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Grenadier

macrumors regular
Nov 12, 2006
106
0
Its threads like this that make me want to cancel my MacRumors account, and go buy a PC. Just so I don't have to listen to such primadonnas and their psuedo-expert evaluations on what Apple releases.
Would you like some Cheese with that whine?
or How about I call a Waaaaa-mbulance?

Gimme a break.

Wait, I dont get it, you still dont think our demand is justified ?
Look, im out of steam - just...just read the thread.
 

Eidorian

macrumors Penryn
Mar 23, 2005
29,190
386
Indianapolis
Ok, I'll play ignorant. Is the new card not an improvement over the 7300 and 7600 options from the last revision?

Not what you wanted. But are they any better. Are you telling me that the 2600 Pro 256 is actually a poorer performance card than the 7600 GT
The 7600GT will outperform the HD2600 Pro.

The 7300GT GDDR2 will usually outperform the HD2400XT.
 

Grenadier

macrumors regular
Nov 12, 2006
106
0
Ok, I'll play ignorant. Is the new card not an improvement over the 7300 and 7600 options from the last revision?

Not what you wanted. But are they any better. Are you telling me that the 2600 Pro 256 is actually a poorer performance card than the 7600 GT

Poorer no, but its on par with the 7600GT. In some tests the 7600 even outperforms the 2600 Pro.
And thats the issue - we are getting really old technology, again.
 

davekarn

macrumors 6502
Jul 27, 2007
358
33
I believe I speak for many on this thread when I say we LOVE the all-in-one simplicity of the iMac and we are not saying the GPU should be upgraded across all iMac models. Just make an upgraded GPU an OPTION for a built-to-order iMac purchase. Plain and simply.

Broaden the iMacs appeal just a little bit to what I believe is a sizable contingent of Mac gamers. Apple is the one out there with all the Mac versus PC advertisements trying to gain converts. Apple is the one inviting EA and Carmack to WWDC for what I can only imagine is an attempt to win even more converts. Well, a lot of PC owners are gamers, so step up to the plate and give them an OPTION with the iMac.

Apple is even using a picture of a new iMac with a 3D Harry Potter game on the screen on their website at: http://www.apple.com/imac/technology/graphics.html

graphics_hero20070807.jpg


Apple goes on to describe the new iMac/GPU as "offering great gaming performance and then mentions 3D gaming specifically in the next paragraph.

Odd things to advertise if Apple has a "completely different philosophy" that is "certainly not about gaming"

I sometimes get the impression some Mac fans believe it would be sacrilege for Apple to offer a gaming friendly Mac. If you're not a gamer that is great, but don't expect everyone to fit into your mold. Macs are great machines and the new iMac is no exception, but it could be even better with a improved GPU as an OPTION.

Great post! They also state on that page, "...while the 2.4GHz 20-inch model and the 24-inch model offers extreme graphics power with an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB of GDDR3 dedicated video memory."

I chuckled :)
 

Lesser Evets

macrumors 68040
Jan 7, 2006
3,527
1,295
I am scratching my head a little with Jobs' decision to NOT have an iMac under $1000, and why the video cards can't be upgraded to something super-duper.

It seems like he lost sight of some of the initial ideas behind the iMac. Odd.

Maybe in a year the 20" will go beneath $1000 again, but why there couldn't be a cheapo $899 17" is disappointing. I am curious what the profits would or wouldn't be if they left the mini and iMac lower ends to slip down in price and use the older tech, but made higher end models that cost what they do now.
 

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,472
3,257
Well honestly, last year when I almost bought a 24" iMac, I would have got a 2.33, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 7600GT 256 GPU b/c I always max out or close to specs so that I get longevity, etc.

I would have taken a $75-$125 GPU upgrade option on the new iMac, but since there wasn't one I have no problem with the specs as is. I have no gaming needs and it shoud handle all my iPhoto and FCE HD.
 

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
265
See, I could understand the criticism if Apple's standards in providing graphics cards in consumer machines had dropped... but it hasn't. They've been doing this for many many years. Same old Apple, nothing new here.

So, no news is no news really... nothing will satisfy you guys. Your computing needs are at the margin of things, I'm afraid. It's like moaning about why the iPod doesn't support Ogg.
 

iStrat

macrumors member
Jul 5, 2007
96
0
New York
I have to agree that it would be really nice to see a more powerful GPU offered as an option. It's the only thing stopping me from buying one today. I'm sure heat and size limited their choices.

