Maybe Metal isn't even used by osx so far, eveything is rendered thru OpenGL - http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,11144.msg30972.html#msg30972
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Metal, OpenCL/GL & GPU vendors
- Thread starter stevedusa
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Here is an interesting article about how Metal will affect gaming.
http://blog.gameagent.com/wwdc-2015-why-metal-for-mac-os-x-is-a-big-deal-for-mac-gaming/
http://blog.gameagent.com/wwdc-2015-why-metal-for-mac-os-x-is-a-big-deal-for-mac-gaming/
Quote from that Post:
I am also quite excited about the potential for some of the games we bring to Mac to potentially be faster than the original graphics API, meaning Mac games may be faster than their PC counterparts. It’s incredibly advantageous for us to be able to bring over a Windows game running on a higher level API and run it on a Mac for a lower level, faster API.
I remember when Valve making Linux Version of the Portal 2 couldn't believe how much faster it was rendering on Linux compared to Windows.
It will be awkward when the same games will be more performant on OSX and Linux then on Windows. However, it is possible...
I am also quite excited about the potential for some of the games we bring to Mac to potentially be faster than the original graphics API, meaning Mac games may be faster than their PC counterparts. It’s incredibly advantageous for us to be able to bring over a Windows game running on a higher level API and run it on a Mac for a lower level, faster API.
I remember when Valve making Linux Version of the Portal 2 couldn't believe how much faster it was rendering on Linux compared to Windows.
It will be awkward when the same games will be more performant on OSX and Linux then on Windows. However, it is possible...
They only managed to get 303 fps on Windows was because they were using openGL rather then Microsofts own DirectX which is still limited to 270.6 fps.
If Metal is as good Apple makes it out to be you would think they would support more 3rd party GPUS in OSX so users dont have to resort to hacks. However knowing Apples history they will keep their GPUS proprietary and dissapoint the masses once again. So I think Metal will turn out to be "much ado about nothing" at least in a gaming sense anyway....
Why should they support more than what their own devices have shipped with?
It isn't an open platform.
Just to avoid confusion Metal supports full compute shaders so you don't need to use a separate compute-only API like OpenCL. With Metal available I wouldn't expect Apple to add another API like Vulkan to their platforms since they both serve the same goal.
So gamers will possibly move to the Mac Platform.! To please current Mac users that want high end Graphics for gaming ( not to mention Prosumers for Audio and Video production.)But if you want Apple to control everything you do in the PC world thats up to you!
If you are not getting my gist Im a PC user primarily for gaming, I would move to OSX permanently if gaming wasnt so ordinary on Macs.
Im hoping that Metal is a move in the right direction for gamers.
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The only users who would benefit from this would be users of Mac Pros with PCI-e slots. Since there does not appear to be any plans to ever ship another Mac with PCI-e slots, this is a diminishing set of users. It makes no economic sense for Apple to waste time, money, and effort on this. They will continue to only support GPUs that was shipped with Macs. This helps them reduce the costs associated with tech support.
If there were truly a large enough market, companies such as EVGA would offer video cards for Macs. They've attempted it before and there's no reason to believe they are unable to do it now. The fact that they don't makes me believe they don't see enough profit potential to do it again.
Metal is far from "much ado about nothing". If it does all that it is claimed to do, it will greatly enhance the user experience of anyone using a Mac. Just because our choices of GPUs are limited doesn't mean making the most of what's available is nothing.
Its so sad to see you guys so happy and accepting with whatever Apple gives you. The Apple watch is proof of this but thats another story.
I also note you are running a GTX980 in your Mac Pro pastrychef. Not standard, but you are still however prepared to defend Apple. If you talk the talk why dont you walk the walk and put in a Mac approved GPU ?
I also note you are running a GTX980 in your Mac Pro pastrychef. Not standard, but you are still however prepared to defend Apple. If you talk the talk why dont you walk the walk and put in a Mac approved GPU ?
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Yes I think the writing is on the wall as far as that goes. I'm updating to a 5.1 MP at the moment which will hopefully last me through to 2020. By then I expect the Mac Pro line to have disappeared altogether, even the nMP will be gone in my estimation.
As a side note, does anyone think it is likely we will now NEVER see maxwell drivers implemented by Apple in OS X? It seems with the iMac and MBP both going with AMD that even if a switch back to Nvidia occurs down the road, it will be for the generation after Maxwell.
I'm not defending Apple. I never said I liked it. I was just telling you that you failed to see the facts as they are.
What does the Apple Watch have to do with anything concerning this thread???
Nobody if forcing you or anyone else to accept what Apple "gives" us. Don't like what they make? Don't buy it. Move on to another platform. I haven't found anything I like better than my Mac Pro, so I haven't purchased any new Macs in a long time. I use a GTX 980 because it suits my needs. I don't use it defend Apple.
What talk am I talking and how should I walk? I really don't understand half of what you are talking about.
I can only hope that Apple comes to their senses and starts offering Nvidia GPUs in at least some of their Macs. The GTX 980s are far more power efficient and cooler running than anything AMD/ATI has to offer. I'm holding out hope that logic will eventually set in and some sort of Maxwell GPU will appear in some Macs thereby leading us to some native OS X drivers.
I would seriously consider an iMac 5K if it used a GTX 980 instead of Radeons. My fear is that the heat generated in the tight confines of an iMac will eventually lead to problems. I have seen first hand how heat can cause an LCD panel's layers to separate over time. I have also fallen victim to several failed ATI graphics cards during my lifetime.
My fear, however, is that AMD in light of slumping sales and anemic stock market performance pushed them in to offering Apple such a sweetheart deal that it was too good for Apple to walk away from.
Apple will never ever allow EVGA to release a new official Mac GTX card, as long as cMP is a serious competition for nMP. Glad we have MVC cards and for newer Macs eGPU possibilities.
They don't have to 'support' all the cards, it's NVIDIA who does the work with web drivers, they should only integrate newest NVIDIA drivers in OS X, what they didn't since OS X 10.8.5. Damn.
And unfortunately no ATI/AMD web drivers are available.
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How does Apple dictate what EVGA can and can not sell?
The only reason why graphics card manufacturers don't sell Mac video cards is because they don't find it financially feasible.
Its only a modified rom chip for boot screens- so how can it not be financially feasible.
Apple probably told EVGA that there would be no official driver support from Apple - hence no new cards.
You guys are forgetting that if someone did sell a Mac video card, they would also have to provide tech support for it. Have you ever seen the lines at Apple's Genius Bars? How much do you think Apple spends on paying all those people behind the bars? Don't underestimate the cost of human labor.
Drivers exist for AMD GPUs, why don't they sell graphics cards? Apple can't tell them not to sell due to lack of drivers.
Most Nvidia cards work fine now, albeit without boot screens. Why not just continue selling what they have without ever having to support an entire separate operating system?
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