Why do the new Macbook Pros have a AMD Radeon Card?
- Thread starter badb0y
- Start date
Possibly the performance-per-watt was still in AMD's favor at the time they were being designed. The fermi cards can run cool and quiet now, but do it by dumping heat into the case.
Either that or nvidia did something that annoyed the Stevenführer.
Either that or nvidia did something that annoyed the Stevenführer.
1) AMD has some form of support for switching between discrete and integrated GPU, which supports Intel CPUs. This puts them level with NV.
2) Intel processors now all have integrated GPUs which means an NV IGP isn't necessary on any Core i processor.
3) Apple is a big supporter of OpenCL.
4) They have no specific ties to NV AFAIK, it's more than NV made more sense because of 1 and 2. Apple have already offered AMD options on their desktops for many years.
2) Intel processors now all have integrated GPUs which means an NV IGP isn't necessary on any Core i processor.
3) Apple is a big supporter of OpenCL.
4) They have no specific ties to NV AFAIK, it's more than NV made more sense because of 1 and 2. Apple have already offered AMD options on their desktops for many years.
notty22
Diamond Member
- Jan 1, 2010
- 3,375
- 0
- 0
Apple owns and developed the switchable graphics tech,on their laptops, using AMD gpu's.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ook_pros_with_quad_core_i7_cpus_amd_gpus.html
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ook_pros_with_quad_core_i7_cpus_amd_gpus.html
TurtleCrusher
Lifer
- Apr 20, 2008
- 10,067
- 990
- 126
I always remember Imacs being variants of the 9550, x850 and the x1600. IIRC my old Powerbook had a Radeon 9200 paired with a 1ghz G3 or G4. It's been a while 
Maybe, as stated above, nVidia's issues with reliability was a major reason for making the switch. If a company cannot put out a reliable product for a brand that emphasizes usability, then that manufacturer is nearly useless, at any price. Apple has a reputation to protect.
Maybe, as stated above, nVidia's issues with reliability was a major reason for making the switch. If a company cannot put out a reliable product for a brand that emphasizes usability, then that manufacturer is nearly useless, at any price. Apple has a reputation to protect.
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
- 167
- 106
Apple flip-flops regularly. You could ask the same thing when they switched from discrete AMD GPUs to discrete NV GPUs and get the same answer: *crickets*.
The best guess you're going to get is that now that Apple doesn't use NV IGPs, they don't need to worry about the entire laptop graphics stack being similar. In that case AMD normally has the edge on performance-per-watt, although the entire concept becomes murky with oddly clocked & binned laptop parts.
The best guess you're going to get is that now that Apple doesn't use NV IGPs, they don't need to worry about the entire laptop graphics stack being similar. In that case AMD normally has the edge on performance-per-watt, although the entire concept becomes murky with oddly clocked & binned laptop parts.
I never payed much attention to Apple's notebooks but they have been using nVidia GPUs for quite a while now in the Macbook Pro line so I was a bit surprised to see AMD graphics in a Apple notebook.
Do you guys think they may consider APUs in the future?
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
- 167
- 106
Apple has definitely been on the forefront of novel GPU uses, even if the hardware they use isn't the latest generation. They were the first to use a GPU accelerated desktop, and they were the first to ship with OpenCL. To date though, they have done next to nothing with OpenCL, which raises the question of whether they have something planned in the long term. If they do - and if they need strong OpenCL performance for whatever they're planning - then an APU is a distinct possibility. However without performance data on Llano (they don't do netbooks and hence will not use Brazos/Zacate), it's hard to say what Apple may do.
GodisanAtheist
Diamond Member
- Nov 16, 2006
- 8,439
- 9,847
- 136
Apple is in a really good position to offer their software with OpenCL acceleration, since they own the hardware as well. It would also genuinely help OS X and apple to distinguish themselves from Windows based PCs, like they did back in the old days with their G line of processors.
This is the only reason I can see Apple being so heavily invested in OpenCL.
This is the only reason I can see Apple being so heavily invested in OpenCL.
