Will there ever be a new large iMac (Pro)?

[Azrael9]

This thread summarizes all my hopes and fears every year we come up to when the iMac is being refreshed. I just hope I’m not let down AGAIN. Since 2015 Ives asked myself:

• Will this be the year we get a redesign?
• Will we finally get higher end video cards so I can game on it?
• Will it finally get real cooling so it doesn’t sound like a jet taking off?
• Maybe just maybe we’ll get that headless Mac we’ve been waiting for

Yes.
'Yes.' (RDNA1. RDNA2 later...so in this regard the iMac is coming of age.)
'Very Likely.' with this redesign. (It must be painfully obvious in terms of colling the latest Intel chips that the iMac cooling isn't up to it.)
'Hopefully.' I have my doubts. It's the greatest flaw in what *could* be a sound product. But I can't see why they can't put the Macbook Pro 16 incher's dGPU in the Mini. iG in the Mac Mini is shockingly bad.

Azrael.
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Woah woah woah. We aren’t all endowed in that way, unfortunately... ;(

Are you set on at least one additional monitor to go alongside the updated iMac you’re purchasing?

True, but it doesn't stop us wishing for bigger... maybe it's a guy thing...(had to have that 50 inch Panasonic TV...)

I'd rather see 'some' RDNA 2 stack (eg. the 6700XT (the 5700XT's successor?) £400 big brother) come to 'this' new iMac. 50% more thermal efficiency is 'nice' to have too.

And I don't merely 'want' a 32 inch iMac....

...nay.....I DEMAND IT! A THOUSAND TIMES, APPLE!! LET IT BE SO!!! LET US COMMAND THE SKIES!!! PRAY TO THE HIGH PRIEST OF MAC...STEVE JOBS...(etc. etc.)

I'm set on 'at least' one external monitor to the new iMac. There's two candidates, my long favoured BenQ 32 inch 4k and the note worthy Dell 32 inch 4k. Both can 'rotate' to portrait for the kind of art (page and proof size) I need to do.

I need to see the art work larger. And in more detail. 27 inches seems 'cramped' to me now.

As to Dr. Radon's 'why' commento. Zooming in and out to check the art you're working on it a pain. I've been dreaming of higher PPi and bigger screens for years and years. So the closer it is to print dpi the better. Around 300 dpi for the print work I'll be outputting at. So the more I can see...close to 1:1. The better. That's why an 8k screen is ultimate wish list. But unlikely at this juncture. But I would have liked to have seen a stripped down 6k XDR in the new iMac. It's there. It uses an alu stand. It's a res' advancement and the size is a decent boost over the 27 inch iMac. So a 'strippled' down version with supply chain boosted economics to bring it to the iMac masses...

I'll also be getting a PC regardless of how good this new imac is. Dual work environment (I won't be left without a working computer again. Lesson learned.) But it means I can access RDNA2 for a 'lot' cheaper than Apple will charge for it (with their version likely set for a £5k iMac Pro...) And I can plug the PC into the eg. BenQ as it can harness a Mac and PC plugged in and 'switch' the display to which computer you wish. So I can leave a render running on the PC whilst I do image work on the iMac.

I'd also say to anyone that wants an Apple RDNA2...it would be cheaper to plug it in via an eGPU. Saving thousands off the price of the iMac Pro. In fact. The next gen iMac Pro better be pretty darn good....

Azrael.

 

[askunk]

Perhaps they filed only one Mac model because the 27" will be available later on.

 

[iPadified]

I strongly think that it will be the 27 inch that is the first new iMac with a redesign while the 23 inch comes later. The 23 inch (low cost) will not attract the 27 inch crowd and I believe the 27 inch is the top seller. New design of 23 inch and not the 27 inch seems unlikely.

 

[Dave245]

I strongly think that it will be the 27 inch that is the first new iMac with a redesign while the 23 inch comes later. The 23 inch (low cost) will not attract the 27 inch crowd and I believe the 27 inch is the top seller. New design of 23 inch and not the 27 inch seems unlikely.

Also it's the 27" iMac that's out of stock with long wait times. The 21.5" is currently still shipping. My guess is they will either update both OR the 27" iMac is going to get the redesign first.

