Graphics cards of the next generation iMac?

[dr Dunkel]

I'm thinking of getting myself a Mac. I have not decided on much more than this. Well, a few things have been sorted. I'm either going for a MB 13" as a nice little e-mail and surfing companion or I'm getting the next iMac. If I would go for the latter then it would have to serve as a gaming platform as well and preferably for a couple of years.

Since gaming will be a good part of the duties performed by the dear little thing I must ask what we could expect in terms of graphics cards?

I'm aware that Apple often use last generation GC in their computers so a GeForce GT 120M is probably out of the question.

 

[PurpleCliff]

I'm also going to be getting one of the new iMacs - which I hope to be able to use for gaming. The only things I 'know' that I'm going to want to play on it are Starcraft II and Diablo III ... surely someone who is very wise will come along soon and tell us whether we have a chance of being 'Mac Gamers' ... lol

 

[Baunkjaer]

Nobody knows. You´ll have to wait like the rest of us. Though, it should be confirmed that the new iMac´s will use nVidia chipset, which means at least 9400m (as in current MacBook) and probably 9600/9800 in the high-end models.

 

[PurpleCliff]

Nobody knows. You´ll have to wait like the rest of us. Though, it should be confirmed that the new iMac´s will use nVidia chipset, which means at least 9400m (as in current MacBook) and probably 9600/9800 in the high-end models.

Hey thanks. For someone like me who doesn't understand chipset stuff ... is there any way you can explain how powerful the 9400m is? What can it do?

 

[Baunkjaer]

Hey thanks. For someone like me who doesn't understand chipset stuff ... is there any way you can explain how powerful the 9400m is? What can it do?

I´m not a gamer, so I don´t care much about the graphic cards. My own X1600 handles NFS Carbon 1024x768 with high details.
As for the 9400M, which should be better, tjek out this review:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/notebooks/review/2008/10/21/nVidia-GeForce-9400M-Hands-On/p1

 

[wisty]

The 9400M is about one tenth the power of a top line mobile card. It's also much much better than nothing.

 

[djcorrosive]

so tell me is the 9800 nvidia more powerful and quicker and better then the current nvidia in the current high end iMac? 3.06ghz ?

 

[Baunkjaer]

so tell me is the 9800 nvidia more powerful and quicker and better then the current nvidia in the current high end iMac? 3.06ghz ?

The 8800 and 9800 uses same graphic chip (G92), but the 9800 have increased clock speed, hence a bit better.

 

[L0s7man]

I think 9800M is a bit of a step-up over 8800M:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-9800M-GT.9906.0.html

I'm thinking about getting iMac too. I was thinking about 17" MBP, but it's pretty much the same as 15.4" MBP (but it has matte screen!). And 8800 doesn't get me too excited... Need something for the future ;-)

I simply want a gaming machine. I move places every year, so won't bother with desktop. iMac seems great. If any hardware update shows up - I'll be getting one!

I only wish you could have something like HDMI in or DVI in on the iMac. So I could get iMac/alu MB and plug the MB to use the screen of iMac... that would be sweeeeet!

 

[Baunkjaer]

I think 9800M is a bit of a step-up over 8800M

:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-9800M-GT.9906.0.html

I'm thinking about getting iMac too. I was thinking about 17" MBP, but it's pretty much the same as 15.4" MBP (but it has matte screen!). And 8800 doesn't get me too excited... Need something for the future ;-)

I simply want a gaming machine. I move places every year, so won't bother with desktop. iMac seems great. If any hardware update shows up - I'll be getting one!

I only wish you could have something like HDMI in or DVI in on the iMac. So I could get iMac/alu MB and plug the MB to use the screen of iMac... that would be sweeeeet!

Well, check the benchmark. It´s not a breath-taking increase in power.
From a gamers point-of-view the 9800 seems more attractive as it´s the newest card and might increase fps by a few percent.