M380 M390 M395 M395X Thread

[fob]

I think the graphics card will be the major decision for most to make. I'm going with 256ssd and i5 so the price difference are:

M380 base
M390 +200
M395 +200
M395X 4GB VRam +250

The M395X cant possibly be 750$ better than the M380 can it? Is it just M390 with an extra 2GB Vram?

 

[jordanz]

Another good but more specific question: say you plan on getting the i7 upgrade and a 512GB SSD regardless of GFX. What is the difference between the M390 and M395? Because with that CPU+SSD config, the price diff is only $50 US extra for the top model with M395 base GFX, coming from the middle model M390.

 

[alexxk]

Another question, in real life situation LoL.. what is 2GB more of video memory good for?

 

[fob]

Another good but more specific question: say you plan on getting the i7 regardless of GFX. What is the difference between the M390 and M395? Because with that CPU upgrade, the price diff is only $70 US extra for the top model with M395 base GFX, coming from the middle model M390.

If you are maxing it out whats another 70$ for 2 extra GB of Vram.

 

[jordanz]

If you are maxing it out whats another 70$ for 2 extra GB of Vram.

I edited my post, it's actually a $50 difference if you get the i7+SSD! But I thought both M390 and M395 are 2GB cards. It's the M395X that's 4GB. With them both being 2GB, I'm wondering what the main difference is.

 

[fob]

I edited my post, it's actually a $50 difference if you get the i7+SSD! But I thought both M390 and M395 are 2GB cards. It's the M395X that's 4GB.

How did you get to that conclusion? The M395X is a 250$ option and only available for top of the line tier. So minimum step up for 395X is 250$.

 

[jordanz]

How did you get to that conclusion? The M395X is a 250$ option and only available for top of the line tier.

I think you're confusing M395 and M395X - they're 2 different cards. Both on the top tier model, but one has 2GB and the other has 4GB. The $50 difference only applies if you get the i7 and 512gb ssd though

 

[Serban]

the big question is how can we find if it is at least one difference between M295x and M395x beside it's name ?!?

 

[Mikebike125]

I'd just like to know what is the difference between the 380 and the 390? Is there really that much of a difference? Does anyone have any data on this?

 

[alexxk]

Apple makes our lives really difficult by not giving us more detail specs about their computers. What the heck man!!

 

[koyoot]

It looks like M395X is slightly faster version of M295X. Max core clock turns to be 900 MHz in comparison to M295X and 850 MHz.

It may be new process from TSMC that was in Grenada GPUs alongside the new more power efficient GDDR5 memory from Samsung.

 

[Sirmausalot]

the big question is how can we find if it is at least one difference between M295x and M395x beside it's name ?!?

One is 3.5 Teraflops the other is 3.7 Teraflops. Basically the exact same card with a tweak to get a few percentage more performance. But if I recall correctly, there was an architectural (and performance difference) between the m290 and 295X that was very real. The general consensus (looking over old MR threads) is that you should really put some cash into the best card you can -- especially if video editing/photo editing/gaming are on the agenda. (And if not, why do you need this machine again?)

 

[qwerty2k]

It looks like M395X is slightly faster version of M295X. Max core clock turns to be 900 MHz in comparison to M295X and 850 MHz.

It may be new process from TSMC that was in Grenada GPUs alongside the new more power efficient GDDR5 memory from Samsung.

Be really disappointed if it is just that considering the 295x already suffers from down clocking due to thermal issues.

 

[koyoot]

It may not exactly be M295X. People from AMD claimed that Hawaii, despite having directly the same core layout, die size and other things, would not work on new process from TSMC, that Grenada is made on.

Core count is the same, architecture is the same, by the looks of things. But if the card has higher core clock, and does not suffer from Thermal problems, because of the process - it may not be exactly the same GPU. I know its hard to believe, but from engineering point of view - it is true. Everything depends on if Apple changed the design of cooling system here.

 

[Sirmausalot]

It may not exactly be M295X. People from AMD claimed that Hawaii, despite having directly the same core layout, die size and other things, would not work on new process from TSMC, that Grenada is made on.

Core count is the same, architecture is the same, by the looks of things. But if the card has higher core clock, and does not suffer from Thermal problems, because of the process - it may not be exactly the same GPU. I know its hard to believe, but from engineering point of view - it is true. Everything depends on if Apple changed the design of cooling system here.

Good point. But also, the Skylake CPU chips should run cooler, so that should mean cooler internals in general. We'll see with real world tests.

 

[colodane]

After reading about the M295 thermal and noise issues, I'm looking at either the M380 or M390 and would like more information about these two options. The $100 cost difference isn't a big deal to me, but I'd like to know how they compare with each other and with the "low end" GPU in the previous retina iMac in terms of performance, memory and power dissipation.

 

[theSeb]

Apple makes our lives really difficult by not giving us more detail specs about their computers. What the heck man!!

Apple gave us everything that we need. AMD is short on the details though.

 

[antman2x2]

Is the 395 worth the extra cash? Or just stick with the 390. Im so confused this time around by these GPU options.

I don't game at all on my mac, I have a gaming PC for that. Im a web designer/music producer.

Any insight?

