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555X or 560X

  • 555X

    Votes: 21 37.5%
  • 560X

    Votes: 35 62.5%

  • Total voters
    56
In what kind of cases would I be able to notice the difference? And, how hot does yours get?
Bought the 560x version and I don't think it is that hot as everyone says.

I do FCPX (not 4K) and yes it will get warm. I would have bought the Vega option, but when I bought mine (one month before Vega came out :( it was not an option.

Besides, when you do CPU intense stuff, you should not have the laptop on your lap anyway and may be the concern more so when regarding heat. It will get warm regardless and if you are going do anything that needs GPU intensive stuff (like video transcoding), then yes it will get warm.

But the issue I have heard like about the keys get too hot to use, I have not found this to be the case.

The 555x version should be ok for what you do in my opinion. Enjoy!
 
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Isn’t the 560 just a rebrand of the 460?
It’s not a rebrand. I initially thought the same thing buts it’s been confirmed not a rebrand.
[doublepost=1552333853][/doublepost]
Bought the 560x version and I don't think it is that hot as everyone says.

I do FCPX (not 4K) and yes it will get warm. I would have bought the Vega option, but when I bought mine (one month before Vega came out :( it was not an option.

Besides, when you do CPU intense stuff, you should not have the laptop on your lap anyway and may be the concern more so when regarding heat. It will get warm regardless and if you are going do anything that needs GPU intensive stuff (like video transcoding), then yes it will get warm.

But the issue I have heard like about the keys get too hot to use, I have not found this to be the case.

The 555x version should be ok for what you do in my opinion. Enjoy!

You bought your machine one month before Vega was released? Damn I would have tried like crazy to get Apple to return and repurchase with a Vega option. I know their return policy is 14 days but most managers will do 30 days.
 
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it is the CPU that generates the heat.

I'm inclined to believe this, always thought it was the GPU at least being even but after a few tweaks in Windows bootcamp it seems like the GPU isn't too bad. I run some games in Windows and cut the power to the CPU by 75% and it runs dead silent now while playing some games, much less loud for others. I tried to cut back on GPU power but it didn't seem to make half as much of a difference. Still getting the same performance from games too for what I play 120fps if not just 60fps is easily obtainable, kinda shows how much extra power is being wasted it's pretty interesting.
[doublepost=1552338866][/doublepost]I think I'm switching back to baseline cards personally. I just upgraded for the VRAM previously but it's been standardized now so less need for upgrading. Yes my export will be slightly slower but exporting is when I don't mind walking away for a bit, during the edit is when I need the speed and that's more CPU dependent anyways. Also I'm a big advocate for quiet/cool editing and the extra heat/fan noise isn't worth it imo, same reason I'm sticking to the baseline CPU options from now on as well. I'd rather have a quieter machine and some headroom for longer workloads than watching it cap out and throttle down anyways, seems wasteful or inefficient.

RAM tho, always maxing RAM if I can that seems worth.
 
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It’s not a rebrand. I initially thought the same thing buts it’s been confirmed not a rebrand.
[doublepost=1552333853][/doublepost]

You bought your machine one month before Vega was released? Damn I would have tried like crazy to get Apple to return and repurchase with a Vega option. I know their return policy is 14 days but most managers will do 30 days.

I purchased and then went overseas for work. Yeah...I was upset...but nothing I could do.

I purposely waited to make sure it was mid-run in hopes that by October, the first patch of issue machines were resolved, plus if something was going to come out, my guesses it would be September...did not predict November's offering. Plus, had no choice...

Yes, I was upset...the same thing happened when I bought an iPad 3....

But..I am happy with the laptop. I purchased it specifically to do video, but the 560x does the job.

I think Vega is more so if you will work with Windows (and I don't), so I think I am ok..
 
I purchased and then went overseas for work. Yeah...I was upset...but nothing I could do.

I purposely waited to make sure it was mid-run in hopes that by October, the first patch of issue machines were resolved, plus if something was going to come out, my guesses it would be September...did not predict November's offering. Plus, had no choice...

Yes, I was upset...the same thing happened when I bought an iPad 3....

But..I am happy with the laptop. I purchased it specifically to do video, but the 560x does the job.

I think Vega is more so if you will work with Windows (and I don't), so I think I am ok..

Well glad to hear that your machine is doing ok and suits your workflow. We all understand the certain circumstances and every other time you would have been spot on in your buying purchase and date but you know Apple, they love to stick it to their professionals by offering this GPU a few months after release.
 
One thing to consider as far as the graphics card—whether a 555x vs 560x or even a Vega—is that you can always buy an eGPU to connect it to, and have even more graphics power than any built-in graphics can provide. Of course that can be several hundred more dollars total depending on what eGPU and what graphics card you use, plus in most cases you'd be limited to only being able to use the eGPU when you are at home or at the office since they are quite large and require a power source (although there are a couple that are relatively portable but still cumbersome); but it's an alternative solution if you were to get to the point where you realized you needed more performance. I myself have a 2018 Mac Mini, which doesn't have discreet graphics built in, but I also have an eGPU with a Vega 56 and it's fantastic; the eGPU itself cost $249 and the Vega 56 was $350, so the total was about $599 before shipping/taxes.

That might seem a bit excessive and the argument would be to just get a Vega 20 up front...but for me having no discreet graphics it was a no-brainer. Just an idea even if you already made your purchase, because it would benefit a MBP with a 560x card, too.


After deciding on a 2018 MBP (base model 2.2, 16, 555X with 1TB SSD), I’m thinking that maybe I should have upgraded the 555X to the 560X. I went for the 555X on the basis that it should run cooler and for my uses (photo and occasional 4K drone video editing) would definitely be powerful enough. However, perhaps I should have upgraded to the 560X?

Will the card run cooler, or will it actually run hotter than the 560X would because it would be trying harder? I’ll have the Mac hooked up to a 32 inch 2K monitor most of the time; will this put more of a strain on it?

It was my understanding that there is little difference between the 560X and the 555X now that both have 4GB of RAM, and that if you really want increased graphical performance then you should move to the Vega cards. I want this machine to last me essentially until it breaks! Should I go for the 560X or will the 555X be cooler and powerful enough for my needs?

Thanks!
 
Does anyone have any insight about the (2019) 21.5" iMac versions of these GPUs? It seems as though the 21.5" iMac's version of the 555X has 2GB of VRAM compared to the 2018/2019 15" MacBook Pro's version, which has 4GB. I otherwise have no context for how the 21.5" iMac versions compare to the 15" MacBook Pro versions or to each other.

I'm mainly asking as I'm in the market for a 21.5" iMac or a Mac mini and the fact that I'm between those two machines should tell you that, while definitely nice, my discrete GPU needs aren't serious (I'm mainly going to be playing with Adobe apps and the three Final Cut Pro X apps [not very seriously, might I add], at most; gaming will mainly be done on a Windows desktop that will likely sit right next to it. If the difference between the 21.5" iMac's Radeon 555X and its 560X (aside from the 2GB of extra VRAM) is significant, I'll plunk down the extra cash. Otherwise, I might just get the weaker card and likely be fine with it.
 
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