Ouch, should I take the plunge? Nvidia cards are making me doubt...

[nick9191]

People seem to think that Intel and Nvidia is the be all and end all. Well I hate to break it to you but both companies product low quality, overheating, generally terrible products.

If the rumours are true that the 3870 is going into the next Macbook Pro, this is one of the fastest and best mobile chips for the price out there. And people will still bitch about it not being Nvidia. Think different my foot.

Also I would think by now that Nvidia had withdrawn the defective GPU's, I can't see you getting one if you went and brought a Macbook Pro at the Apple store.

 

[m1stake]

What do you mean - that they've never upgraded the video cards in the Macbook Pros before? But they did upgrade, from the x1600. I think it is likely that apple will put a mobile low power ATI card (like the 2600 xt mobile in the imac, but maybe a newer generation) as a base card, and a 9600 is likely as a BTO option.

My mistake, what I meant is that Apple would not "upgrade" the card to one in a higher performance bracket, like the 3800 mobility line or the 9800 line. As far as a BTO option for a different card goes, I don't think so. The 9600m GT will be the only option most likely. I am not familiar with benchmarks on the subject, but comparing a SRS iMac or plain SR iMac to the current MBP to see how the 2600 stacks up against the 8600 would be interesting. I wouldn't be surprised to the 8600 win however.

People seem to think that Intel and Nvidia is the be all and end all. Well I hate to break it to you but both companies product low quality, overheating, generally terrible products.

If the rumours are true that the 3870 is going into the next Macbook Pro, this is one of the fastest and best mobile chips for the price out there. And people will still bitch about it not being Nvidia. Think different my foot.

Also I would think by now that Nvidia had withdrawn the defective GPU's, I can't see you getting one if you went and brought a Macbook Pro at the Apple store.

Have you seen DAAMIT's lineup recently, excluding the 4 series? That's why Intel and Nvidia are on tall pedestals. The 9 series and the 200 series have essentially been underwhelming compared to the performance difference between the 6 series and 7 series, and the 7 series and the 8 series.

Intel on the other hand has come a long way since the P4. The core 2 architecture is efficient and cool. Have you seen the Intel dual core penryns beat the triple core phenoms? The phenom processors, for all of their hype went from vapor ware to disappointing. Even with the TLD bug fixed, they are underwhelming processors that are at the same price points as the more cost effective Intels.

There are no rumors of Apple adopting the 3850 mobility, much less the 3870 mobility. Just a few people on these forums who keep arguing for it against all reason.

 

[nick9191]

Intel on the other hand has come a long way since the P4. The core 2 architecture is efficient and cool. Have you seen the Intel dual core penryns beat the triple core phenoms? The phenom processors, for all of their hype went from vapor ware to disappointing. Even with the TLD bug fixed, they are underwhelming processors that are at the same price points as the more cost effective Intels.

Intel chips are the hottest chips on the planet as it stands. Power efficient, yes, cool, no. The PowerPC chips were far cooler, and so are the AMD processors. Intel chips have never run cool. The reason the G5 never made it to the Powerbooks was because it was not power efficient, not because it wasn't cool.

Yes the Phenoms have sucked. Although you talk as though Intel has always triumphed. AMD and PPC kicked Intels ass on every level for nearly 15 years until the Core 2. Give it a couple of years.

 

[jjahshik32]

Intel chips are the hottest chips on the planet as it stands. Power efficient, yes, cool, no. The PowerPC chips were far cooler,

Well not really compare a G5 to a 4 or 8 core Xeon.. The xeon doesnt need a watercooling system. Especially g4 1.67ghz (ppc's highest) clocked is dog slow compared to even a core duo 1.8ghz (which is about 3-4x faster) while probably around the same temp if not intel being a bit cooler.

I remember I had a 17" powerbook last rev. with the 1.67ghz model and there's no way I could put that thing on my lap. While I did put the 2.6ghz macbook pro 17" hi res on my lap just fine for 4-5 hours straight with it being mildly warm at the bottom.

 

[akm3]

But one of the old refurb 2.33 Macbook Pro's with the ATI x1600 card.

Then you have nothing to worry about, you save money, and if the Macbook Pro gets updated, you can sell it and buy one of the new ones, TA DA!

 

[mac jones]

Just make sure it has some warranty left on it if it's used.

Also, I would think that gaming would be more risky than normal use.

I don't game, so if the GPU stays at around 60c then I don't see how it can fail (a guess).

iStat has readings for the GPU diode and the GPU heat sink. I would think that by monitoring these you can be more or less on top of it.

(but I haven't read all the posts so I may be misinformed.)

 

[peterdevries]

Just buy it... There is always a chance of Apple updating the MBP soon. I almost held off for the Montevina MBP, but when the time came I couldnt wait any longer. Truthfully Im glad I didnt wait. I havent had any troubles at all with it.

If you need the computer now, then buy it. If you dont then wait a little longer. If you notice that your MBP starts behaving strangely especially in the area of graphics then buy AppleCare on it. That will be your insurance for your graphics card, because if it fails after 3 years of owning it then there was no defect in that card. If it does then you will likely get a brand new MBP.

The problem is not as widespread as one is lead to believe from this thread.

I don't agree for the following reason's:

1. rumors are that there will be a major overhaul of design and some specs for the next MBP. If you can wait (by using a PC or whatever) than do so. We never know what cool things there will be in the newer version that is not rumored yet.

2. NVidia has already admitted that ALL GPU's of the type that are in MBP's are defective to the point that they function, but they don't know for how long. Even with Applecare I wouldn't recommend it to anyone to buy a laptop with a ticking timebomb in it. Most likely if yours breaks, you will get a replacement with the same problem. I doubt that Apple would replace your old MBP with a current one. You would get a refurb or a new logic board. But even the new logic board would have the defective NVidia chip.

conclusion: hold off from buying by using someone else's computer or whatever, and buy the new one. You will get an updated look, different keyboard, better specs, and (hopefully) a non-defective GPU.

 

[peterdevries]

But one of the old refurb 2.33 Macbook Pro's with the ATI x1600 card.

Then you have nothing to worry about, you save money, and if the Macbook Pro gets updated, you can sell it and buy one of the new ones, TA DA!

I bought my MBP in january (has the defective GPU, but still works, although it runs at 75 degrees celcius usually). I'm going to sell it in two months and buy the new MBP.