Official "Waiting for Santa Rosa" thread.

[Eidorian]

I find the X1600 to be a decent mid-range card. It's also a little overclockable in Windows if you want to try that. I strongly suggest the 256 MB version for the long run.

I play Company of Heroes all the time and my X1600 doesn't lose a beat in widescreen goodness.

 

[Pressure]

Note that the HD 2600 XT was benchmarked against the 8600M GS. The 8600M GT is the faster of the two 8600M cards, with an enhanced texture fill rate. As quoted from NotebookReview.com:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3699


Further, the review that Mr._Kubelwagen quoted from says nothing about the 8600M GS' 3DMark scores. Read the review for yourself here: http://laptopmag.com/Review/HP-Pavilion-HDX-Entertainment-Notebook-PC.htm



Once again, this is on a canned benchmark. I made a point of linking to the HardOCP article earlier. The 8800GTX and the HD 2900 XT earn very similar 3DMark06 scores, but the 8800GTX has no problem ousting the HD 2900 XT on gaming tests. Power consumption on the HD 2900 XT is also greater, leading me to believe that power management on the HD 2600 XT can't be very solid either. Certainly this is an assumption on my part.

Well, we are talking notebooks here, so I don't quite see the point in discussing Radeon HD 2900XT and Geforce 8800GTX performance here.

The matter of fact is that the Radeon HD 2600/XT is a very balanced chip compared to the Radeon HD 2900XT.

You seem to miss the fact that the R600 and RV610/RV630 are made on entirely different lithography, leaky 80HS (80nm manufacturing node) for the Radeon HD 2900XT compared to the cool, power optimized 65nm node used by the Radeon HD 2600/XT. While the Radeon HD 2900XT has a max Thermal Design Power of 175 to 215 Watt (because of the 80nm node), the Radeon HD 2600XT has a max Thermal Design Power of 45Watt.

The Radeon HD 2600/XT ranges in clock speed from 600 to 800Mhz and we have no idea what it was clocked at in that "preview".

I just find the RV630 much more interesting than the Geforce 8600 family. It has more features and the same performance.

 

[kellah]

i remember seeing on one of these threads that stock was running real low in stores on MB and MBP.. we could possibly still see MBP update before WWDC. (or maybe im just thinking wishfully)

 

[iTim314]

i remember seeing on one of these threads that stock was running real low in stores on MB and MBP.. we could possibly still see MBP update before WWDC. (or maybe im just thinking wishfully)

Well I'm thinking just as wishfully as you.

((Off-topic: Hey, I'm no longer a MacRumors Newbie! ))

 

[yetieater]

You seem to miss the fact that the R600 and RV610/RV630 are made on entirely different lithography, leaky 80HS (80nm manufacturing node) for the Radeon HD 2900XT compared to the cool, power optimized 65nm node used by the Radeon HD 2600/XT. While the Radeon HD 2900XT has a max Thermal Design Power of 175 to 215 Watt (because of the 80nm node), the Radeon HD 2600XT has a max Thermal Design Power of 45Watt.

That, indeed, I was completely unaware of. Perhaps I'm making a rather hasty call when I say that ATi's new GPUs are all headed for failure. The R600's half-baked drivers were somewhat worrying, however, and ATi's inability to pull together a winner in the desktop GPU market makes me wonder how competent its new mobile GPUs can possibly be. NVIDIA has already proven itself with stellar performance in the desktop arena whilst ATi's latest foray has been a blunder.

Once again - only time will tell.

 

[toke lahti]

I am disappointed with the lack of a graphics chip upgrade, especially with Santa Rosa's X3100 on a bunch of new machines from HP, Gateway, Sony, etc.

Has any of those shipped?
Anyway, I believe that Apple has smaller r&d department than those other giants, so it will take a little longer to get SR macs out.
Apple also have adopted a habit, that they use a little older components and get them thereby very cheaply increasing their profits above the competitors.

 

[iW00t]

That, indeed, I was completely unaware of. Perhaps I'm making a rather hasty call when I say that ATi's new GPUs are all headed for failure. The R600's half-baked drivers were somewhat worrying, however, and ATi's inability to pull together a winner in the desktop GPU market makes me wonder how competent its new mobile GPUs can possibly be. NVIDIA has already proven itself with stellar performance in the desktop arena whilst ATi's latest foray has been a blunder.

Once again - only time will tell.

I have a funny feeling the new MBPs will still be using the X1600s

Oh well, so long as they get improved displays I'd be happy.

 

[masse]

if macbook pro's are still using x1600's I'm not getting one.

