New Macbook to use Nvidia 9300/9400 Macbook Pro to use 9600GT?

what do you think?


http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/new-macbooks-to-be-based-on-nvidia-geforce-9400-9300-chipsets/


If the base Macbooks can be priced at $1000 with these GPU's we'll have a steal here folks especially if you decide to run windows on here!

 

Well, I was hoping for something a bit beefier but kinda knew apple would fall back on the 9600m GT seeing as how it makes the most sense. Kinda bumed though I have to say.

 

for the macbook pro, a 9600m gt is expected. if they could get a 256 bit card that would be cool. 9700m gts i think is the first 256 bit card? (this would be in the pro, not the macbook)

 

The 9300 or 9400 (what's the diff in performance?) are nice additions to the macbook line-up.

Fr the sub-$1000 laptop (I CANNOT believe how much fuss people are kicking up over this), they much resort to cheaper alternatives *cough* x3100 *cough*

 

You never know...maybe it won't be sub $1000? Anyways they would probably use the 4500MHD instead.

 

I'm expect MBP 17 model with 9700GTS/GT or 9XXX Special Edition.

 

I predict 9700M GTS or Mobility 4850 for the MBP as too many graphics and video professionals have asked for a much stronger card than what is currently in the MBP. Going to the 9600M GT is not an improvement. God Bless

 

That is not true, graphics and video pros do not need a high end GPU. Today's integrated graphics solutions are more than enough. Dedicated GPU are more suitable for gaming and CAD/CAM.

Video/graphics apps are heavy on CPU and memory. The only exception is Adobe CS4 coming out soon with use GPU for acceleration.

You won't see a higher GPU on the Mac other than a 9600, Apple is very concerned about battery life and heat issues and having a high end GPU won't help battery or heating issues.

 

lol i can like smell apples game they will probably charge about $800 for intel GMA model and charge about $1400 for the 9300/9400

 

I doubt Apple would jump from a ddr3 8600, all the way to a 9700. The 9600 DDR3 is all I'd expect to get out of the next Pro.

Releasing the Mac without any integrated graphics would be quite a move, but I suspect Red_Dragon might be on to something.

 

they like to keep consistency within lineups. i doubt they will have one laptop lineup that has the option of a dedicated gpu at a higher price point. the chip takes up space, so they would be wasting space on the models without it. they would probably rather just have two separate models.

 

Dedicated GPU at a higher price point for MB sounds possible enough with the rumors stating that there would be more configurations for the new lineups.

 

I wonder if there is a good chance that Apple will use ATI GPU's like the 4850 in the MBP instead of Nvidia with all the problems they been having ?? Just a thought. God Bless

 

I think they're going for the new Intel integrated graphics.

 

Please give me at least a 9700M GTS! The 9600M GT sucks in gaming because it's crippled by a 128-bit memory bandwidth. A 9300/9400 is way too weak for any games after 2006. Apple just takes advantage of people by charging them a couple hundred dollars to upgrade from the integrated graphics (probably GMA X4500) to really bad dedicated graphics.

 

I think the 9700m GTS is way too hot for a 1" thick notebook (MBP) so I really doubt there is any chance of that, and the 9600m GT isn't THAT bad...as for the Macbook you don't really need anything higher than a 9300/9400 seeing as how it only has a 13.3" screen the resolution wouldn't be that high anyways so less taxing on the system. Oh and people who get the MB probably be doing any gaming anyways.

 

I hope that the MBP comes with a Mobility 4670. A 9600M GT would be a sideways move from the current 8600M GT and not a big improvement. At least a 9700M GT, but hopefully a Mobility 4670. If Apple is serious about OpenCL, they would avoid all nVidia 8000 and 9000 series since they do not support 64-bit double precision floats. Only the ATI 3000 and 4000 series and the nVidia GT200 series does. And while the 4670's 320 Stream Processors may not reflect their power in games against the 9700M GT's 32 Stream Processors due to driver optimization issue, the 10 fold number of Stream Processors will be reflected in OpenCL applications that specifically target parallelism.

And frankly, I'm amazed that these supposed reputable news sites keep posting that MacBook Pro lookalike picture that's on the nVidia site. That picture has been there for more than a year, probably since the 8600M GT was incorporated in the MBP. It means nothing. People really need to pay attention.

