Question from a Thinkpad user part II

It's absolutely possible - I'm currently trialling W7 x64 on all of my 17-inchers. However one of the issues I think - and there are many, which you may not necessarily realise especially at first if all you've had are POS's - is that there are significant thermal considerations on the MBP for starters.

Assuming you bought the 17-inch for example, the 9600MGT runs at speeds actually approaching a 9500MGS in Windows, due to downclocking - necessary to maintain some degree of thermal equilibrium. As you may know, there are Quadro optimisations in Solidworks in terms of visual presentation and you won't get these with a Geforce card either.

So the question is, do you need the OS X and do you need the pretty more than making a compromise on your application performance, the dependability / roadability of your machine and support? The Macbook is not a better performance proposition for Solidworks compared with even much, much cheaper (almost a thousand less) computers - and the same sort of money will buy you a machine with a bona fide FX2700M, better build quality for real-life working, more stable performance and capability to uplift support to on-site.

 

If you need to do 3d modeling, I don't see the need to go away from a Quadro.

 

for solid works stick with a Quadro or FireGL video card.

 

Can you proof this?

 

PROOF! PROOF! I DEMAND PROOF!!!!!!!!

Now why is it I never say that?

 

All new Nvidia GPUs (Since 6000 Series) downclock their frequency in Windows 2D Desktop Mode.
Check PowerMizer.
If you want proof you can see, download GPUZ in Windows, look at the frequency during Gaming and idling on Desktop.

 

I don't care... but you made a statement and even didn't add "AFAIK", which means you are sure of what you say. Now here is the link-

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-15-inch-2009.aspx?page=2

MBP gets as much as any other 9600gt equipped notebook in 3dmark 06

 

That's a 1440 x 900 screen btw. So the 3dmark06 score is probably not at the standard resolution.

 

I did look closer at this - and it does ramp up correctly in Vantage and Crysis, so it looks like I was mistaken.

It's just that for my design apps, even with complex models - no, and for CS:S it would stay at ~390mhz on occasion, leading me to think it was downclocked or saving itself. It's a shame I don't have another machine with a 9600M to see if the same behaviour manifests itself.