Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The ATI HD 5750 in the iMac is a mobility 5850.

REM314 said:
So these mobile gpus would be great running a regular 15'' laptop screen but why put them behind a 27'' behemoth of a screen.
Click to expand...

Because there's simply not enough room for a large desktop variant in the iMac. Cramming a desktop variant in there wouldn't be enough as the stronger card would need a stronger cooling system = even more room needed.

This is what you get from an All-in-one PC. If you do not like it you should buy regular desktop (Mac Pro or a random PC).
 
REM314 said:
So these mobile gpus would be great running a regular 15'' laptop screen but why put them behind a 27'' behemoth of a screen.
Click to expand...

Since historically GPU intensive tasks have not been Apples strong suit it seems hard for them to keep up.

We also have to remember that we're in a smaller group, who want something powerful. The average joe who wants a Imac and see it a store just think its a sexy computer and wont use it to do crazy stuff at native.


Its just my opinion that when its costing over 3,500 USD(on my apple store) for a non-SSD model, and it has such a weak component(for the price... its a decent card im sure) it begs to ask a question - is this computer for the consumers, the hipsters, the power user or inbetween?
 
bolen said:
Because there's simply not enough room for a large desktop variant in the iMac. Cramming a desktop variant in there wouldn't be enough as the stronger card would need a stronger cooling system = even more room needed.

This is what you get from an All-in-one PC. If you do not like it you should buy regular desktop (Mac Pro or a random PC).
Click to expand...

I agree and I do buy regular PCs over iMacs. I do love Apple computers though and I keep wondering if its time to change the iMac model so it can begin incorporating desktop components. I just feel like the people who buy the 27'' iMacs are being gimped by the mobile gpu. I don't know how many consumers are aware that they're getting laptop components in their shiny new $2k iMac.

luffytubby said:
Since historically GPU intensive tasks have not been Apples strong suit it seems hard for them to keep up.

We also have to remember that we're in a smaller group, who want something powerful. The average joe who wants a Imac and see it a store just think its a sexy computer and wont use it to do crazy stuff at native.


Its just my opinion that when its costing over 3,500 USD(on my apple store) for a non-SSD model, and it has such a weak component(for the price... its a decent card im sure) it begs to ask a question - is this computer for the consumers, the hipsters, the power user or inbetween?
Click to expand...

It seems more and more that these computers are geared towards splurge buyers. I love OSX and all and I love Apples laptops (used one solely for the past 2 years) but the premium on desktops got a little ridiculous for me (I just don't need a $700+ monitor with those kind of components).
 
I dont see the problem/whining. I mean pay extra to get a more sexy house, car, clothes you name it. Why cant i do the same with computers.

Im paying for quality. And if you want a better card buy a different computer, cause you cant fit a big card in there.

To me, the asthetics means much, no cables, its beautiful, its got a beautiful screen, which means i can use it as a screen if i would ever buy a custom built pc.
 
With help from our member easepease, we have image confirmation from gpu-z that the advertised 5750 in the high-end iMacs is in fact a default-clocked mobility5850.

grahpicscard.gif
 
Original speculation was an underclocked desktop 5750. Mobility 5858 is an underclocked desktop 5770.

My original post has the mobility 5850 at 10% more powerful than mobility 4850. According to notebookcheck, mobility 5870 is 20% faster than mobility 4850, and overclocking your mobility 5850 to mobility 5870 in windows should be very easy-- that is if you feel like you need it.
 
TMRaven said:
Original speculation was an underclocked desktop 5750. Mobility 5858 is an underclocked desktop 5770.

My original post has the mobility 5850 at 10% more powerful than mobility 4850. According to notebookcheck, mobility 5870 is 20% faster than mobility 4850, and overclocking your mobility 5850 to mobility 5870 in windows should be very easy-- that is if you feel like you need it.
Click to expand...

I concur. In fact, that +/- 10% performance was what I originally said as did many others. Marginal increases! :D
 
so, a default 5850m is not a bad move at all. As you can easily OC to 5870m standard, it should be able to handle most games at a pretty good setting, maybe not all max out at native res, but you know you can either play in window mode or pull the graphic quality down a little bit. Anyway, i think nobody should expect a real desktop GPU happen to an imac and 5850m/5870m is the most powerful mobile GPU with a reasonable TDP for now.
 
All things considered the graphics update is fine. I mean did we really expect a massive full powered monster desktop GPU in there? Space and heat people. The mobilities win out every time precisely for this reason. As long as it isn't a downgrade I'm happy.
 
MythicFrost said:
Why does over clocking keep getting mentioned? I tried over-clocking my GPU and the settings wouldn't change. Any idea's?
Click to expand...

did u OC under windows. have no idea on OC iMac under windows now. i have experience OC alienware crossfire 5870m under WIN7 and it works. I've heard people OC their 4850 under windows, so it should not be a problem to 5850m.
 
ceshimm said:
did u OC under windows. have no idea on OC iMac under windows now. i have experience OC alienware crossfire 5870m under WIN7 and it works. I've heard people OC their 4850 under windows, so it should not be a problem to 5850m.
Click to expand...

Yes I tried using an OC tool on my 4850M with my iMac, it wouldn't change any of the settings.
 
I do recall a couple iMac users with the mobility 4850 who overclcoked their cards to desktop standards (which I feel is a little too hot), but it did work. They put up youtube and dailymotion vids of it, running maxed out dirt2 at native resolution at around 40-60fps or something.
 
TMRaven said:
I do recall a couple iMac users with the mobility 4850 who overclcoked their cards to desktop standards (which I feel is a little too hot), but it did work. They put up youtube and dailymotion vids of it, running maxed out dirt2 at native resolution at around 40-60fps or something.
Click to expand...
Oooh what software?
 
MythicFrost said:
Yes I tried using an OC tool on my 4850M with my iMac, it wouldn't change any of the settings.
Click to expand...

ok, anyway a standard 5870m running at 700/1000 and this 5850m is at 625/1000 which is the only difference between both cards. General, even a standard 5850m will perform fine in most cases.
 
It was just ATI's catalyst drivers if I remember correctly.
 
Considering the price of these machines the GPUs are just sad. I'd happily trade a few additional mm in iMac depth for an up to date card.

I wouldn't feel so bitter if the Mac Pro wasn't so insanely expensive... What the range needs is the flexibility of an upgradable in-between machine. Sigh.
 
AMD GPU Clock Tool is the one i use to OC on my Alienware, you can try anyway.
Click to expand...
I'll give that a try maybe.
It was just ATI's catalyst drivers if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...
I'll try that too.
Did you do this in windows? Could you provide link/info on the tool? thx
Click to expand...
I did do it under Windows, unfortunately I don't remember what I tried.
Considering the price of these machines the GPUs are just sad. I'd happily trade a few additional mm in iMac depth for an up to date card.

I wouldn't feel so bitter if the Mac Pro wasn't so insanely expensive... What the range needs is the flexibility of an upgradable in-between machine. Sigh.
Click to expand...
It's not so much the size, but the temperature. Putting a GTX 285 in this would probably pull temps > 130. There has to be some way to cool it, which requires a fair bit more spacing than a few mm, if its even possible to cool such a GPU in the iMac.
 
The 5850M is an up-to-date card. It's one of the better mobile GPUs on the market now. Those expecting a huge watt-sucking double-width PCIx desktop card in an iMac should be more aware of the design, heat, and power constraints involved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back