 

Is the HD4xxx series even anywhere near ready? Wasn't it like a month ago since they showed the pre-production models? I say no chance, and plus isn't it semi-confirmed that they are going to use a nvidia card anyways...

 

You know this is funny i swear apple said something like they won't be using nvidia this time because of this problem they were having its unbelivable they wont use the 4850 i was checking 3850 bechamrk and you are looking at like 7200 3dmark imagine what a 4850 would do

Also the ATI 4xxx will be ready at the end of the year.

 

Yeah they did show Mobility HD4xxx samples earlier this month at CEATEC in Japan. The news sites speculated that the Mobility HD4xxx series will launch before the end of the year. The desktop HD4xxx series has also finished it's complete roll-out from 4870X2 down to HD4350. And usually once that's done the mobile roll-out isn't far behind.

ATI used to be very strong in the mobile market, but they've slipped with nVidia 8xxx and 9xxx series getting more design wins than the HD2xxx and HD3xxx. The HD4xxx series seems very strong so this is a prime opportunity to win back marketshare which means a big launch is required. And what better way to get the spotlight, pardon the pun, than to launch on Apple's MBP in the upcoming Apple event where even none tech-reporters will be watching. Plus, ATI seems to be a strong supporter of OpenCL, whereas nVidia is more focused on their own CUDA. Seems mutually beneficial.

 

I'd be shocked if they put a HD4xxx card in the MBP! But it would probably make it cheaper xD? Whatever as long as its an upgrade I"m happy.

 

I would think ATI's Mobility HD4xxx series would be priced cheaper than their equivalent nVidia parts. When ATI launched the desktop HD4xxx series it forced nVidia to reprice their entire desktop lineup. I hope the same happens for mobile, because nVidia's mobile lineup is ridiculous. They have the 9500M GS, 9600M GS, 9600M GT, 9650M GS, 9650M GT, and 9700M GT and they are all essentially the same 32 Stream Processor core just at different clock speeds. The desktop 4670 performs like a desktop 3850, so if a Mobility 4670 can perform like a Mobility 3850 it'll slot in around a 9700M GT in games. A Mobility 4650 would probably be something like a 9600M GT or 9650M GS. That should force nVidia to cut down their lineup and pare down so many repetitive parts.

 

Well I think if Apple don't beef up he GPU I will be moving back to a windows based PC. I love Mac OSX. But that is my biggest issue with the MBP. It just doesn't have the GPU gumption to last me the four years I nee it to. Sorry apple, but if you put in the low end GPU and charge me a hefty premium, well you have really dropped the ball and haven't really listened to your customers.

I mean I really see this as a chance for Apple to really grab some serious market share. Develop a well priced MB or MBP with a decent GPU. I mean Apple boast they are the number one PC's on campuses. So show me a college individual that doesn't like to game. So to me if apple doesn't jump on this opportunity to grab a larger market share, well it's their own fault. Plain and SImple

 

Again, there will be no Mobility 4*** series in the MacBook Pro. nVidia and Apple have a good relationship. If 9300/9400GS is the card in the MacBook, theres no point in an ATI card in the Pro. Companies with 2 or 3 laptops in their line up dont usually have different brand graphics between them. That
Would be like Dell having a m1330 with 8400GS but a m1530 with an ATI 3650. No sense there.

Also, the 4*** Mobility series is definately not due to release for a another couple of months. And Even if they come in December, Apple would take ages to redesign their laptops to be able to contain the new cards. And they arent the fastest company to react either, look at how long they took to release their Monty laptops.

I rest my case....

Lol i typed all that on an iPod Touch

 

nVidia and Apple may have a good relationship that doesn't mean Apple doesn't have a good relationship with ATI. And that doesn't explain why nVidia drivers on Mac have fallen behind where a 8800GT in the Mac Pro still can't overtake a Radeon 3870 in Core Image acceleration which is critical to Apple's Pro apps.

And in terms of sole sourcing GPUs, you should know that sole-sourcing is a thing that Apple absolutely avoids if possible. Apple uses HDDs from Seagate, Hitachi, and Fujitsu, DVD drives from Hitachi and Mat****a, etc. The MBP used ATI for 2 generations, then switched to nVidia for 2 generations. The current iMac lineup uses 3 different GPUs, the HD2400XT, HD2600Pro, and nVidia 8800GS. And the Mac Pro which is probably the lowest volume computer is supplied in both ATI HD2600XT, nVidia 8800GT and Quadro FX 5600. In comparison to offering 3 different GPUs within 1 model, offering nVidia GPUs in a MB and ATI GPUs in a MBP is hardly a big hardship.

