AMD has officially released the 7970. This thing will be sweet for playing any game. so what are your thoughts on the AMD 7970, and do you think they will be in the new mac lines(7970m?)
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
7970 and gaming
- Thread starter royal shrimp
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It will run games faster
I don't think the 7970 model will be in the iMac's. Likely the lower end model the 7950 will be in the iMacs and the 7970 will be for the MacPro.
MacBookPro's will also start getting the 7950 cards (or similar lower power version) at the next refresh.
The iMac might have the 7970 card made available as a BTO option on the 27" model but I cannot see it being a standard feature.
Edwin
Some clarification is needed, I see.
The card that was announced yesterday is a desktop card. It has a whopping 250W TDP. If Mac Pro gets updated, it's most likely the card which we will see as a BTO option (like 5870 is now).
As for MBP and iMac, they use mobile graphics. 7970 is a desktop card and won't be found in iMac or MBP. iMac will most likely use the successor of 6970M, i.e. 7970M. That chip will be found in desktop 78xx series. MBP will most likely use 77xxM series in higher-end. That is the same chip as in desktop 76xx series.
The card that was announced yesterday is a desktop card. It has a whopping 250W TDP. If Mac Pro gets updated, it's most likely the card which we will see as a BTO option (like 5870 is now).
As for MBP and iMac, they use mobile graphics. 7970 is a desktop card and won't be found in iMac or MBP. iMac will most likely use the successor of 6970M, i.e. 7970M. That chip will be found in desktop 78xx series. MBP will most likely use 77xxM series in higher-end. That is the same chip as in desktop 76xx series.
The mobile variants will use the new low power SIMD based GPU (Pitcairn), it is nowhere near the Tahiti chip in the 7970 desktop card, but will likely carry the name 7970m and should beat the 6970m quite easily by 10-30%. Plus the use of SIMd rather than VLIW should make it more Grand Central friendly. So it could have lots of uses outside of games.
Also, this new architecture has insane power saving abilities - like nothing we have ever seen before in a GPU.
The 7770m should be very interesting. It will be based of the codenamed Cape Verde GPU. I am expecting integrated-like battery life but dedicated-like performance. It might be the kind of chip whose power envelope would work well in a 15" MBA.
Also, this new architecture has insane power saving abilities - like nothing we have ever seen before in a GPU.
The 7770m should be very interesting. It will be based of the codenamed Cape Verde GPU. I am expecting integrated-like battery life but dedicated-like performance. It might be the kind of chip whose power envelope would work well in a 15" MBA.
No way the 7770m will ever go in a 15 inch MBA. A 7770m will likely use about 30 watts plus of power. No way they will be able to fit that in a thin 15 inch form factor (other 15 inch laptops obviously but not something that thin).
It will run games faster
I don't think the 7970 model will be in the iMac's. Likely the lower end model the 7950 will be in the iMacs and the 7970 will be for the MacPro.
MacBookPro's will also start getting the 7950 cards (or similar lower power version) at the next refresh.
The iMac might have the 7970 card made available as a BTO option on the 27" model but I cannot see it being a standard feature.
Edwin
Again, 7950m will use too much power for the macbook pro. You will see 77xx series in a 15 inch as anything more powerful than this will have massive power requirements (the 6970m requires about 75-100 watts) unless you want a space heater that is not going in a macbook pro.
Can't wait for a Mac Pro refresh, hopefully giving us the option of getting a full 7970 inside.
I don't want an iMac and a gaming PC (or worse: a console).
I would love just having the best of all worlds in one machine combined!!!
I don't want an iMac and a gaming PC (or worse: a console).
I would love just having the best of all worlds in one machine combined!!!
Semantics. Call it a 7730m and down clock it. Same chip is the point.
We know in a few months either way.
i put together a nice rig over christmas
2600k (3.4Ghz)
intel z68bc mobo
16gb ram
corsair h80 watecooler.
and i am ashamed to be using dual 7800GTX in SLI.
coolermaster 912 HAF case.
can't wait for the 7970. i am switching to AMD as i always have problems with nvidia cards/drivers.
i also have a macbook air which i hope to upgrade when the new macbook pros come out, i hope they have the 7770.
2600k (3.4Ghz)
intel z68bc mobo
16gb ram
corsair h80 watecooler.
and i am ashamed to be using dual 7800GTX in SLI.
coolermaster 912 HAF case.
can't wait for the 7970. i am switching to AMD as i always have problems with nvidia cards/drivers.
i also have a macbook air which i hope to upgrade when the new macbook pros come out, i hope they have the 7770.