BECAUSE ITS A LAPTOP!
and because AMD cards are more power effecient, and how much power you use determines how fast your battery dies! *shock*
Which makes putting a AMD card into a laptop a good idea.
I dont think APUs will ever kill of the mid-top end dedicated GPUs, in desktops... but in laptops they might be able to intirely remove the discrete cards there.
and because AMD cards are more power effecient, and how much power you use determines how fast your battery dies! *shock*
Which makes putting a AMD card into a laptop a good idea.
^ this nvida card where overheating killing laptops.
Yes, once their powerfull enough, I think APUs or even just Intels IGP, will push dedicated cards out of laptops. Its a more power effecient design, and its cheaper, which is good for notebooks/netbooks.... unless your the type that buys alienware laptops for like 20,000$.
I dont think APUs will ever kill of the mid-top end dedicated GPUs, in desktops... but in laptops they might be able to intirely remove the discrete cards there.
Last edited:
notty22
Diamond Member
- Jan 1, 2010
- 3,375
- 0
- 0
I read this story and thought of this thread, it seems Macbook pro's are having major problems, and the quick dirty fix is to disable the AMD gpu .
Users complain of Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro freezes
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20625
It looks like Apple responded with a possible software fix.
Apple releases OS X 10.6.7 with fix for MacBook Pro display issues
Users complain of Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro freezes
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20625
It looks like Apple responded with a possible software fix.
Apple releases OS X 10.6.7 with fix for MacBook Pro display issues
Last edited:
Yup, looks like Apple fixed the problem they had made with their own switching tech (as you pointed out in post #8), so now the AMD GPUs should work properly as Apple, assuming they don't have a design flaw that causes them to fail like the NV GPUs they used to use.
notty22
Diamond Member
- Jan 1, 2010
- 3,375
- 0
- 0
Except the problem was probably with the driver of the gpu, and not the switching tech, if disabling the Radeon gpu , solved the constant freezes. But believe what you like
From your links:
Its a software issue... so either AMD or APPLE, has some kinks to work out to get it working.
Except the problem was probably with the driver of the gpu, and not the switching tech, if disabling the Radeon gpu , solved the constant freezes. But believe what you like
What makes you say that? I assume when you disable it, your not longer useing the "switching tech" that apple themselfs made. Obviously if you only have 1 gpu running, its not switching to anything.
So it seems odd your ruleing that out first thing, when what you said above doesnt indicate you should be able to do so just yet.
From http://mbp-freeze.wikispaces.com/
(one of the links in the thread you posted)
Before reading below please update to the newly released 10.6.7 update available from Apple. (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1363)
How to fix this issue entirely: It's now confirmed by multiple testimonies, on Apple's discussions forums, that 10.6.7 does solve this issue entirely. Tests has been done using the various scenarios described below as well as using high demanding benchmarking software like SmallUXGPU, and nobody has been able to reproduce the issue since 10.6.7. Good work Apple!
So update to 10.6.7 and problem solved!
*IF* APPLE fixed the issue,.... why are you blameing AMDs drivers Notty?
Also why are you posting about this when its already fixed?
Last edited:
nVidia pwns (your wattage).
Also I think Apple wanted to send a clear message to both their clients and partners, that major f***up will not be tolerated (too much bad press on those nVidia GPUs burning).
Also I think Apple wanted to send a clear message to both their clients and partners, that major f***up will not be tolerated (too much bad press on those nVidia GPUs burning).
Sickamore
Senior member
- Aug 10, 2010
- 368
- 0
- 0
I read an article about AMD were selling the graphics cards to apple cheaper than nvidia. Basically apple are getting those graphics next to nothing, nvidia didnt want to bring their prices down. Think about the profit apple is going to make on those laptops with amd cheap bargain. At the same time amd used this as a way of pushing up their stocks. With them getting down with apple in mobile gpu would impress investors and stock market. I checked the stocks the day apple came out with the laptops. Amd stocks went up and nvidia remained the same despite loosing the deal to amd.
The Macbook pros worked fine in windows using bootcamp without hangs. So not a problem with the hardware.
As for why they switched I cannot say.
As for why they switched I cannot say.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter