Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

M380 M390 M395 M395X Thread

Zarniwoop said:
Yes, M390 is AMD Pitcairn GPU, an older GCN 1.0 generation chip. M395 is new Tonga, GCN 1.2 which uses memory bandwidth more efficiently and allows a bit higher resolutions or better texture quality and has also DSP included (if Apple is ever starting to use it). At least in Windows you should be able to use it. M390 --> M395 gives around 10-20% speed boost.

4GB of video memory is useful, if you play Windows games. For Mac, it's less useful, but some pro apps like video editing can use it. M395 --> M395X gives another 10% plus memory advantage that can be a big thing on Windows gaming and some openCL intensive apps.
Click to expand...
What about M395X? Is it a Tonga, a Pitcairn or anything else?
 
I'm new to this thread. Have read through most of it but could not see any conclusion to the question of M380 vs M390.

I am looking to buy this weekend with 2TB fusion drive. I will see how I get on with 8GB of RAM before looking at upgrading it myself.

I will do some photo editing of 20MP raw files using Canon's DPP and may use Lightroom in the future. It is unlikely I will get into video editing and the rest of my useage is general. I do not game.

Some say M380 will be fine, others say differently and that the M380 is not up to the job of running a 5K screen.

Who is right? I don't want to go higher than M390 but, equally, I want something that will last.

I spent far too long Googling this last night and read so many varied responses that I was no wiser in the end.
 
Last edited:
Goody13 said:
Some say M380 will be fine, others sat differently and that the M380 is not up to the job of running a 5K screen.
Click to expand...

If you are working with static images (photos and program windows), I cannot see how an M380 would not be sufficient.

Bare Feats did a comparison of all the iMac 5K GPUs doing games and video work and the M380 was okay in both so it should be fine for image drawing: http://barefeats.com/imac5k15.html
 
  • Like
Reactions: Goody13
Thanks. I saw that last night but must admit I didn't really understand it, other than to be concerned that it looked like the M380 was somewhat lacking.

Judging by your comments though, this isn't the case.
 
If it were me, I'd not go less than a 390, based on the Bare Feats benchmarks. The 380 just appears too sluggish. The 395 looks to be a good balance between cost and performance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Goody13
Compare prices by upgrading all models with 2Tb Fusion Drive. You'll find out that M390 is USD 100 more. Add 100 and you'll get better CPU and GPU too. In Euro-zone M390 is even better deal.
 
Zarniwoop said:
Compare prices by upgrading all models with 2Tb Fusion Drive. You'll find out that M390 is USD 100 more. Add 100 and you'll get better CPU and GPU too. In Euro-zone M390 is even better deal.
Click to expand...

That 2TB fusion drive is the minimum I'd look at anyway. The 1TB with its tiny SSD isn't worth it.
 
Zarniwoop said:
Compare prices by upgrading all models with 2Tb Fusion Drive. You'll find out that M390 is USD 100 more. Add 100 and you'll get better CPU and GPU too. In Euro-zone M390 is even better deal.
Click to expand...

That strikes me as a a good deal. Gives you better longevity for not much more money.
 
I don't know about you but at work all iMacs with M380 are visibly lagging. If you can go with the more expensive option.
 
It's interesting seeing the different views. For the sake of not a vast amount in the overall scheme of things, I have just gone for the M390 with 2TB fusion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fat jez
Goody13 said:
It's interesting seeing the different views. For the sake of not a vast amount in the overall scheme of things, I have just gone for the M390 with 2TB fusion.
Click to expand...
Excellent choise. M380 comes with 128bit and M390 with 256bit bus to Graphics memory. It means that in theory M390 can push pixels twice as fast as M380 per second. And that's important with 5k monitor, what ever you'll do with it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Goody13
Zarniwoop said:
Excellent choise. M380 comes with 128bit and M390 with 256bit bus to Graphics memory. It means that M390 can push pixels twice as fast as M380. And that's important with 5k monitor, what ever you'll do with it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Whilst I won't be gaming and the most intensive work I plan to do is processing raw photos, I thought I'd go for a bit more power for the screen.
 
Zarniwoop said:
Excellent choise. M380 comes with 128bit and M390 with 256bit bus to Graphics memory. It means that in theory M390 can push pixels twice as fast as M380 per second. And that's important with 5k monitor, what ever you'll do with it.
Click to expand...

What about the 395? How much difference does it have from 390?
 
AlexGraphicD said:
What about the 395? How much difference does it have from 390?
Click to expand...

I found these stats:

M380: 768 shader cores, clocked at 1000 MHz

M390: 1024 shader cores, clocked at 958 MHz

M395: 1792 shader cores, clocked at 723 MHz

I went with the M395.
 
colinsky said:
I found these stats:

M380: 768 shader cores, clocked at 1000 MHz

M390: 1024 shader cores, clocked at 958 MHz

M395: 1792 shader cores, clocked at 723 MHz

I went with the M395.
Click to expand...

So from these stats I guess the 395 is significantly better than the lower models? Is this difference noticeable in real world usage? It sure looks like so...
 
M390 vs M395

The difference is the processing power. Memory bus is same, so not much advantage for pixel pushing. There's a new lossless compressing algorithm for textures in M395(X), but I don't know if El Captain can use it yet. In Metal v2 in macOS there is (it seems) a support for that, so in future M395 could be some faster than today in Mac games. In Windows this feature is already supported, so there is a big difference between these two GPUs.

For Mac desktop use, M395 doesn't make that big difference. Going from M380 to M390 is a huge leap.

M395 vs M395X

Even more processing power with double ram. Still, memory bus is same as with M390.

Summa summarum: M390 is the best choice for general 5k desktop use from current options. For demanding 3D or video editing, M395 is better. Apple really is milking with the M395X. It might save you from couple of hiccups in video editing, and 4Gb is needed for gaming... but for the extra 300€ you'll get PS4 / Xbox / Wii U system. But it is up to your preference (and wallet) of course. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sebban, rdav, colodane and 1 other person
Zarniwoop said:
M390 vs M395

The difference is the processing power. Memory bus is same, so not much advantage for pixel pushing. There's a new lossless compressing algorithm for textures in M395(X), but I don't know if El Captain can use it yet. In Metal v2 in macOS there is (it seems) a support for that, so in future M395 could be some faster than today in Mac games. In Windows this feature is already supported, so there is a big difference between these two GPUs.

For Mac desktop use, M395 doesn't make that big difference. Going from M380 to M390 is a huge leap.

M395 vs M395X

Even more processing power with double ram. Still, memory bus is same as with M390.

Summa summarum: M390 is the best choice for general 5k desktop use from current options. For demanding 3D or video editing, M395 is better. Apple really is milking with the M395X. It might save you from couple of hiccups in video editing, and 4Gb is needed for gaming... but for the extra 300€ you'll get PS4 / Xbox / Wii U system. But it is up to your preference (and wallet) of course. :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the summary. Makes me feel justified that I made the right choice with the M390.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 10.08.56 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 10.08.56 PM.png
    103.1 KB · Views: 170
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back