 

[baldpotato]

I also think it makes more sense - from a selling point of view - to introduce the 27 inch first with a redesign. People who might have gone with 23 inch might be seduced to buy the more expensive 27 inch, so they don't have to wait several month for the smaller iMac.

 

[JPNMac]

I strongly think that it will be the 27 inch that is the first new iMac with a redesign while the 23 inch comes later. The 23 inch (low cost) will not attract the 27 inch crowd and I believe the 27 inch is the top seller. New design of 23 inch and not the 27 inch seems unlikely.

I think the retina 21.5" model will stay, but the non-retina 21.5" model would probably go away because the non-retina screen is outdated and the retina screen is much sharper.

 

[Azrael9]

Come down tiger *(Azrael insert: 'This 'tiger' is scratching the ceiling waiting for a new iMac....')

No 8K please. That would make it more expensive and pretty useless. It would negate the GPU gains also etc.

(Azrael insert: 8k at this juncture. Unlikely. It currently takes 'two' inputs...on the Dell model I'm thinking about. And probably a 2080 Ti to run it well enough. With the reviews I've seen packing two of more of these cards...)

6K 32" panel (same as XDR) would be awesome. (Azrael insert: 'Lust worthy iMac! That's the one I'd like to see Apple focus their supply chain strength to make the 27 inch iMac truly dramatic. I could cope with a price rise...for that! Better res', bigger size with the 5700XT packing enough muscle to run it. With the possibility of using an RDNA2 via eGPU later to 'help' out.')

The reason why XDR is so expensive is probably not because of the panel itself but everything around it that makes it expensive. miniLEDs and all those fancy layers. (Azrael insert: 'All those fancy layers could be stripped out... £5k. We have to remember Apple probably has a huge mark up in that. So, I don't see it being unreasonably to put a stripped down version of it into an iMac. Once upon a time...the 5k panel was so expensive that Dell charged £££ thousands for it...and then Apple used their supply chain leverage to bring it to the masses and(!!) add a computer to the back of it... But there will be a time when that is possible to do. The opportunity with a redesign is there to do it.)

And yeah, that RDNA2 looked awesome. (Azrael insert: 'Breath taking graphics.') Were all those ingame renders or was something pre-rendered? (Azrael insert: 'A bit of both at times.') Because if all of it was in game rendered then that truly is spectacular. (Azrael insert: ' I think most of it was the game engine. That's how good it is. Some of the games were truly spectacular. A seminal shift!') The SSS skin shaders, refractions, blur, particles etc. Wow :O



So, to sum up -

6K 32" panel
RDNA2 - because Apple can ship it a month or so later and that wait is miniscule compared to what we get
no fusion mamma bull turd
modern look -> slim bezels
and ram door with better cooling (no need for imac pro internal as this will be different )

(Azrael insert: 'Yes. Yes! YES! YES!!!)

Can we pray together? :-D

Azrael insert: (*Oh yes...On our knees...PRAY HARD...as we enjoy the Mac sacrament.)


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Or it would allow consistency so you have iMac + external XDR next to it and you have a nice setup. Just like 27" ACD + 27" iMac.

XDR is fancy but the tech will trickle down. Its not if but when.

So is now the time when we get the panel or still too early?

Freida, I've 'replied' in and around your worthy post. See reveal for details.

There were rumours of the '5k' iMac when I bought my iMac 'prematurely' (by a year....)

So, it's a question of 'when' the XDR res' and size trickles down in the same democratic way the 5k screen did... or whether keeps it, this time...as an iMac Pro 'upsell' to get those £££5k sales...

Azrael.
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I think the retina 21.5" model will stay, but the non-retina 21.5" model would probably go away because the non-retina screen is outdated and the retina screen is much sharper.

The 23 incher is the one that is supposed to be even cheaper. So *it* may replace the 'heap of junk' at £1050.

Cheaper at £999 would be good. But I'd like to see Apple go back to the pre: £1k prices of eg. £799 for a entry desktop.

But £999 to £1450 for 'three' models would be my bet.

