Will the iMac's graphics card ever match the MacBook Pros?

[Tsurisuto]

Considering the current iMacs and the Macbook Pros have so many components in common, why doesn't Apple improve the graphics card of the iMac's (or at least the top-of-the-range one) to match the ones in the MacBook Pros? The benchmarks put the GeForce 8600M GT so far ahead of the Radeon HD 2600 PRO.

Is it to do with cost? It can't be heat issues, as the MacBook Pros are less than half the thickness on the new iMacs.

Are there any newly announced mobile graphics cards from either Nvidia or ATI that would be suitable for Apple to use in the next revision on the iMac?

 

[PMR]

As the MBPs with the 8600 are newer than the iMacs with the 2600pro i really do believe the next gen imacs (maybe in 6 months) will at least incorporate a 8700M or even a 8800M in the top model(this last one maybe not).

Or if any will have the 8800M that may be the MBP as it's "Pro" and the iMac it's a consumer model, even if this last one has better cooling solutions.

 

[Tsurisuto]

As the MBPs with the 8600 are newer than the iMacs with the 2600pro i really do believe the next gen imacs (maybe in 6 months) will at least incorporate a 8700M or even a 8800M in the top model(this last one maybe not).

Or if any will have the 8800M that may be the MBP as it's "Pro" and the iMac it's a consumer model, even if this last one has better cooling solutions.

I hope your right, but I think Apple won't let the iMac's graphics exceed that of the MacBook Pros.

 

[AlexisV]

The benchmarks put the GeForce 8600M GT so far ahead of the Radeon HD 2600 PRO.

The 8600GT is only faster by a small amount.

 

[PMR]

The 8600GT is only faster by a small amount.

Yes, that's true also. There may be a game or two where nVidia beats the crap out of AMD, but the average is pretty much the same without AA enabled in those models.


At the OP - I also forgot to mention that the iMacs already had better cards than MBPs.
Let's see:
Almost one year ago:White iMac with optional 7600GT > X1600 in MBP
Few months ago: Alu iMac with HD2600 Pro > X1600 in MBP
Now: Alu iMac with HD2600 Pro < 8600M in MBP

So, maybe those times will come again