 

[alexxk]

Apple gave us everything that we need. AMD is short on the details though.

Not really. Apple deals with them directly and therefore they know exactly what is the difference between them. We still don't.

 

[Mikebike125]

Apple makes our lives really difficult by not giving us more detail specs about their computers. What the heck man!!

This is so true. Not knowing the difference, I just went with the 380. If Apple really wanted to sell their upgrades, they should do a better job of telling how much of a difference there is from one to another. If it is a HUGE difference I would buy it, but to me I have no way of knowing and I bet most people don't also.

 

[fob]

Is 380 the same or even a step down from the base 2014 model that had trouble rendering the UI smoothly? Or was that Yosemeti related?

 

[The Doctor11]

Is 380 the same or even a step down from the base 2014 model that had trouble rendering the UI smoothly? Or was that Yosemeti related?

I think the Graphics card in the 2014 5k was a m295x but I don't know if that was the cause of the UI issues or if it was Yosemite.

 

[jerwin]

All we know for sure is that the m395X is more XTREME! than the m395.

Someone will have to run Luxmark (or a similar program) on it and pay attention to where it says "Compute Units" and "Clock"

Otherwise, you're taking marketing way too seriously.

 

[ChinkyBob]

Apple makes our lives really difficult by not giving us more detail specs about their computers. What the heck man!!

Heres some clarity. It hasn't got the USB C / 3.1 which includes multiple video outs incl Thunderbolt 3 and a data transfer speed of up to 8x's that of USB 3.0. I need fast speeds for video editing. Has Apple abandoned USB C/3.1 already after introducing it on their Macbook?? Wait another year for them to introduce it on their iMacs? What a joke.
On top of that the whole graphics card upgrade thing does look like a proper scam to me. If that was any other manufacturer serious questions would be asked. the reason AMD can Apple hide the specs of their upgrades must be because there is no upgrade.
Seriously what are the specs of these things - does Apple even know?????

Anyway;
I look forward to replacing my 17" Macbook Pro with another similar 17"....oh wait,
maybe I will replace my Mac Mini with another Quad Core i7 ..... oh wait,
maybe I will get a MacAir with Retina, the latest skylake processors and usb C / 3.1....oh wait.

I look forward to buying a 15.4" Macbook Pro with the latest technology, but Im guessing thats over.
The Dell "Macbook Pro" knock-off the XPS 15 has Nvidia Graphics 960m, USB C / 3.1, 4k borderless screen, footprint of 14" laptop. The clones are now better than the original now.
Im ordering one of these at the office for work.
I love Apple but seriously they are looking lost and confused in the PC hardware.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Heres some clarity. It hasn't got the USB C / 3.1 which includes multiple video outs incl Thunderbolt 3 and a data transfer speed of up to 8x's that of USB 3.0. I need fast speeds for video editing. Has Apple abandoned USB C/3.1 already after introducing it on their Macbook?? Wait another year for them to introduce it on their iMacs? What a joke.
On top of that the whole graphics card upgrade thing does look like a proper scam to me. If that was any other manufacturer serious questions would be asked. the reason AMD can Apple hide the specs of their upgrades must be because there is no upgrade.
Seriously what are the specs of these things - does Apple even know?????

Anyway;
I look forward to replacing my 17" Macbook Pro with another similar 17"....oh wait,
maybe I will replace my Mac Mini with another Quad Core i7 ..... oh wait,
maybe I will get a MacAir with Retina, the latest skyline processors and usb C / 3.1....oh wait.

I look forward to buying a 15.4" Macbook Pro with the latest technology, but Im guessing thats over.
The Dell "Macbook Pro" knock-off the XPS 15 has Nvidia Graphics 960m, USB C / 3.1, 4k borderless screen, footprint of 14" laptop. The clones are now better than the original now.
Im ordering one of these at the office for work.
I love Apple but seriously they are looking lost and confused in the PC hardware.

No one has thunderbolt 3/USB-C yet so I have to assume it's not available yet, the USB C in the macbook is only 5Gb/sec transfer speeds not the 40Gb/sec you are talking about.

As for the graphics cards, they are what they are, mid to high range AMD mobile graphics cards, they won't be brilliant for gaming (although certainly very capable) but should be fantastic in FXCP and similar so no different from any other iMac ever made.

As for your wants you are clearly in a niche market and they have stopped making niche products.
Although the mini was down to intel not having the same socket on the quadcores as the dual cores that is the only reason the quads went in the 2011/2012 machines because they could do it without retooling and developing a separate motherboard.

The macbook is your retina macbook air and is a better product on release than the air was on it's release by an order of magnitude, it is also the most powerful core M fanless laptop you can buy so it seems they are getting the most out of this new technology, certainly not losing that race.

The 15 inch rMBP is not a gaming laptop it's not marketed as one and it is specced out perfectly for long battery life for using professional video editing apps etc in the field which is what it's designed for. Maybe not what you want but again, so what, they don't make products for you they make them for who they think will buy them most (a good business strategy that).

By all means if apple don't make what you want buy something else I can't see any need to whinge about it, oh yes it's because you know that whatever else you buy will be rubbish and you'll wish you hadn't touched it with a barge pole, specs never make a product you should know that by now....