 

[thegrandmaster]

I have a funny feeling the new MBPs will still be using the X1600s

I seriously hope not, the X1600 wasn't top of the line when it came out, and it sure as hell isn't now, they couldn't really get away with shipping the same one again, unless they can jack up the amount of memor you get, vastly.

 

[diamond.g]

I seriously hope not, the X1600 wasn't top of the line when it came out, and it sure as hell isn't now, they couldn't really get away with shipping the same one again, unless they can jack up the amount of memor you get, vastly.

I am pretty sure the X1600 doesn't have the bandwidth to really take advantage of more than 256 mb of ram. Of course using a 64-bit bus doesn't help at all either.

 

[thegrandmaster]

Right, I've never really looked into the tech around graphics, but I do know that having 128MB is a bit measly when other manufacturers are shipping with 512MB in most of their top end laptops.

A GPU upgrade is the main reason I'm holding out!!

Could they get away with not chaning it, or would they get burned by the 3D graphics and hardcore video editors?

 

[Eidorian]

I am pretty sure the X1600 doesn't have the bandwidth to really take advantage of more than 256 mb of ram. Of course using a 64-bit bus doesn't help at all either.

128-bit memory bus just like the HD 2600 and 8600M.

 

[diamond.g]

128-bit memory bus just like the HD 2600 and 8600M.

Hmm, you are right (as usual). 11GBs of BW doesn't seem like alot. I wonder if the HD2600 will face the same hardship. Although ATI/AMD has been on this crazy ALU:TEX ratio recently so I dunno. Mostly likely the X1600 doesn't have enough ROPs (only 4) to take advantage of greater memory (or memory bandwidth).

What parts of the GPU does video editing stress?

 

[gabloman]

new MacBook Pro: when?

Does Anyone know when upgaded MacBook Pro will be aviable?

Thanks!!

Gabloman

 

[hvfsl]

I have a funny feeling the new MBPs will still be using the X1600s

Oh well, so long as they get improved displays I'd be happy.

They will at least be using the X1700 (which is basically a faster X1600).

But I do agree, improved displays is the main update I am looking for.

 

[thegrandmaster]

Does Anyone know when upgaded MacBook Pro will be aviable?

Thanks!!

Gabloman

Your guess is as good as anyone's!!

But right now, everyone is going to keep saying 'next tuesday', or WWDC, I personally believe its going to be the WWDC on June 11th, when we get a Stevenote.

If you can actually get one on that date, is a different matter, cause rollout can sometimes be a little slow...

 

[fyzle]

I'm hopping on the band wagon. C'mon Santa Rosa!

 

[gabloman]

Tryin to get one...

Your guess is as good as anyone's!!

But right now, everyone is going to keep saying 'next tuesday', or WWDC, I personally believe its going to be the WWDC on June 11th, when we get a Stevenote.

If you can actually get one on that date, is a different matter, cause rollout can sometimes be a little slow...

Thanks a lot, man. I am collecting information because I'd like to buy a Pro, but without ugly surprises... When you spend that much, you want the latest version, at least... ;-)

 

[thegrandmaster]

Thanks a lot, man. I am collecting information because I'd like to buy a Pro, but without ugly surprises... When you spend that much, you want the latest version, at least... ;-)

Yeah, I'm holding out for a Pro as well, I'm moving to live in the US on an 'exchange' next year, and I want my own computer for when I move.

Really hope we see a new MBP before the end of August, when I leave!

 

[coledog]

Has anyone else noticed that there are a lot of MBP refurbs available now on Apple's site? Not discounted yet, but there are a lot!

(not sure if this means anything good)

 

[gabloman]

We are in two: who wants to come with us?

Yeah, I'm holding out for a Pro as well, I'm moving to live in the US on an 'exchange' next year, and I want my own computer for when I move.

Really hope we see a new MBP before the end of August, when I leave!

Let's try askin' togeather to Steve Jobs, to be fast.... ;-)

 

[thegrandmaster]

Let's try askin' togeather to Steve Jobs, to be fast.... ;-)

Lol, I'm sure that El Stevo really cares about what one sixteen year old Brit and his pal from a forum want him to do, but its worth a try!!!

 

[wrxpert]

I'm hopping on the band wagon. C'mon Santa Rosa!

Make sure you hit the head first this can be a long ride.

 

[warfa]

I have been waiting for three months but the three weeks that are left seem to be moving unbelievably slow..
I cant take this!

 

[masse]

Make sure you hit the head first this can be a long ride.

We should chaulk the wagon and float it...

Be careful not to die of dysentery.