However, I am looking forward to seeing some real test results and benchmarks. I'm hoping it performs a bit better than everyone is expecting. I don't need a great GPU, just a good one. For the money I would be spending this computer, I want it to be well rounded.
 

macjonny1

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2006
554
117
Its threads like this that make me want to cancel my MacRumors account, and go buy a PC. Just so I don't have to listen to such primadonnas and their psuedo-expert evaluations on what Apple releases.
Would you like some Cheese with that whine?
or How about I call a Waaaaa-mbulance?

Gimme a break.

I'm sure many would be happy if you did...how about providing some useful information instead of name-calling. I don't need an imac and am more than happy with my MBP for what it needs. People want a desktop that isn't a macpro beast that has a decent vid card. The last imac had a version of that, why not the new one? That's the question here, simple as that. provide us with your useless post.
 

maverick808

macrumors 65816
Jun 30, 2004
1,145
156
Scotland
So, no news is no news really... nothing will satisfy you guys. Your computing needs are at the margin of things, I'm afraid. It's like moaning about why the iPod doesn't support Ogg.

Hmmm, I really don't agree. We are asking for an AVERAGE, mediocre video card. How is that at the margin? We don't want a rubbish card, we don't want a superb card, we want AVERAGE.
 

Trout74

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 3, 2005
277
0
See, I could understand the criticism if Apple's standards in providing graphics cards in consumer machines had dropped... but it hasn't. They've been doing this for many many years. Same old Apple, nothing new here.

So, no news is no news really... nothing will satisfy you guys. Your computing needs are at the margin of things, I'm afraid. It's like moaning about why the iPod doesn't support Ogg.


Blue I value your input, and you have been here for a long time and are level headed.

Did you not think that when this was revealed that there would be a better GPU than the one we got? Were you not a little surprised, did your eyebrows not raise a bit?
 

decksnap

macrumors 68040
Apr 11, 2003
3,075
84
The gamers really are a vocal minority. They fail to see that the vast majority of people don't care about these graphics cards. I can't think of anything I've ever done on any of my Macs that was hindered by a weak card.

These threads are absolute silliness. If you were that concerned about gaming you'd be running a PC.
 

monke

macrumors 65816
May 30, 2005
1,437
3
I wanted this new iMac bad! heck I even went and saw it lasst night, the mini( i have one, the 1.42 G4 ) I need more horsepower, but I DONT need a Macpro, but im not going to shell out 2000$ for a computer that is not better or more powerful than what was introduced a year ago. That is a poor use of hard earned money. I know it can video edit and edit photos, but not a well as the last rendition, and that is pathetic, and unacceptable. I will wait for the rev. B but i shouldnt have too!

Just for reference, the first Intel iMac had the following specs:
- Up to 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
- Mighty Mouse
- 17" and 20"
- ATI Radeon X1600
- iSight Built in
- Front Row and Apple Remote

The new iMac has these specs:
-Up to 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme Processor
-Up to 4 GB Memory
-ATI Radeon HD Graphics
-Up to 1 TB Hard Disk
-Wireless 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.0

Last time I checked, 2.8 GHz is more powerful the 2.0 GHz.

Apple isn't going to deck out every product they have, and still price them the way they do. There has to be some difference in between the product lines, other wise people would buy the $500 Mac Mini with the same specs as the $2500 Mac Pro. :rolleyes:

If that iMac doesn't suit your needs, quit complaining and buy the Mac Pro. That is the iMac, nothing is going to change for a while. Even with Rev B, it might not change a whole lot.
 

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
265
Blue I value your input, and you have been here for a long time and are level headed.

Did you not think that when this was revealed that there would be a better GPU than the one we got? Were you not a little surprised, did your eyebrows not raise a bit?


Thanks for the compliment although it's not entirely warranted. ;)

I must admit to being off the boards for most of yesterday and haven't really followed the news about the iMacs. There are only two types of machine that interest me: Mac Pros and MBPs.

I'm also not really a hardcore gamer... so all things considered, I'm not that fussed about it. I can understand if you would be, but the iMac, in all its incarnations has never had fantastic cards in them. That's the point I was making.

When I bought my dual 1.4, the little book that came with it said it was a super-computer and it had a blistering 64mb something in it... it was OK for Castle Wolfenstein. This is marketing, pure and simple.

