Never mind Merom on MBP, what about the X1600 being upgraded?
There has not been very much if not any discussion on this area of the MBP. The X1600 is a capable chip but the X1800 and/or GF Go 7600 are newer and even more future proof.
Yes, there will be thermal concerns and integration issues, especially with a GF. But, what are the possibilities of an update on this front?
Yes, there will be thermal concerns and integration issues, especially with a GF. But, what are the possibilities of an update on this front?
Comments
The GeForce Go 7700 just started shipping and should be reasonably fast without turning the MBP insides into a furnace.
Historically, GeForce Gos have been terribly hot and unfit for any reasonably-thin laptop.
The Mobility Radeon X1800 is also not an option, for the same reason.
I don't believe there's currently an alternative; one will probably come up as the MR X2000s get released.
Historically, GeForce Gos have been terribly hot and unfit for any reasonably-thin laptop.
The Mobility Radeon X1800 is also not an option, for the same reason.
I don't believe there's currently an alternative; one will probably come up as the MR X2000s get released.
I think you're over-generalizing - NVIDIA has low-power, low-heat GeForce Go chips as well. If the 7700 can go into a thin 14-inch laptop, it can certainly go into a 15.4-inch model with more room to breathe.
I think you're over-generalizing - NVIDIA has low-power, low-heat GeForce Go chips as well.
At performance levels higher than that of the X1600? Doubtful.
I'm hoping for a radeon X1800, w/ 256MB ram. If Apple uses the X1600, which was dated when the MBP debuted, I'll be livid.
The MR X1600 in the MBP is already clocked down as it is, so presumably, a GF Go 7700 would have to be clocked down even further, diminishing at least part of the performance advantage, assuming there was any to begin with.
You seem to be making false logical assumptions here:
1. NVIDIA chips always consume more power at the same performance level.
2. No chips released after the X1600 could deliver more performance at the same power, even a year later.
3. Therefore, barring a tweak from ATI itself, the X1600 is the only option for the MacBook Pro.
The GeForce Go 7700 is a mid-range chip in the same class as the X1600. It's made using an 80 nm process (the X1600 is built at 90 nm) that should help it run cooler. It has 50% more pixel bandwidth than a GeForce Go 7600, which was already roughly at the performance level of the X1600. Odds are it'll outperform the X1600 even if it does have to be underclocked to protect the laptop.
You seem to be making false logical assumptions here:
1. NVIDIA chips always consume more power at the same performance level.
2. No chips released after the X1600 could deliver more performance at the same power, even a year later.
3. Therefore, barring a tweak from ATI itself, the X1600 is the only option for the MacBook Pro.
I didn't make any of the three assumptions.
The GeForce Go 7700 is a mid-range chip in the same class as the X1600. It's made using an 80 nm process (the X1600 is built at 90 nm) that should help it run cooler. It has 50% more pixel bandwidth than a GeForce Go 7600, which was already roughly at the performance level of the X1600. Odds are it'll outperform the X1600 even if it does have to be underclocked to protect the laptop.
"Odds are"? So you don't know? You don't even have any data to back it up, beyond the manufacturing process?
Historically, GeForce Gos have been terribly hot and unfit for any reasonably-thin laptop.
The Mobility Radeon X1800 is also not an option, for the same reason.
I don't believe there's currently an alternative; one will probably come up as the MR X2000s get released.
At performance levels higher than that of the X1600? Doubtful.
The MR X1600 in the MBP is already clocked down as it is, so presumably, a GF Go 7700 would have to be clocked down even further, diminishing at least part of the performance advantage, assuming there was any to begin with.
See what I mean?
Once again: if they can put a GeForce Go 7700 in a reasonably thin 14-inch laptop, a MacBook Pro probably isn't an issue even if Apple has to tune it down a bit. I won't discount the possibility that Apple will keep the X1600 (and probably double the minimum VRAM) or even wait for a Mobility Radeon X1700 if it's cool enough, but don't rule out NVIDIA just because you always associate them with hot-running desktop replacement graphics.
That said, notebooks are apple's major market, and they want to stay very competitive there I imagine.
They need all the help they can get on the icy front.
Unless you guys have some statistics that the GeForce Go 7700 isn't the oven every other NVIDIA chip is, I'm afraid you're all preposterous.
The current card has more potential that could be unleashed if the heat gets taken care of.
Just my personal opinion though.
Sure hope to see the new / upgraded Macbook Pro later this month..