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Macbook Pro with 512MB Graphics

A

aliasneo

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 22, 2007
11
0
apprently i heard a rumor that the apple is upgrading the graphics memory on the top 2 macbook pros the 15 and 17inches, the first upgrade such#ked pretty bad because there was no major impovemnt for people who play games on their pros
 
aliasneo said:
apprently i heard a rumor that the apple is upgrading the graphics memory on the top 2 macbook pros the 15 and 17inches, the first upgrade such#ked pretty bad because there was no major impovemnt for people who play games on their pros
Click to expand...

Unlikely, there have been no reports of this on any rumor sites as far as I can read. Also, the MacBook Pro's were only just recently updated so it is even less likely that they will receive a new graphics card, having already just being upgraded from the X1600 to the 8600M GT, which I read is no slouch.

So I'm not sure exactly what bit of the upgrade sucked, also it is not the first upgrade to the MacBook Pro.

Are there any mobile graphics cards that support 512MB of VRAM?

On a side note, how did you apparently hear a rumor, either you did or you didn't, surely?
 
aliasneo said:
apprently i heard a rumor that the apple is upgrading the graphics memory on the top 2 macbook pros the 15 and 17inches, the first upgrade such#ked pretty bad because there was no major impovemnt for people who play games on their pros
Click to expand...

this would be quite an amazing feat! an apple with a decent gpu! wow. nah, but a lot of people are looking for decent gpus and that is why they mightnt choose apple. 512 ram might just be to good for a lot of users to finally invest in a mbp *fingers crossed*
 
The chips in the MBP's have had their RAM cut back. I think it'd normally be 256MB or 512MB rather than 128MB or 256MB.

However, I can't imagine Apple changing this in the short term, so soon after an update. Perhaps several months down the line extra VRAM will be part of a general spec bump, but the M8600GT is already highly capable and a good improvement over the old ATI part.
 
there is a whole bunch of Laptops that have 512MB of VRAM, even ones with a slower GPU like the 8600mGS!

I kinda hate Apple a bit for always hitting the systems somewhere a little bit. It wouldn't have been any major price increase...nothing... just way more future proof..... bastards!!!! :)
 
increasing the vram won't speed up the 3d performance

it will only make a difference in games/apps with extremely detailed textures and the like
 
chex said:
increasing the vram won't speed up the 3d performance

it will only make a difference in games/apps with extremely detailed textures and the like
Click to expand...

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction...?

It will speed games up as more graphic data can be loaded into the VRAM meaning less data is kept on the hard disc. Data that is in VRAM can be accessed and rendered a lot quicker than it can do on the hard drive.

Most games now-a-days feature highly detailed textures and compression, so more VRAM would benefit these games greatly.
 
By the time most games start needing 512MB of video ram to run acceptably, you will most likely need a new graphics chip as well.
 
Honestly, I can't really see a major improvement with 512MB of ram, sure it would be a nice bump, but it wouldn't offer any substantial increase on anything but the most extreme games which won't run too well on the 8600 anyway.
 
I'm not complaining: the 8600M GT is one of the fastest mobile GPUs as it is. Flight Simulator X runs like a dream (of course, that's more CPU than GPU based, but you get the idea). Yes, the 8600Ms support up to 512MB of VRAM, but with the dynamic RAM allocation (which works in windows: 3DMark06 reports my 8600GT having 512MB of VRAM), it works out.
 
and then there's those of us who still aren't impressed by the 8600 GT...

But whatever, 512mb Vram would be a simple update, but a good one.
 
I think that the 17'' should have 512MB of VRam. I Mean lets think about it.... its a pro Machine right?

How well do you think 256MB of VRam could run the MBP HD @ 1900x1200, then, a 30 Inch ACD?

Probly not so good.
 
iBunny said:
I think that the 17'' should have 512MB of VRam. I Mean lets think about it.... its a pro Machine right?

How well do you think 256MB of VRam could run the MBP HD @ 1900x1200, then, a 30 Inch ACD?

Probly not so good.
Click to expand...


How many times are people going to use the "it's a pro machine" argument? What other "pro machine" has 512MB of VRAM?

The only one is the Dell XPS gaming machines with GTX 7950s in them.

And the 256MB of VRAM can run the MBP WUXGA + 30 Inch ACD fine, assuming you're not playing World of Warcraft or something on one of the displays :p
 
iBunny said:
I think that the 17'' should have 512MB of VRam. I Mean lets think about it.... its a pro Machine right?

How well do you think 256MB of VRam could run the MBP HD @ 1900x1200, then, a 30 Inch ACD?

Probly not so good.
Click to expand...

Two reasons why not:
a. Size
b. Heat
 
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