A leopard doesn't change its spots overnight. ;)
 

Alloye

macrumors 6502a
Apr 11, 2007
657
0
Rocklin, CA
The gamers really are a vocal minority. They fail to see that the vast majority of people don't care about these graphics cards. I can't think of anything I've ever done on any of my Macs that was hindered by a weak card.

These threads are absolute silliness. If you were that concerned about gaming you'd be running a PC.

QFT!

Of all the people I know who own computers, only one is a hare-core gamer. The rest are a 50/50 split between those who don't game at all and those who only play casual/shareware/freeware-type stuff.

As for myself, I stopped gaming years ago. The cost of entry is simply too high for me. Not just in terms of monetary investment, but time investment as well. Plus I found that most games had become too complex and/or too boring to be any fun at all.
 

Durmortec

macrumors newbie
Aug 8, 2007
29
0
Cupertino, CA
Ugh...

I am sooooo tired of hearing the same thing from the people arguing that the gpu is fine. "Get a Mac Pro, buy Alienware".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jobs mention yesterday he was borrowing some of the aesthetics from the professional lineup of Macs for the new iMac? Now you say, sure that doesn't mean anything and only pertains to aesthetics, well why has the 17" model been axed then? If this is a PURE CONSUMER desktop and the vast majority don't CARE about the gpu why is the baseline model 1199?

I'm in no way saying the iMac should be a professional machine, I'm just refuting all the crap I hear about this EVERYDAY CONSUMER machine. The Mac Mini is a consumer machine...


Just for reference, the first Intel iMac had the following specs:
- Up to 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
- Mighty Mouse
- 17" and 20"
- ATI Radeon X1600
- iSight Built in
- Front Row and Apple Remote

The new iMac has these specs:
-Up to 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme Processor
-Up to 4 GB Memory
-ATI Radeon HD Graphics
-Up to 1 TB Hard Disk
-Wireless 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.0

Last time I checked, 2.8 GHz is more powerful the 2.0 GHz.

Apple isn't going to deck out every product they have, and still price them the way they do. There has to be some difference in between the product lines, other wise people would buy the $500 Mac Mini with the same specs as the $2500 Mac Pro. :rolleyes:

If that iMac doesn't suit your needs, quit complaining and buy the Mac Pro. That is the iMac, nothing is going to change for a while. Even with Rev B, it might not change a whole lot.

This dude actually made my point for me. We aren't ASKING for it to change a whole lot. I don't think anyone on here who is complaining about the card ever said they wanted a 8800 GTX in this machine. All we're saying is that the equivalant of this ATI card (the 8600 GT) is far superior and should be an option, there's really no excuse why it shouldn't. It doesn't cost significantly more than the ATI card and it's also what we consider mid range. Please, stop telling us to buy quad core machines, we don't want quad core machines, we're fine with mid-range stuff, we just quality mid-range stuff.
 

GimmeSlack12

macrumors 603
Apr 29, 2005
5,406
13
San Francisco
I'm sure many would be happy if you did...how about providing some useful information instead of name-calling. I don't need an imac and am more than happy with my MBP for what it needs. People want a desktop that isn't a macpro beast that has a decent vid card. The last imac had a version of that, why not the new one? That's the question here, simple as that. provide us with your useless post.

Fair enough. Not like I'm the only one with a "useless post" whatever that means. The point is that there are certain sacrifices that happen on consumer models to get the price down. And a lot of this complaining that I'm bothered by is the non-stop "I'm so disappointed" kind of threads that occur after a new release. I think there are many options out there regarding what Mac to buy that would more than be satisfying to most people and this new iMac has been priced to do just that.

Its priced nicely for what it has. And would Apple really supply a machine that won't be powered sufficiently for the upcoming Leopard eye-candy, let alone Tiger or a decent amount of gaming or illustration work? Most likely not. I get by with my iBook G4 still and it handles all my needs very well (I'll admit I don't stretch it too often anymore). So the complaining has got to be based on everyone not being please, which will never happen. Let's just get along, give some time and go try one out.

Keep faith in Apple, they have done and will continue to do great things for their customers.
(and I wasn't serious about buying a PC, I'm typing this on Vista at work and I am worse off for it).
 

macjonny1

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2006
554
117
Fair enough. Not like I'm the only one with a "useless post" whatever that means. The point is that there are certain sacrifices that happen on consumer models to get the price down. And a lot of this complaining that I'm bothered by is the non-stop "I'm so disappointed" kind of threads that occur after a new release. I think there are many options out there regarding what Mac to buy that would more than be satisfying to most people and this new iMac has been priced to do just that.

