Expanded GPU support in Apple's Mac OS X 10.6.7 hints at future Mac hardware
Apple's newly released Mac OS X 10.6.7 security and maintenance update for Snow Leopard features support for the latest -- and even some unreleased -- AMD Radeon graphics cards, hinting at inclusion in future Mac hardware.
As discovered by the tonymacx86 Blog, the Mac OS X 10.6.7 update for early 2011 Mac Book Pro models features native graphics acceleration for some Radeon HD 5000- and 6000-series cards. The supported cards are off-the-shelf graphics processing units, not Mac-only cards as have been in the past.
It's likely that at least some of the cards will be part of the new iMac refresh expected from Apple in the near future. A new rumor this week claimed that Apple plans to ship a refresh of its all-in-one desktop by early May, with Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors and a high-speed Thunderbolt port.
But the number of graphics cards natively supported by Mac OS X 10.6.7 has led "tonymacx86" to suggest that it could signal "the end of the Mac-only graphics card."
"Could Apple be opening up the platform more?" he asked. "What happens to NVIDIA? Why support for cards that aren't in Macs yet? Will the 2011 Sandy Bridge iMacs contain one or more of these new 6xxx cards?"
The Mac OS X 10.6.7 Snow Leopard build unique to early 2011 Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro models apparently contains native support for the following graphics cards:
ATI Radeon HD 5630 Device ID 0x68D8
ATI Radeon HD 5630 Device ID 0x68D9
ATI Radeon HD 5670 Device ID 0x68D8
ATI Radeon HD 5730 Device ID 0x68D8
ATI Radeon HD 5770 Device ID 0x68B8
ATI Radeon HD 5850 Device ID 0x6899
ATI Radeon HD 5870 Device ID 0x6898
AMD Radeon HD 6850 Device ID 0x6739
AMD Radeon HD 6870 Device ID 0x6738
AMD Radeon HD 6970 Device ID 0x6718
Mac OS X 10.6.7 was released this Monday, offering users a variety of bug fixes and security enhancements. The general update improves the reliability of Mac to My Mac, resolves issues when transferring files to SMB Windows File Sharing servers, and addresses bugs with the Mac App Store.
The special build unique to the new MacBook Pros with Thunderbolt also addresses performance issues with FaceTime. It also improves graphics stability and external display compatibility with the new notebooks released in February.
As discovered by the tonymacx86 Blog, the Mac OS X 10.6.7 update for early 2011 Mac Book Pro models features native graphics acceleration for some Radeon HD 5000- and 6000-series cards. The supported cards are off-the-shelf graphics processing units, not Mac-only cards as have been in the past.
It's likely that at least some of the cards will be part of the new iMac refresh expected from Apple in the near future. A new rumor this week claimed that Apple plans to ship a refresh of its all-in-one desktop by early May, with Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors and a high-speed Thunderbolt port.
But the number of graphics cards natively supported by Mac OS X 10.6.7 has led "tonymacx86" to suggest that it could signal "the end of the Mac-only graphics card."
"Could Apple be opening up the platform more?" he asked. "What happens to NVIDIA? Why support for cards that aren't in Macs yet? Will the 2011 Sandy Bridge iMacs contain one or more of these new 6xxx cards?"
The Mac OS X 10.6.7 Snow Leopard build unique to early 2011 Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro models apparently contains native support for the following graphics cards:
ATI Radeon HD 5630 Device ID 0x68D8
ATI Radeon HD 5630 Device ID 0x68D9
ATI Radeon HD 5670 Device ID 0x68D8
ATI Radeon HD 5730 Device ID 0x68D8
ATI Radeon HD 5770 Device ID 0x68B8
ATI Radeon HD 5850 Device ID 0x6899
ATI Radeon HD 5870 Device ID 0x6898
AMD Radeon HD 6850 Device ID 0x6739
AMD Radeon HD 6870 Device ID 0x6738
AMD Radeon HD 6970 Device ID 0x6718
Mac OS X 10.6.7 was released this Monday, offering users a variety of bug fixes and security enhancements. The general update improves the reliability of Mac to My Mac, resolves issues when transferring files to SMB Windows File Sharing servers, and addresses bugs with the Mac App Store.
