MacBook Pros with Thunderbolt, ATI/AMD Graphics?

[monstermac77]

Who knows, Apple could go for a slightly slower lower power option too.

I don't know graphics card stuff. Nonetheless, doesn't it seem that, because Apple seems to deem Intel's integrated graphics as providing sufficient battery life when not doing anything intensive, when doing something intensive on a higher end pro model, battery life isn't that much of a concern because, hell, you're doing something that needs more power.

I don't know. I just think the disparity between battery life and graphics performance should grow as you go more pro.

 

[ComingHard]

The Radeon Graphics logo looks photoshopped/fake. This story can't be real.

Just my thinking... If in doubt, call it out. You know, I heard that one of the secrets is that Apple, in fact, has been spreading these rumors themselves to get some baby-hype going. In reality, my prediction is they have early-implemented the Pendant Bridge processors (post sandy/ivy hardware that essentially multiples your virtual cores 10-fold). This processor is rumored to work with an on-board graphics chip that is comparable to nvidia's quadro 9000X. This will basically cause everyone to have boners so hard that they will forget about Jobs' health issues. And for once, people like me will rejoice in the fact that I actually spend $2000+ on a computer instead of weed or slurpies.

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Thanks for insulting my intelligence I guess. I absolutely understand and deserve that....

What if I want to test cuda code on my laptop like I've been doing before I actually run it on a desktop with a full data set?

In the future, don't assume everyone is dumb and falls within your set of use cases.

I dont think he was calling you dumb.. he was simply trying to rationalize how to go out of your way to make something work on a mac that typically only works on PC.. like burning xbox games, downloading software, doing anything for the sake of being productive rather than masturbating to fancy toolbar icons and sleek/skinny unibodies... stuff like that. I own 2 macs btw so I'm not a h8r.. LOL

 

[aCondor]

Going to bed. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

 

[TheHoff]

So a 32GB drive will fill up in about 24secs, not 3 secs, if full throughput is achieved. Still frickin' fast!!!!

You will always be limited by the media you're copying to or from.

The fastest, priciest compact flash cards for pro cameras top out at 90 MB/s right now. So assuming your flash drive was up to that speed, it will still take just over 6 minutes to transfer 32GB.

Sorry.

 

[monstermac77]

Right haha, but for me it's only two and the test is solid mechanics.

Haha. That's cool. Maybe you should offer your help for the 2012 liquid metal Macbook Pros.

Side note: If I had the opportunity/capability to assist in the production of the Macbook pros in any way, I'd do so for free.

That's why I want to be an engineer!

 

[jbyun04]

If this MBP refresh comes with a bloody 6950M card and actually has a built in SSD, I will abandon my plan to sell my MBP in favour of an iMac + iPad combo..

Though I'm sure the iMac will have much more kick to it, maybe it's better to wait

 

[monstermac77]

You will always be limited by the media you're copying to or from.

The fastest, priciest compact flash cards for pro cameras top out at 90 MB/s right now. So assuming your flash drive was up to that speed, it will still take just over 6 minutes to transfer 32GB.

Sorry.

NOOOOO!

Ever wanted to just go into a coma for a few years?

 

[kardiackeith]

Did anyone see the post that was taken down?

I think that guy had it right. Something fishy happened to the post.

 

[dr Dunkel]

"hey, my new laptop has TB!"

Uh, keep it away from me lol.

Yeah, but what about saying "Hey, my new laptop's got LP!"

Darn, that's legacy for you... 33 rpm...

 

[monstermac77]

And for once, people like me will rejoice in the fact that I actually spend $2000+ on a computer instead of weed or slurpies.

Damnet. Now I want a slurpy AND a Macbook Pro.

 

[TerrorOFdeath]

If this MBP refresh comes with a bloody 6950M card and actually has a built in SSD, I will abandon my plan to sell my MBP in favour of an iMac + iPad combo..

Though I'm sure the iMac will have much more kick to it, maybe it's better to wait

Why is this even being discussed? Of course its impossible.
Stop dreaming and lets start guessing about "possible" things

If Radeon than MAX HD6550M. But i dont think it will be this high up.

Tod.

 

[Johbremat]

Huh?

AMD is 20-35% worse on all benchmarks, like these two?

http://hardocp.com/images/articles/1292337625zR9jST7GBp_5_2.gif
http://hardocp.com/images/articles/1292337625zR9jST7GBp_3_2.gif

If you're going to use a quantifier like "all," then you really shouldn't have the card you're trashing actually come out on top "ever."

The 6970 is also selling for $360 on Newegg, vs the 580gtx selling for $500. Even if your 20-35% values were true, that's 38% greater cost for about 27.5% performance boost. Yeah, that's really "blowing out of the water."

Oh, and on the [H]'s tests, full load for the 6970 is 428w vs the 516w of the GTX. That, again, is 20% greater power consumed, and it still loses on some games.

Wait, what koolaid are you drinking again?

Seriously?

Pretty confident that most mobile GPUs are two-to-three degrees lower than their desktop counterparts, so wouldn't be sure this is an accurate representation.

Case in point: 5850m = 5770.