Its priced nicely for what it has. And would Apple really supply a machine that won't be powered sufficiently for the upcoming Leopard eye-candy, let alone Tiger or a decent amount of gaming or illustration work? Most likely not. I get by with my iBook G4 still and it handles all my needs very well (I'll admit I don't stretch it too often anymore). So the complaining has got to be based on everyone not being please, which will never happen. Let's just get along, give some time and go try one out.

Keep faith in Apple, they have done and will continue to do great things for their customers.
(and I wasn't serious about buying a PC, I'm typing this on Vista at work and I am worse off for it).

Agreed. I'm guessing for probably 99% of people the current imac will fit the bill nicely. My previous mobile computer was a dell P3 1.1GHZ with 32mb of vram on the GeForce2Go, so I know about stretching things! I played WoW on that and for people that say it would be unplayable I'll ask them how I got to level 60 before the expansion! I even had to download some drivers from a website because the nvidia mobile drivers were so outdated. Computers are lasting even longer now and I'm sure this imac will be able to run most of the software for a long time. There are some people who expect apple to take them to some holy nirvana and fulfill their every desire with each release....

Unfortunately for every decent discussion there are 10 complaining threads but I think the discussion about why there isn't a BTO better vid card, or a higher performance headless mac between the mini and pro are good ones. Maybe there are very good reasons...problem is we won't ever know what they are.
 

I'mAMac

macrumors 6502a
Aug 28, 2006
786
0
In a Mac box
Ok, I'll play ignorant. Is the new card not an improvement over the 7300 and 7600 options from the last revision?

Not what you wanted. But are they any better. Are you telling me that the 2600 Pro 256 is actually a poorer performance card than the 7600 GT
Yes. Poorer than the 7600
 

Trout74

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 3, 2005
277
0
I think swollen is the word you are looking for. :)


yes Tom, you are correct! My apologies, being from England, I am sure your grasp of the English language is better than mine:p

cheers!

Trout
 

iStrat

macrumors member
Jul 5, 2007
96
0
New York
Vendetta Online

I still think it would be nice if Apple offered a GPU upgrade in these new iMacs. However, I tested out the standard $1,499 model using Vendetta Online and it ran beautifully. Discuss here.
 

Fatdog

macrumors newbie
Jun 19, 2003
29
0
Texas
Mac Pro Lite

I don't understand why Apple won't allow people the make decisions. Why can't we have the option of choosing between GPUs and Glossy/Matte? Is Apple really going to go bankrupt if that happens? I understand that Apple likes simplicity and the like, but come on, at this point it has become insulting.

Why can't people understand that the Mac Pro is aimed at Professionals? No sane person is going to buy a TWO THOUSAND+ dollar behemoth to play games. And why does Apple hate the Core 2 Duo Conroe? WHY?! I would die in a state of euphoria if Apple just released a consumer product with a real desktop processor.

Apple is a big company and the Mac market share is increasing so Apple shouldn't be afraid to diversify the product line. It is well overdue.
 

I'mAMac

macrumors 6502a
Aug 28, 2006
786
0
In a Mac box
I am sooooo tired of hearing the same thing from the people arguing that the gpu is fine. "Get a Mac Pro, buy Alienware".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jobs mention yesterday he was borrowing some of the aesthetics from the professional lineup of Macs for the new iMac? Now you say, sure that doesn't mean anything and only pertains to aesthetics, well why has the 17" model been axed then? If this is a PURE CONSUMER desktop and the vast majority don't CARE about the gpu why is the baseline model 1199?

I'm in no way saying the iMac should be a professional machine, I'm just refuting all the crap I hear about this EVERYDAY CONSUMER machine. The Mac Mini is a consumer machine...




This dude actually made my point for me. We aren't ASKING for it to change a whole lot. I don't think anyone on here who is complaining about the card ever said they wanted a 8800 GTX in this machine. All we're saying is that the equivalant of this ATI card (the 8600 GT) is far superior and should be an option, there's really no excuse why it shouldn't. It doesn't cost significantly more than the ATI card and it's also what we consider mid range. Please, stop telling us to buy quad core machines, we don't want quad core machines, we're fine with mid-range stuff, we just quality mid-range stuff.
^Well said. A choice between the 8600 GT and maybe the 2600 XT. I dont need a monster for a computer thats why i dont get an alienware or mac pro. I just want something that can run my stuff. a 2600 would struggle to run that damn Flurry screensaver.
 
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