about the new Retina MB, incredibly designed machine!

The CPUs though, they're using Intel's 4.5W 1.1 GHz and 1.2 GHz Core M, former turbos to 2.6GHz, the other to 2.9GHz, list here (bottom two):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_M_microprocessors

Any ideas whether or not we're gonna start to see the same laggy retina screen problem that plagued the first rMBPs? This would be a dealbreaker for me.

 

[Hieveryone]

This computer is botched by Apple. Will it lag? Probably not. They're good at making people believe it's good on the outside.

But

Can you do anything more than facebook on it?

Probably not.

Hitup a 4K video and see how long that **** takes to buffer even with 30mbps internet.

 

[Meister]

The HD5300 will push the pixels just fine, just don't expect any processing power from the CPU.

What really shocks me is the missing magsafe. That is not good!

 

[Jobsian]

The HD5300 will push the pixels just fine, just don't expect any processing power from the CPU.

True, I'd forgotten that this integrated chip destroys the one in the first rMBPs.

Someone on the Discussion page said these CPUs match 2009 chips, anyone have any reference for what to expect?

 

[Mcdevidr]

The biggest problem for me is screen realestate. Isnt the best for retina going to only display 1152x720 that is worse than the 11.6 macbook air. So then you would have to run at a scaled resolution to get something better. You could see in the video that the iMessage window took up nearly the entire screen.

 

[yegon]

The biggest problem for me is screen realestate. Isnt the best for retina going to only display 1152x720 that is worse than the 11.6 macbook air. So then you would have to run at a scaled resolution to get something better. You could see in the video that the iMessage window took up nearly the entire screen.

My thoughts exactly. That's less vertical space than an iPad in landscape!

 

[motrek]

True, I'd forgotten that this integrated chip destroys the one in the first rMBPs.

Someone on the Discussion page said these CPUs match 2009 chips, anyone have any reference for what to expect?

Nah, the Core M will perform just as well as any other chip for short periods of time. The problem is with sustained computing. If you hammer the chip for a while (maybe 20-40 seconds?) then it will get too hot or exhaust its power budget and run half as fast as a current MBA.

Most people don't do any sustained computing. They will hammer the CPU for maybe a couple seconds (to render a new web page) then spend a while reading said web page, rinse, repeat.

So for most people in most situations, they wouldn't notice a difference.

Although... it will be interesting to see how quickly the chip can cool off since it doesn't have a fan. If you DO do some sustained computing, it might mean the laptop will run slow for the next few minutes... or longer...

 

[mi7chy]

Currently using a fanless Core M and while it's fine and usable at 1080p I wouldn't consider taxing it with higher resolution.

 

[Jobsian]

Currently using a fanless Core M and while it's fine and usable at 1080p I wouldn't consider taxing it with higher resolution.

This is dealbreaker info. You say 'usable', would there be regular skipping at 1080p?

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Nah, the Core M will perform just as well as any other chip for short periods of time. The problem is with sustained computing. If you hammer the chip for a while (maybe 20-40 seconds?) then it will get too hot or exhaust its power budget and run half as fast as a current MBA.

Most people don't do any sustained computing. They will hammer the CPU for maybe a couple seconds (to render a new web page) then spend a while reading said web page, rinse, repeat.

So for most people in most situations, they wouldn't notice a difference.

Although... it will be interesting to see how quickly the chip can cool off since it doesn't have a fan. If you DO do some sustained computing, it might mean the laptop will run slow for the next few minutes... or longer...

Yep, been wondering how it'd handle a handbrake encode, hopefully the throttling isn't too bad, definitely waiting until we find out

 

[motrek]

...
Yep, been wondering how it'd handle a handbrake encode, hopefully the throttling isn't too bad, definitely waiting until we find out

I think that's what the advertised clock speed is for, e.g., 1.1GHz or whatever.

It indicates the chip's minimum sustained performance for the advertised heat/power budget. So when throttling starts, the new MacBook will run at 1.1GHz vs. 2.7GHz for a MBA because the MBA doesn't throttle. So for HandBrake it will be 40% as fast. That's my guess.