Graphics and Warranty Question(s)

[aplardi]

Okay, so at this point I am not in any kind of rush to get my MacBook, but I do have some questions in regards to it.

1) I have heard mixed sayings about the new Integrated Graphics.

I will using GIMP and maybe Photoshop one day when I can afford it and it is universal binary). I was told that it will run terrible, but I was also told it will run fine. I am guessing it will run fine. -- I will at the most do LIGHT video editing of personal minute long clips and what not, but nothing pro, so I'm sure it will do fine. I am not a gamer but if it could run a light game or two that would be great. The side I'm leaning on is that the 950 Intel Graphics are fine, but people are just talking smack ignorantly because of previous bad integrated graphics, and that it will do fine.



2) The AppleCare Warranty.

Should I buy an extended warranty (if I get it through Amazon it is 200 bucks for 3 years AppleCare)? Or will I be better off not getting it. Part of me wants to protect my investment, part of me says I wont have any major problems with it anyway. and if I do buy it, I was told that adding ram to my MacBook can possibly void my AppleCare Warranty, and Apple may refuse to fix my MacBook if something does go wrong. -- I did read that my AppleCare is not violated if I leave one of the 256meg Apple Branded memory sticks in and just ADD a stick to it, is this true? I was going to add a 1 GB stick to it, meaning I would have 1256ish megs of ram... which leads to the other question, will uneven ram sticks have a bad/noticeable effect on my performance?

Thanks in advanced,
APLARDI

 

[faintember]

1) I have heard mixed sayings about the new Integrated Graphics.

For what you mention it should be fine. Just dont expect games in 2008 to run at high or even medium settings and dont expect that future versions of PS to run well (although it should considering PS is 2D)

2) The AppleCare Warranty.

I would. I am not sure of the price through Amazon, but i think Applecare has to be bought through Apple.

I was told that adding ram to my MacBook can possibly void my AppleCare Warranty, and Apple may refuse to fix my MacBook if something does go wrong.

If you damage something then it can void your warranty, however as long as you are comfortable with it install the RAM yourself. Otherwise get an certified Apple tech to install the RAM. Honestly, it would take some doing to cause damage while installing RAM.

I did read that my AppleCare is not violated if I leave one of the 256meg Apple Branded memory sticks in and just ADD a stick to it, is this true?

Not true. Damage can still be done by installing one stick.

I was going to add a 1 GB stick to it, meaning I would have 1256ish megs of ram... which leads to the other question, will uneven ram sticks have a bad/noticeable effect on my performance?

This is fine. Running the same amount of RAM in both slots is a performance boost, but it is only around 4%-8%.

 

[aplardi]

So if I install the ram am I voiding my AppleCare Warrnty or just the standard Warrenty or not?

 

[mkrishnan]

No, you don't void any part of your warranty by installing RAM -- RAM is considered user installable. If your RAM goes bad, that's an issue between you and whoever sold you the RAM. But it doesn't eliminate your system warranty at all.

As far as your usage profile... Considering that GIMP and/or variants (i.e. GIMPShop) are available universal binary, so that you don't have Rosetta slowdowns, I think it'll run reasonably well on the integrated graphics.

 

[Abulia]

You can also pickup AppleCare at any time before your original warranty is up, so you can defray that cost out a bit if you'd like. Use on more memory, etc.

 

[aplardi]

No, you don't void any part of your warranty by installing RAM -- RAM is considered user installable. If your RAM goes bad, that's an issue between you and whoever sold you the RAM. But it doesn't eliminate your system warranty at all.

As far as your usage profile... Considering that GIMP and/or variants (i.e. GIMPShop) are available universal binary, so that you don't have Rosetta slowdowns, I think it'll run reasonably well on the integrated graphics.

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the help.

 

[aplardi]

You can also pickup AppleCare at any time before your original warranty is up, so you can defray that cost out a bit if you'd like. Use on more memory, etc.

Before the 1 year warrnty is up, or before the 90 Day thing is up?

 

[Eidorian]

1. GIMP and Photoshop will run just fine on Integrated graphics. Gimpshop is also a Universal binary so it'll run at top speed. It's perfect for the person who wants a few features of Photoshop but for free.

2. You can buy AppleCare off of Amazon. It'll just come with a registration code you'll have to put in on Apple.com along with your machine's serial number.

 

[Abulia]

Before the 1 year warrnty is up, or before the 90 Day thing is up?

One year. You won't have the phone technical support during the blackout period (90 day to 1 year) until you do pick up AppleCare, though.

 

[aplardi]

One year. You won't have the phone technical support during the blackout period (90 day to 1 year) until you do pick up AppleCare, though.

Thanks a lot again, this pretty much makes me a lot more confident, perhaps the thing that would help would be if you can point me to where I can see in black and white FROM Apple that installing ram will not void my warrenty. I will start reading their site now, but I kinda stupidly went on my friend telling me it is a grey area.

 

[faintember]

Macbook manual (in pdf format)

Page 79 (Chapter 4)

 

[MRU]

Yep just to clarify.

Photoshop is CPU and very importantly MEM intensive. Integrated Graphics compared to a Geforece 7800GT would'nt make any difference.

512mb to 2gb memory would...


The people telling everyone that integrated graphics are not up to tasks like photoshop or final cut (excl motion) are talking out their asses.

 

[Legacy]

Yep just to clarify.

Photoshop is CPU and very importantly MEM intensive. Integrated Graphics compared to a Geforece 7800GT would'nt make any difference.

512mb to 2gb memory would...


The people telling everyone that integrated graphics are not up to tasks like photoshop or final cut (excl motion) are talking out their asses.

Seconded, in fact the Intel GMA950 is pretty good at 2D regardless, its 3D that always causes troubles for iIG

 

[MRU]

REVIEW/BENCH of MacBook running Final Cut Studio

http://www.creativemac.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43717