Graphics chipsets in new Intel Macs
What graphics chipset do you all think will be in the new intel macs? Built in Intel graphics on iBook and maybe ATI or Nvidia higher end chipsets in the PowerBooks? I just wanted to give that some thought because everything lately is about the processors only. Mac laptops don't have the best graphics cards in them right now, look at the difference between the ATI 9700 and the Nvidia 6600 go chips. Apple needs to step it up for the intelMacs. Any thoughts?
Comments
Originally posted by MjolnirMkII
What graphics chipset do you all think will be in the new intel macs? Built in Intel graphics on iBook and maybe ATI or Nvidia higher end chipsets in the PowerBooks? I just wanted to give that some thought because everything lately is about the processors only. Mac laptops don't have the best graphics cards in them right now, look at the difference between the ATI 9700 and the Nvidia 6600 go chips. Apple needs to step it up for the intelMacs. Any thoughts?
I think they might sport a Voodoo2 or an ATI Rage Pro.
Just check the minimum performance recquiered to run Aperture, and you will get the picture.
Originally posted by Powerdoc
Considering the increasing importance of technologies like Core image, I doubt that Apple will use integrated video chipset. Unlike windows XP, mac os X use more and more the GPU throughput in 2 D applications.
Just check the minimum performance recquiered to run Aperture, and you will get the picture.
Or check the minimum requirements for Vista, to have something to compare to. Integrated grapichscards cant even run it.
It's hard to say what Apple will do; I could see it going either way.
I think apple realizes that graphics performance isn't as critical to their platform as us cyber-geeks tend to assert. It seems that the masses are already satisfied somehow.
Of course, I've got the most powerful GPU that my machine will take... but I'm not the norm.
I don't really expect any Mac to get a highend GPU as standard as they are overkill for most things other than games. I'd hope to see the latest mid range ATi or nVidia GPU in other Macs with a minimum of 128MB. To be able to upgrade at time of order to a highend GPU would be good though.
If Apple do use Intel Graphics, I don't think they'll impress too many potential buyers.
It's possible of course that Apple could already have used Intel Grpahics or another manufacturers equivalently specced GPU in a current Mac if they'd wanted too. But haven't.
Originally posted by Jootec from Mars
It's possible of course that Apple could already have used Intel Grpahics or another manufacturers equivalently specced GPU in a current Mac if they'd wanted too. But haven't.
This is a good point, Apple never choosed that road (route?)
They could have done their integrated CPU, but they didn't. In the contrary they have taken out the integrated graphic card out of the mobo of powermac.
The Beige powermac G3 use to have the ATI rage chipset on the mobo. Apple discontinued it with the B&W macs.
Integrated graphics are only for the super cheap PCs and even Dell "motivates" you to move up. It's not Apple's world.
Recently Intel made a strong move to abandon their low end chipset products, so I expect to see both improvements in their integrated graphics and a push to use offboard graphics chips. It certainly wouldnt hurt the Mac Mini to be using a GMA 900.
Originally posted by dfiler
Apple has sold computers with and without integrated graphics throughout it's history. One simply can not say that they don't do integrated graphics hardware.
As far as I know, they've never done shared video memory though (at least since the 68040 days).
Amorya
Originally posted by mmmpie
The Intel GMA 900 is both faster and more sophisticated than the ATI 9200 found in the Mac Mini.
Recently Intel made a strong move to abandon their low end chipset products, so I expect to see both improvements in their integrated graphics and a push to use offboard graphics chips. It certainly wouldnt hurt the Mac Mini to be using a GMA 900.
GMA900 is both, more and less sophisticated than the ATI 9200 as it has 4 pixel pipelines at directX9 level but lacks any vertex shader hardware (CPU has to do all the setup). That's ATI 7000 level....
Originally posted by TigerWoods99
SiS Xabre
Hmm that was a lame GPU.