The special build unique to the new MacBook Pros with Thunderbolt also addresses performance issues with FaceTime. It also improves graphics stability and external display compatibility with the new notebooks released in February.
Comments
Don't go out and buy that shiny 6970 just yet.
The number of typos getting through recently hasn't been good.
Just sayin'
The general update improves the reliability of Mac to My Mac [...]
where do i obtain this mac to my mac functionality? is it a separate product or is it bundled with something else? cost? availability? documentation?
is this akin to the other day when aperture was removed from the app store and you guys thought a new version was imminent? oh no!
does this mean that the back to my mac functionality is gone and is being replaced by this new mac to my mac?
or does it just mean that you guys are a bunch of unprofessional script-kiddies who can't, won't and don't take the smallest bit of time to proof-read your cutsie little blog entries?
where do i obtain this mac to my mac functionality? is it a separate product or is it bundled with something else? cost? availability? documentation?
is this akin to the other day when aperture was removed from the app store and you guys thought a new version was imminent? oh no!
does this mean that the back to my mac functionality is gone and is being replaced by this new mac to my mac?
or does it just mean that you guys are a bunch of unprofessional script-kiddies who can't, won't and don't take the smallest bit of time to proof-read your cutsie little blog entries?
and what does type of post make you?
and what does type of post make you?
I think the technical term is twat
MSI GTX560-Ti Twin Frozr II/OC (Review link) , cheap but yet powerful enough.
The inclusion of of-the-shelf components should always be welcome given the larger choice they have including the second hand market.
I would bet on this being for the new iMacs, which I believe are coming soon. With the recent Macbook Pro update, it actually seems to me like you may get better value buying a 15" Pro over an iMac.
That doesn't make sense. Unless you need the portability, why would the 15" pro be a better deal?
15" MBP
$2199
2.2 Ghz i7
slower and smaller hard drive
slower FPU
15" screen
less expandable
iMac
$2199
2.93 GHz i7 (or subtract $200 to get a 2.8 GHz i5)
faster and larger hard drive
faster FPU
21" screen
more expandable
Care to explain just how the 15" MBP is a better value????
where do i obtain this mac to my mac functionality? is it a separate product or is it bundled with something else? cost? availability? documentation?
is this akin to the other day when aperture was removed from the app store and you guys thought a new version was imminent? oh no!
does this mean that the back to my mac functionality is gone and is being replaced by this new mac to my mac?
or does it just mean that you guys are a bunch of unprofessional script-kiddies who can't, won't and don't take the smallest bit of time to proof-read your cutsie little blog entries?
and what does type of post make you?
I think the technical term is twat
Brilliant! It has to be said though, as harshly as he put it, he's right. AI simply don't proof read and it's pretty inexcusable.
The new support for "commodity" graphics cards is obviously to support the new macpro. The large form desktop will come with multiple thunderbolt connections, freeing up expansion slots for a small farm of graphics cards. Thunderbolt speed will make in-box disk optional, and with multiple displayport connections, the first live hd video in won't need a slot, either. BUT, you will want a few more gpu's to handle all those hi-res bits.
Just sayin'
And what about Crossfire / SLI support in the Mac Pro?
Care to explain just how the 15" MBP is a better value????
CPU's newer, GPU's newer, HDD can easily be replaced with something faster, and as it's SATA III vs. SATA II in the iMac, the iMac can never reach the same speeds transferring to any HDD/SDD.
Arguably, the MacBook Pro is more expandable as you can actually get to the hard drive as a user-replaceable part.
And what about Crossfire / SLI support in the Mac Pro?
As CrossFire/SLI are for games, provide virtually no benefit in games and none for other applications, are dependent on the ATI/nVidia to write drivers for, and have nothing to do with the Mac Pro's target audience...
I'd say no. But if SLI can be used in conjunction with OpenCL for renders, why we don't already have render farms of Mac Pros+4xSingleSlotCards in SLI is beyond me.