Taking ages to redesign the MBP assumes that Apple isn't forward thinking enough to have incorporated it's requirements since they are doing a major redesign right now anyways. And I don't see how being slow to release Montevina laptops is some huge dark mark. Montevina itself was delayed by Intel a few months and didn't really start to be available until August with the IGP versions being even slower since they had design issues. Perhaps if Intel had delivered Montevina on time, Apple might have stuck with it and done a quick refresh, but the delay probably gave them the opportunity to rethink things and do a bigger redesign. It may have taken longer, but it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Previously, Intel's Napa platform with Core Duo launched in January 2006 and immediately found it's way into the MBP. The Mobility X1600 was also only launched in December 2005 and so Apple was one of the first to adopt it. Similarly, the Santa Rosa platform was launched in May 2007 and adopted by the MBP in June 2007. Apple was also an early adopter of the 8600M GT. And while people complained that it wasn't a high-end GPU, the facts are than no mobile versions of the 8800 was available at that time and even the 8700M GT was released later.

The evidence really doesn't suggest that the MBP takes ages to react.

 

I just hope if one person wins at the end of the day at apple its the gamers and CAD/Video editors.

 

Would Apple go with an ATI card when the chipsets are 99% confirmed to be Nvidia? Wouldn't you lose some of the advantages of an Nvidia chipset by opting for an ATI GPU? I don't know, I'm asking

Anyway, a 9600M GT in the MacBook Pro would be a MASSSSSSIVE letdown. Apple's highest end laptop with a measly 9600M GT the best it can do graphically?

Why would they go for a 9600M GT and not a 9650M GT for example? They require the same amount of power.

I contacted the author of the original article mentioning "9600M" and that's exactly what he said, "a 9600M card", not specifically the 9600M GT but a GPU from the 9***M series, and said:

"You are more likely right - some derivative refresh of the 9600 GT based on a slightly updated G92-based part. Probably a 55nm GPU as well."

The 9650M GT is 55nm, the 9600M GT is not.


If you want to know why the 9600M GT would be an absolutely gigantic disappointment.. --> http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/007916.html

 

Consider a sli with the on-board gfx... then we're talking, 9300+9600 or 9650

 

Any thoughts as to if it is possible that the 17inch MBP might come out with a different GPU than the 15in?

That would make my day (and make sense). The big res on the 17in screen needs more power!

Ugh, I am glad that there are others that are less than impressed with the impending choice of the mediocre 9600m video cards - barely an update at all.

 

I don't think they could use anything faster or hotter than the 9600GT in the 17" MBP. Besides, as has always been the case, these laptops are not meant for gaming. Heck, the 512MB on the 8600GT now seems like overkill.

 

Apple needs to add more to the 17in as they can't charge 400 dollars more just for a screen, they have gotten away with this in the past though, so who knows...

I would say 2x hdd or a better gfx card, or better cpu's

 

Sadly, I'm very disappointed with the 9600m option. I'm going to have to wait at least a year due to all but one nvidia based system failing to see if this is going to have problems. I was hoping for ATI as I seem to be much happier with it.

 

Why is the graphics card on the MBP 17" a 9600M GT? Other companies like Gateway, Sager, Toshiba have 17" laptops with 9700M GTS GPUs costing the same price as the MBP 17". Apple needs to start upgrading its hardware specs, not just the laptop's looks and form factor.

 

well i'm thinkin apple should AT LEAST have done a 9700gt/gts we didnt really need anything better then that i just wanna know if windows is gonna run smoother this time around.

 

I completely support a 9700M GT. But it's funny that we are already talking past tense what Apple should "have done" when they haven't even released the thing yet. There is still hope. They'll probably meet us somewhere in between though. Like others have pointed out, if the 9650M GT is 55nm, it seems like a good compromise in terms of performance while controlling power and heat compared to the 65nm 9600M GT and 9700M GT.

My primary hope is still for a Mobility Radeon 4670 though.

 

how about me and you go and beat steve jobs and his team with sticks until they tell us if a GPU of this caliber is coming out either now or in the future?

 

Well if things don't work out as planned we can always use Time Machine and make things right.

 

awww man i'm an action guy though but hey anything will work