As for the 21 inch staying around. A super cheap £599 iMac with HD display? For the edu and price sensitive consumer. Sure. I could go for that. But I don't see it happening.

Azrael.
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Perhaps they filed only one Mac model because the 27" will be available later on.

We can't rule out an RDNA2 BTO option shipping later.

I just don't see them not updating the dramatic new design on the 27 incher.

Bigger and better. More show worthy.

It's not going to be just one 23 inch model whilst the 27 is out of stock and shipping 3 months later for the RDNA2.

Doubt it.

Azrael.
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Also it's the 27" iMac that's out of stock with long wait times. The 21.5" is currently still shipping. My guess is they will either update both OR the 27" iMac is going to get the redesign first.

Apple usually update the iMac twins at the same time.

Azrael.
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I strongly think that it will be the 27 inch that is the first new iMac with a redesign while the 23 inch comes later. The 23 inch (low cost) will not attract the 27 inch crowd and I believe the 27 inch is the top seller. New design of 23 inch and not the 27 inch seems unlikely.

They bring back the 23 inch screen size and leave the 27 inch waiting? Not going to happen.

Flag ship size. Flag ship price. £££.

Azrael.

 

[ondert]

What if that one mac registered in Eurasia database is the new iMac Pro with rdna1? I simply don’t trust Apple about their desktop line while Tim Cook sits there.

 

[Azrael9]

Woah woah woah. We aren’t all endowed in that way, unfortunately... ;(

Are you set on at least one additional monitor to go alongside the updated iMac you’re purchasing?

An additional note. The BenQ 32 inch 4k is around £500. Far off the 5k price Apple wants for a 6k monitor.

Though I can see some being seduced by an iMac Pro that went 32 inch XDR. Though the rumours suggest it will be LED and 27 inches. Meaning...for the forseeable future...the XDR is a Mac Pro exclusive in terms of pricing demographic.

Azrael.

 

[pldelisle]

What if that one mac registered in Eurasia database is the new iMac Pro with rdna1? I simply don’t trust Apple about their desktop line while Tim Cook sits there.

For the 1000th time in this thread, iMac Pro *needs* RDNA2. If iMac Pro would have a 5700XT, it would be a big, big, big downgrade versus Vega which where compute cards.

 

[Azrael9]

What if that one mac registered in Eurasia database is the new iMac Pro with rdna1? I simply don’t trust Apple about their desktop line while Tim Cook sits there.

The 27 inch iMac is, looking like, a stock out right now. Supply chain is running low.

Whilst I have deep reservations about Tim Cook's stewardship of the Mac desktop, believe me...

...the 27 inch iMac is a far older product than the iMac Pro in terms of iStale design.

And it's the 27 inch iMac that's going to inherent the iMac Pro's penchant for better cooling and more robust performance...wrapped up in great design. (and on great design, well done to Sony for the PS5 design. Stunning. Apple have a tough act to follow...)

And Apple need that volume desktop seller which neither the Mac Pro or iMac Pro are.

Azrael.
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Never been more ready for a Monday in my life 😂 I just really hope we aren’t disappointed with only a 23-inch model.

Tell me why...I don't like Mondays...tell me why....I don't like Mondays...

23 only?

27! All the signs and sigils are there.

Azrael.
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Having a budget model makes sense when they are trying to increase their services revenue. This is why you can buy a sub $1K Apple laptop again.

It would be nice if they can squeeze an SSD and retina display into a budget desktop.

There's no reason why they can't do this. A 4k 23 incher at £999 is long overdue. The iMac under Jobs spent alot of it's life as a sub £1k computer. With two or even 3 models under £1k at one point. This recent abdication of the £1k price...(filled by the getting more expensive Mac Mini...with it's price being driven up...by hundreds...)

Fancy that. No sub £1k desktop with a screen, or mouse, keyboard... It's not like £799 or £1k are 'cheap.' They're not cheap price points.

It feeds into service revenue.

Azrael.

 

[Freida]

- Azrael insert: (*Oh yes...On our knees...PRAY HARD...as we enjoy the Mac sacrament.)

