Looks Like AMD/ATI R9 Support in New/Updated MBP & iMac

[TheStork]

Good news for us Mac Pro users. Apple has announced a new/updated MBP "using new AMD Radeon R9 M370X", and R9 M290/M290x in the updated iMac. Desktop support can't be far behind.



Reference:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/201...ad-New-1-999-iMac-with-Retina-5K-Display.html

 

[Demigod Mac]

Looks like Apple is trying to excise all Nvidia chips from their products. Expect we'll be stuck using those stock 10.8.5 drivers + web drivers till the end of time. Congrats to AMD users though.

 

[steve62388]

Good news for us Mac Pro users. Apple has announced a new/updated MBP "using new AMD Radeon R9 M370X", and R9 M290/M290x in the updated iMac. Desktop support can't be far behind.



Reference:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/201...ad-New-1-999-iMac-with-Retina-5K-Display.html

What do you mean by 'desktop support'? Do you mean updated drivers or something else?

 

[TheStork]

What do you mean by 'desktop support'? Do you mean updated drivers or something else?

Yep. Fingers crossed.

 

[steve62388]

Looks like Apple is trying to excise all Nvidia chips from their products. Expect we'll be stuck using those stock 10.8.5 drivers + web drivers till the end of time. Congrats to AMD users though.

Is this the first time AMD GPUs were used across the whole product line at the same time?

AMD is having hard time at the moment, but for the benefit of consumers long term we need AMD to survive to foster innovation and price competition. I wonder if Apple is considering that if AMD go under Nvidia will have them over a barrel with regards to pricing and have decided to throw them a bone?

 

[netkas]

Apple really hates nvidia, obvious now.

 

[Pressure]

Is this the first time AMD GPUs were used across the whole product line at the same time?

AMD is having hard time at the moment, but for the benefit of consumers long term we need AMD to survive to foster innovation and price competition. I wonder if Apple is considering that if AMD go under Nvidia will have them over a barrel with regards to pricing and have decided to throw them a bone?

Apple really hates nvidia, obvious now.

Or AMD gives them very flexible pricing.

 

[steve62388]

Or AMD gives them very flexible pricing.

From a consumer point of view at this stage Nvidia would be better because their current chips are outperforming AMD's on most metrics but not on price.

From Apple's point of view it's all about money. Whether that means cheaper now or cheaper in the future (because of competition) I guess it all boils down to the same thing.

 

[kennyman]

Litho XT is ok as an upgrade on portable devices - now on desktop side, it looks like we will have to wait for 2016 for built-in Nvidia drivers in OSX

 

[RoastingPig]

Another strong sales year for MacVidCards. Regardless if apple put stock maxwell drivers. I couldnt live without my gray screen

 

[Zorn]

Apple really hates nvidia, obvious now.

I doubt they feel strongly one way or the other, but I'm willing to bet AMD gave them a strong financial incentive to switch over. Pretty much anyone can agree Maxwell cards would have made more consumer sense, but it would have cost them more.

 

[netkas]

things are still on 28nm, so this might still be relevant - http://semiaccurate.com/2012/03/13/apple-drops-nvidia-kepler-from-large-numbers-of-laptops/

 

[ha1o2surfer]

Can't wait to see the power draw and throttling on that bad boy seeing as they are STILL using an 85 watt adapter! whoa!

 

[teeck2000]

Fail....AMD...

 

[MacVidCards]

On the "good news" front the nMP will finally get those long, long predicted GPU upgrades.

By the miracle of "badge engineering", AMD doesn't have much in the way of new stuff, so they'll promote some of their old chips up the line. I already saw that Pitcairn (D300) is getting a shiny coat of oaint and a new name from new series.

Perhaps D450XXZ ? Does that sound fast enough or does it need another "Z"? Or maybe an "S"?

The 5K iMacs have a real "scorcher" in the form of a GPU that sits at 105C if doing anything that requires 3D or video playback. Apple hasn't learned that having one chip on a board running 30-40C hotter then all the rest leads to trouble.

Even with a furnace fan blasting heat out of the case, the radiated heat keeps radiating. Those lovely 5K displays will eventually have brown spot or delamination of LCD layers.

Using AMD chips makes great sense when in the boardroom looking at profit statements. Better hope those 5K folks don't bother with AppleCare.

Been able to use an R9 290X for awhile. There are kexts for many AMD cards, if and when AMD releases something other than leaked hype we'll find out if worth thinking about.