Radeon M380 VS. M395 - Benefits for Avg User

[varian55zx]

That's what I did before. What do you mean by decently large folder? I put in there my ebooks folder of 1.89GB and 1520 items. I selected grid. If there was any lag it would be at first show when it loads up the little icons on the "grid", after that if I click on the stack it smoothly opens up the stack, all icons are there, books, subfolders. Notification slides in and out smoothly. I use Control+up arrow to show Mission Control... they show up smoothly. Animation is OK.

I'm out of town right now and I'm staying by an Apple Store.

I'm going to go over right now (well, in 20 mins) and try that model because I've tried it before and there certainly wasn't "NO LAG".

But with the way you're describing it I am very happy for you. Maybe the ones released later work better?

 

[AlexGraphicD]

No.

Is the wait for a possible Polaris gpu in October worth it for the tasks that I mentioned above? I'm torn between buying a refurb unit now or wait for the rumored line update.

 

[mxreader]

But with the way you're describing it I am very happy for you. Maybe the ones released later work better?

I'm not altogether happy with my machine since it has another issue, but M380 on 27 in 5K is OK and doesn't appear to lag the way you describe it. If you are testing, try changing the Display settings to Scale up.

 

[snorkelman]

I'd have to concur with mxreader - not seeing any 'lag' in terms of smoothness of screen effects, redraw performance mission control, scrolling, sliding notification centre into view etc with a base model 5k that we have here

The only "graphically offensive" aspect is icon thumbnail redraw - particularly in grid view on first view (or once OSx decides to throw away the previously cached content if there's been pressure on memory) but that's something that's been an ongoing annoyance with live icon previews since yosemite across all the boxes we use

Tbh I've seen it often enough to have got used to it over past couple of years, but not really in and out of Finder or the Dock folders a zillion times a day for it to impact anything I personally do

 

[varian55zx]

That's all good and well, your experiences do not mirror mine, but I will still be getting one of the higher end graphics options when I get the new iMac- I've learned my lesson.

 

[ivoruest]

Is the wait for a possible Polaris gpu in October worth it for the tasks that I mentioned above? I'm torn between buying a refurb unit now or wait for the rumored line update.

I guess what you're currently doing would be fine with any GPU available today in the iMac 5K line. But if you would like to wait a little longer I believe it always feels a little better. Even if you're not using full power on your mac. I am one of those who's always buying stuff I don't need. But it does cure my anxiety. jajaja

 

[varian55zx]

You guys are such wonders in this thread.

I finally had the chance to test the m380 model at the Apple Store.

It lags even when opening a basic application. Stacks lags.

This isn't nearly as smooth as a Mac should be.

The m395 is noticeably smoother to the point that it is an entirely different user experience. Compare to the m395 model or rMBP 15 inch

 

[mxreader]

This isn't nearly as smooth as a Mac should be.

Yep you are most probably right. You have more experience with Macs than I have for sure. It's probably a case of not knowing what could be.... and I paid $3000 for the current iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) "experience".

 

[varian55zx]

Yep you are most probably right. You have more experience with Macs than I have for sure. It's probably a case of not knowing what could be.... and I paid $3000 for the current iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) "experience".

I've been with Apple since OS 9 in the 90s, owned various MacBook pros, iMacs, a power mac. They've always been smooth the 5K m380 is the choppiest I've personally seen.

If you paid 3k you paid more than I was going to pour into it.

I bought one with the 3.3 i5, 512ssd and m395 for $2500, but cancelled it because I thought I'd wait for the new release.

3K is a lot you can get an i7 and 512 SSD for that amount, I hope you did!!

 

[mxreader]

I
3K is a lot you can get an i7 and 512 SSD for that amount, I hope you did!!

I should clarify that it's AUD3000 and that included a store Warranty. I got the entry level with a single 1T HDD.

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Boot ROM Version: IM171.0105.B08
SMC Version (system): 2.33f10

AMD Radeon R9 M380:
Chipset Model: AMD Radeon R9 M380
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 2048 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x6640
Revision ID: 0x0080
ROM Revision: 113-C6005R-800
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.800
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: Retina LCD
Resolution: 5120 x 2880 Retina
Retina: Yes
Pixel Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes

 

[mabaker]

The m380 card is more than fine for the average user. I was afraid it wouldn't be but I am not experiencing any lag whatsoever. I am more worried about the uneven yellow screens that iMacs usually have.

 

[varian55zx]

I was afraid it wouldn't be but I am not experiencing any lag whatsoever.

Sorry to tell you but you are.

I've tried multiple of these machines, they all lag!!

I've owned many Macs over the years from power mac to multiple MacBook Pros and iMacs. I've been an Apple user since OS 9.

Take it from me, it's too laggy!!

 

[maflynn]

Sorry to tell you but you are.

If the member states he's not incurring lag, then he's not.

In another thread, a while back, another member swore up and down, that every mac incurred ghosting, I mean 100% and if we didn't see it, then we either tested wrong, or we were lying. I bring this up, because the member got a new iMac which didn't have ghosting. He stood up like an adult and admitted he was wrong.

My point in bringing that up, is that if someone says they're not incurring an issue, then don't just blindly say he's wrong because you believe a given issue is 100%.

For one thing, it will derail the thread needlessly, and we don't need that. Secondly, saying stuff like that comes off soundly poorly, and thirdly, does it matter? I mean if the member says he's not incurring lagging, then take at face value and move on.