I've heard that before but it was in different context
Sorry, bad joke

 

[satchmo]

The anger will be real if the new iMac at WWDC is just a bump to 10th gen Intel and same form factor.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about Apple keynotes, set your expectations low and you won’t be too disappointed. 😕

 

[Azrael9]

For the 1000th time in this thread, iMac Pro *needs* RDNA2. If iMac Pro would have a 5700XT, it would be a big, big, big downgrade versus Vega which where compute cards.

True in terms of Apple's marketing of the iMac Pro. It would look odd sitting on the ageing Polaris cards (though props on their compute...but Arcturis(?) is coming... Maybe they'll have one of those?) And it would be odd putting an RDNA1 in an iMac Pro for compute reasons and because (in my view) it's an old card which doesn't represent significant progress in thermal efficiency or compute.

I don't see any reason why the iMac shouldn't have access to 'SOME' RDNA2 stack. If there's 'four' cards then at least have access to the lower two as BTO options. With the top two going to imac Pro and the bottom two going to imac.

But the timing of this being possible seems unlikely given the launch date of RDNA2. Seems 'just out of reach'.

This 'eGamer' iMac may well be the RDNA2 in the iMac Pro... That would explain the '£5k' price muted.

The 5700XT didn't make the thermal efficiency inroads that maybe even AMD Radeon expected.

The 5700XT is a strong card. But more gaming orientated than compute orientated (though it's decent at that...)

RNDA2, which we saw from teh Sony Live event...will put both firmly in the shade. The RDNA1 in the iMac (already a year old...) will age badly under the shadow of RDNA2.

If Apple sold a consumer tower in the 'sane' pricing range of £2.5k...we wouldn't 'have' to pay £5k iMac Pro prices to get our hands on RNDA2.

There's a few ways around this. Augment your set up with a PC Tower. And or...get an RDNA2 card with eGPU caddy for your 'new' iMac if your gpu workload is ambitious.

Azrael.
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- Azrael insert: (*Oh yes...On our knees...PRAY HARD...as we enjoy the Mac sacrament.)

I've heard that before but it was in different context
Sorry, bad joke

A different context, eh?

Azrael.
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The anger will be real if the new iMac at WWDC is just a bump to 10th gen Intel and same form factor.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about Apple keynotes, set your expectations low and you won’t be too disappointed. 😕

Ah, satchmo.

A healthy dose of cynacism of Tim Cook's handling of the Mac desktop since our 'High Priest' left us...is understandable.

But I'm hanging on to the 'substantial' rumour and 'praying' that both design and all round spec are boosted accordingly.

For a kick az update.

Azrael.

 

[pldelisle]

RNDA2, which we saw from teh Sony Live event...will put both firmly in the shade. The RDNA1 in the iMac (already a year old...) will age badly under the shadow of RDNA2.

But Apple owners don't give a f... to gaming capability. The NAVI 10 XT is more than enough for 95% of people because 95% of people owning a Mac don't play with it. They work on it. And AMD cards proved to be very competitive in productivity and creative tasks. That's the only matter of Apple. Gaming ? No. Bootcamp and gaming on Windows ? Not Apple's problem.

iMac Pro with Vega chips was never intended for gaming. It was a VR/AR/Coding/Artwork machine. Not a gaming machine. Anyway Vega never been a beast in gaming, but a beast in compute.

 

[Azrael9]

Doesn't it concern you that it'll probably be the last model with an Intel processor?

No.

Very few PPC die hards wanted Intel in the 1st place.

So Mac ARM and leaving Intel behind? For me?

A cause for celebration.

Whether we'll celebrate Mac ARM products depends on product, value and performance.

But Macs with Mac cpus made by Apple?

'Did we not know....didst we not realise...? That this day would come and be soon upon us Did our prophet Steve Jobs not forsee this great moment?'

Nothing less than trailing the spine of the Intel carcass throught the campus of Cupertino Infinity will suffice...

The kind is dead. LONG LIVE THE KING!

(*coughs...that said...I'm buying this 'last' Intel CPU Mac...* *Shuffles off stage...)

