Will new iMacs actually have poorer performance with some software?

[redvettez06]

I'm excited about what Sandy Bridge has to offer me (mostly because I do not play a lot of PC games) but I'm a little worried about their role in the iMac due to their inherent ability to perform GPU tasks.

I doubt they will have comparable performance to the current CPU/GPU platform when it comes to games and I wouldn't be surprised if Apple decides to make it entirely integrated and leave the GPU out of the next iMac configurations. Think about it. Most people who use Macs do not game (or hardly game) and it's definitely an advantage to leave the GPU out to save money. Those who still game will be able to continue playing games that are for the most part 2 years old (or older!!!) with no problems.

I know that GPUs can increase performance in software other than games but the majority of GPU utilization is with gaming software. Has Apple weighed in on any of this? Could they still put a separate GPU in with SB? I am highly ignorant in regards to a lot of hardware tech so I may be completely wrong here.

 

[alust2013]

There's no reason for them to take out the discrete GPUs, so I'm not sure why they would. That would lead to pretty bad gaming and other graphics performance, which really wouldn't make sense.

 

[ivoruest]

It could be....

I understand what you're trying to say. It is a possibility that apple may offer the low end iMac with no discrete GPU. That could only be possible for the low end segment. And it could be very good for people who want a cheap Mac that has descent performance for daily tasks.

Definitely for the high end segment they REALLY need the high end graphics for gaming, handling huge amounts of pixels and so so...

I think your reasoning is correct but may not happen.

 

[flipster]

Yeah, they definitely do that just as Steam for Mac was released last year..

The iMac already gets bashed for it's poor graphics cards, i doubt they would make it any worse, they would only make it better

 

[redvettez06]

Cool. Thanks guys. I'm buying my 1st mac in a long time later this year and the new processors will be really cool for what I want. I just was wondering about the implications of the new processor. I guess for us desktop users it's much to do about nothing.

 

[SR20DETDOG]

Just going back to your statement of many iMac users not playing games on their system.

I have to ask, what would a gamer/mac user buy to play games if not the imac? Sure laptops can play games, but I'm sure most would prefer a desktop which leaves the mac mini (with it's integrated graphics) and the mac pro (with it's high price tag). To me the iMac seems like the first choice of most mac gamers.

Back to the topic at hand. Personally i don't think iMacs will be losing their graphics cards at most the low end iMacs would have the option.