12. I wonder what Macbook will use? Continue to use of iGPU from Intel? ( Hell no, please )
The latest MacBook Retina Mid 2017 model uses the weak Intel HD Graphics 615. If Apple should want the better performing AMD Radeon graphics across all their notebook products, AMD Ryzen Mobile should have a real chance here, assuming its performance and efficiency turn out to be as good as rumoured. Remember, AMD was allegedly
really close to a win in MacBook Air with Llano.
With the cooperation between Intel and AMD on the Kaby Lake-G, Apple now has a chip to simplify its MacBook Pro line. Currently, as of the Mid 2017 refresh, the two 13 inch models, with and without the Touch Bar, comes with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 and 650, respectively, while the 15 inch model, also with Touch Bar, comes with switchable graphics between Intel HD Graphics 630 and AMD Radeon Pro 555. Using Kaby Lake-G across the line for the 2018 refresh looks like an obvious simplification, especially in terms of graphics drivers.
Kaby Lake-G has also been rumoured as an upgrade for the Mac Mini. As of the Late 2014 refresh, the two lower-end models use Intel HD Graphics 5000, while the top model uses Intel Iris Graphics 5100. Again, using Kaby Lake-G across the line looks like an obvious simplification, with the better performing AMD Radeon graphics.
The iMac 21.5 inch range currently comes with Intel quad-core processors ranging from 2.3 to 3.4 GHz base clock, and Intel Iris Graphics 640 for low-end 1080p model, and AMD Radeon Pro 555 and 560 for the two Retina 4K models, respectively. Using Kaby Lake-G for across the iMac 21.5 range should be a simplification. AMD Raven Ridge APU may be an option for the 1080p model. The three models in the iMac 27 inch Retina 5K range comes with higher-end AMD Radeon Pro 570, 575 and 580 graphics, respectively.
The new iMac Pro, coming in December, with an 18-core Intel processor, will have AMD Radeon Pro Vega discrete graphics.
So, in summary, with AMD Ryzen Mobile, the upcoming Raven Ridge APUs for desktop, and Intel's Kaby Lake-G, Apple now has a good opportunity to standardise on better performing AMD Radeon graphics across their desktop and notebook products.