GPUs for next MacBook Pros?

A year ago I was here trying to figure out which GPUs would be put into what turned out then to be the new unibody MacBook Pros. I was hoping for a card that would match the price tag of the Pros and comfortably run modern games - as it turned out we got the 9600M GT and these hopes were quashed.

Now a major MBP revision is expected in January/February and I'm trying to figure out whether there's any point expecting better this time around.

What's the best card that would work with the MBP form factor? How about a GTS 250M?

The iMacs currently sport HD 4670s which I gather are pretty lackluster.. How about a 4830? Will the 5000 series be ready in time?

Thanks!

 

it will be another mid-range graphics card, either form Nvidia or Ati. It is physically impossible to put anything more powerful into the .98' factor size.

 

Expect another midrange card. I can't picture Apple putting anythign top of the line into their Pro's.

If you are after decent performance in a form factor and chassis very similar to the Apple, have a look at the HP Envy 15. Not cheap, and lacks an inbuilt optical drive, also does get a little warm, but has excellent spec's in a very slim package.

 

Yeah, they will most likely just put in a mediocre card, nothing serious for gaming.

 

Any chance of anything better than a 4670?

 

I wouldn't bet on it.

Actually they might put in something better, but then the Mac's would overheat...again.

 

GTS 250M?

4830?

The 4670 is rubbish

 

Something alright will go in, but you won't be wanting to use it for gaming... Seriously though, who would want to buy a Mac to play games on? If you need desperately need gaming in something looking like the Mac though, you're better off looking at the HP Envy 15.

 

I'm not asking for a GTX 260M or anything, but a 4670 isn't really going to cut it is it I want to play Bioshock 2, Mass Effect 2 etc. on native res without slowdown, and a GTS 250M/4830 could probably handle that fine, but a 4670.. not so much :/

Apple just seems to pick a card one notch below being able to comfortably handle current games. Just one notch ;(

Would be 100% happy with a 4830, and if HP can manage it... why not Apple 5 months later? :/

 

Apple products don't cater to gamers; bottom line.

 

Ok but rather than just saying that could you address the specific points of the thread? Are the GTS 250M or 4830 a possibility at all?

 

Both cards are a possibility, as their TDP is the same as the 9600M GT. I'd bet on thev 4830, as Nvidia's relationship is souring, plus I doubt Apple would go so far as a GDDR5 chip.

You should've asked this on GAF, would've been way more entertaining.

Edit: Mobile 5000 is just going into production this months, so a January cut isn't feasible.

 

Permaband xD

Good to hear anyway, my fingers are crossed for:

15" Macbook Pro
Core i5/i7
ATI 4670 256mb w/ ATI 4830 512mb BTO (if not as standard in the mid/top 15")
6GB RAM
500GB HDD
USB 2.0 x2, Firewire 800x 1, Mini DisplayPort etc.

4830 makes sense, I can see it on the 17" but if they put it in the 15" then it might just make the MBP good value for money, and we can't have that now can we.

 

The Unibody MacBook Pro's run warm enough as is...trying to package a more powerful GPU in the thin chassis of MacBook Pro's will lead to more heat issues. Plus, the thing will be even more overpriced...if that's possible.

If you're planning to play a lot of games, get a Windows box. Most games run on Windows anyways. MacOS just looks really cool for entertainment and stuff but not so much for games.

 

I could see a MBP 15 with a 260m starting at $2200. Honestly, putting an stronger of a GPU in wouldn't make any sense. The price would just be outrageous for the performance you would be getting.

 

Well I'm still holding out for a 4830, been looking into that card and damn it's nice. A 4670 just would NOT cut it, not worthy of the "Pro" moniker in any way.

I wish Apple would make a chunkier MacBook Extreme for gamers and graphic designers, something just .3" or .4" thicker would allow for exponentially better chips.

I do think there are a decent number of students and gamers out there who would make the switch if Apple didn't "suck for games" anymore.

 

I honestly think a mid range 5000 series card could be possible if they continue to both reduce the size and power.

 

Oh definitely it's just a question if they'll be out in time.

 

Been with Apple lot of years. Only ever going to be good for mid-range game performance. Just how it is i'm afraid. If gaming is a top priority take the others advice and get an Envy 15 or whatever notebook that looks/feels and has the specs you want.

 

What are we thinking in terms of midrange this time then?

To be honest I feel the 4670 is low range now, certainly when the 5000 series it will be.

 

Hard to say for sure which card, as who knows if MBP's will be rocking ATI or Nvidia cards this time around.

 

Well that depends how much of a performance boost the 5xxx series offer over the 4xxx series. I mean, last generation's midrange(the HD3650/3670) is still considered midrange by today's standards even with the HD4xxx series out.

Even the HD4830 in the Envy is considered midrange IIRC due to the fact that it uses GDDR3(and therefore is limited by bus width).

 

Everything from ATI above the 4670 is going to be able to handle Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2 etc. and a decent Crysis performance. The 4670 is going to be on it's last legs the day it ships and there's no hope of it lasting through to Alan Wake etc. and I doubt it'll get much out of Assassins Creed 2.

Anything above the 4670 will suit me and I'd be happy to pay for.

The 4830 seems like a perfectly suitable card for the MBPs but for some incomprehensible reason they didn't put it in the iMacs so..

Although the MBP revision will be a few months after the iMac revision, maybe the 4760 will be suitably ancient even for Apple.

 

You mean the GTS, right?

 

The HD4830 will only last a small while longer than the HD4670 though since both are still in the same level of performance(i.e. midrange). If you're aiming for better performance, you should try either the HD4850, or the 9800M GS and up.

 

I think he means the GTS 250M, the 260M won't show in the MBP this time, not a chance.

A GTS 250M is already asking a lot - not technically of course, but it doesn't meet one of Apple's most important criteria for GPUs: it doesn't suck.

 

Yup a GTS250M with GDDR5 will have the same performance as a 9800M GT and only a TDP of 10W more compared to 9600M GT..a power draw which the macbook can take... but i don't really care.. apple is overpriced and sucks..

 

In fact it's only a 5 watt higher TDP than the 9600M GT!!

Does anyone know the TDP for the 4830? Higher or lower than the 250M?

And even as a diehard Apple fan I will agree that most Macs are overpriced and certainly graphically they almost always suck absolute balls.