 

[ElCidRo]

So a 32GB drive will fill up in about 24secs, not 3 secs, if full throughput is achieved. Still frickin' fast!!!!

actually the HDD transfer rate will be the bottleneck - not the Thunderbolt... si it will remain pretty much the same => way too slow

 

[mattcube64]

Hmm... I guess if Apple really believes the Intel graphics are "good enough" for most tasks, they can be content with achieving 10hrs of battery life when using that. And, when you need it, you can go balls out and destroy benchmarks with the 6950, and battery plummets to just 3 or 4 hours.

I would be MORE than happy with that. I will buy ASAP if that's the case.

 

[Prime Mover]

ATI > nVidia?

What?

Since when did mac fanbois become PC gamer nerds? This is awful news for designers. Adobe and most other design companies have almost completely given up on ATI for reliable, professional design processing. New versions of CS5 specifically require nVidia Cuda cores to work.

Mac is first and foremost a design and development platform. It's what it's always excelled in. If it can satisfy gamers on the side, more power to them. But nVidia has always been better at delivering graphics for professional applications, whereas ATI/AMD seems to target gamers more.

Though, I doubt this decision has to do much with that, it was probably the highest bidder and AMD got it this generation, it does seem to switch back and forth. I don't care, I do all my graphics processing on my Mac Pro, or on my computers at work. I'll be getting a MacBook more for live audio processing, and now that it's been confirmed to have Firewire, I can do that.

I'm simply amazed at how much stock people are putting into GPUs. 10 years ago, you would never have seen people give much of a hoot on a mac forum. The field seems to have changed, drastically.

 

[monstermac77]

ATI > nVidia?

What?

Since when did mac fanbois become PC gamer nerds? This is awful news for designers. Adobe and most other design companies have almost completely given up on ATI for reliable, professional design processing. New versions of CS5 specifically require nVidia Cuda cores to work.

Mac is first and foremost a design and development platform. It's what it's always excelled in. If it can satisfy gamers on the side, more power to them. But nVidia has always been better at delivering graphics for professional applications, whereas ATI/AMD seems to target gamers more.

Though, I doubt this decision has to do much with that, it was probably the highest bidder and AMD got it this generation, it does seem to switch back and forth. I don't care, I do all my graphics processing on my Mac Pro, or on my computers at work. I'll be getting a MacBook more for live audio processing, and now that it's been confirmed to have Firewire, I can do that.

I'm simply amazed at how much stock people are putting into GPUs. 10 years ago, you would never have seen people give much of a hoot on a mac forum. The field seems to have changed, drastically.

I'm interested for gaming.

 

[orfeas0]

Hey guys, what happened to "the future of macbooks"?
I see no thin design like the air, I see no SSD, I don't see ANYTHING from the air being transfered to the macbooks. What's up with that!

 

[forsakengod23]

Taken from apple website :

Requirements to install all Final Cut Studio applications

* Mac computer with an Intel processor
* 1GB of RAM (2GB of RAM recommended when working with compressed HD and uncompressed SD sources; 4GB of RAM recommended when working with uncompressed HD sources)
* ATI or NVIDIA graphics processor (integrated Intel graphics processors not supported)

Very nice to spend 1300 bucks on a Macbook PRO and not be able to use some PRO applications .I PROtest.

 

[Groucho Marx]

Apple store

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs.html#glossy

 

[iEdd]

Hey guys, what happened to "the future of macbooks"?
I see no thin design like the air, I see no SSD, I don't see ANYTHING from the air being transfered to the macbooks. What's up with that!

Because then you'd just have 2 MacBook Airs under different names?

You will definitely be able to upgrade to SSD in the MBP. It's not as thin as an air because you get more power, more ports and an optical drive.

 

[monstermac77]

Hmm... I guess if Apple really believes the Intel graphics are "good enough" for most tasks, they can be content with achieving 10hrs of battery life when using that. And, when you need it, you can go balls out and destroy benchmarks with the 6950, and battery plummets to just 3 or 4 hours.

I would be MORE than happy with that. I will buy ASAP if that's the case.

I totally absolutely completely utterly undoubtedly agree. If they do that, they sate those whom lie on the extremes of the spectrum. It also helps the people that go back and forth between the two. I'm not going to be gaming (why I'd want a strong GPU) unless I'm plugged in.

I know this would be best for me. I think it would be best for most people. Maybe for people who aren't at the extremes, Apple will offer a medium level graphics card as the base for higher end that may be upgraded to a much better one which significantly trades battery life for power. But that's an ideal world...Has Apple every had the option to upgrade a graphics card in its prosumer line?

 

[trekkie604]

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"hey, my new laptop has TB!"

Uh, keep it away from me lol.

Yeah, but what about saying "Hey, my new laptop's got LP!"

Darn, that's legacy for you... 33 rpm...

"I bought _an_ LP"

 

[franswa za]

Yes.

now- later today

 

[Mackan]

I hope they use AMD videocards simply because they are more powerful than the Nvidia cards, for the same TDP. So they better put a real good AMD card in there now... otherwise I don't get it.

However, I fear that they will use a weak card in the 15'' inch, and only offer the best card in the 17''...

 

[Beige Panda]

Nooooooo!!!!! I need CUDA cores!

Yeah, was planning on buying my first MBP to handle all my editing/sound/graphics work. While I hope that apple puts a powerful GPU in the new MBPs, I kinda wish AMD wasn't the answer.

Hope this rumor is false, personally, unless the extra speed makes up for the loss of cudas. I want to play games occasionally, but not enough to give up performance in editing/graphics software.