Azrael.
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But Apple owners don't give a f... to gaming capability. The NAVI 10 XT is more than enough for 95% of people because 95% of people owning a Mac don't play with it. They work on it. And AMD cards proved to be very competitive in productivity and creative tasks. That's the only matter of Apple. Gaming ? No. Bootcamp and gaming on Windows ? Not Apple's problem.

iMac Pro with Vega chips was never intended for gaming. It was a VR/AR/Coding/Artwork machine. Not a gaming machine. Anyway Vega never been a beast in gaming, but a beast in compute.

I think Apple 'owners' are 'closet' gamers. And that Apple Arcade is on Mac is no accident.

The unholy war on Wintel to make the Mac the best gaming platform on the planet was never followed through by the guy that promised it. Steve Jobs. (Ah...those gorgeous Blue and White G3 towers that you could get for £1350...)

But a new hope likes with the future Mac ARM. Then, 'Mac' gets access to lots of phone and pad games. And as the base line A chip rises and chases down even the impressive (most impressive...) PS5...the standard of games will rise in time. But that day? Is not 'this' day. Going to be a few years before any potential new gaming dawn on 'Mac' (brain transplanted to ARM) happens. But make no mistake...the Mac will be dragged along by the pending announcement with the train leaving the station at WWDC 2020.)

My days of 'hardcore' gaming ended with the C64. I think I lost two years of my life there...*(misty dew eyed memories...from the corner of my mind...*trails off with Streisand music playing in the background...)

We won't see the Mac Pro or iMac Pro advertised for gaming any time soon.

As for the RDNA1. It will be enough. For now. But it's already a year old. And it's going to age. Real quick. But in isolation, a big upgrade over Polaris which is 3 years old now. And it's showing it's age.

And if the PS5 demonstrated. It's never enough for 'most of us.' Or how do you sell 100 million PS5 boxes?

And that's why we want this update. The current iMac is iStale. It stinks like old cheese in a fridge. It's been left to 'sit' and lose it's iconic reason to live. The last update to it? Was really the internal design cooling change of the iMac Pro. Or the iMac Pro. The last significant update to the iMac line in my view. 3 years ago. The perfect iMac at 'not' the perfect price. This 'NEW' iMac will finally bring that promise of a uncompromised performance to the iMac. Or as near as dammit. That 5k display will have to respect teh 5700pro/and XT. Year old or not.

And yes. We know Vega had respectable gaming performance. But it's reason for being was compute and it made sense to put it in the 'creator's' machine in terms of the iMac Pro. And that was Radeon's approach. The VII was just a rebadge workstation card in many respects for gamers...but it's strength, again, was compute. But it was another worthy gaming performer but it didn't beat Nvidia..? Respectable...but...for creative work was the focus.

You can see the limitations of Radeon's approach when you see RDNA2. They've had to go back to the drawing board and have a rethink and the results are impressive. The efficiency must be good. It's in a console. Even the 36 cu version is :OOO

They've had to change this approach with RDNA2 vs Arcturis. We'll see how that pans out.

As for gaming in general. You want to serenely create without pulling your hair out? Wait for a competitive iMac. (I've been waiting years...and years...for this 'new' iMac. Which is a sort of coming of age iMac with RDNA1. Year old or not.) You want more cores for 3d rendering power? Get a PC tower. Want to game without paying 2080 Ti £1200 for a gpu? Get a PS5 for a third of the price. Want to paint on your Mac? Don't get a wacom. Get the iPad instead.

Different solutions to different problems.

Azrael.

 

[FrankySavvy]

Somethings telling me they will keep a slight chin to keep the iMac iconic.

 

[askunk]

iMac Pro with Vega chips was never intended for gaming. It was a VR/AR/Coding/Artwork machine. Not a gaming machine. Anyway Vega never been a beast in gaming, but a beast in compute.

Well... The Vega architecture was marketed by AMD as mainly for gaming. After all the Radeon PRO have the productivity-only brand. That was a choice by Apple (or to be more accurate, Apple was obliged to adopt them since there was no other feasible AMD alternative at the time of production).

Besides, a VR computer has the same requirement of a gaming rig, since it is about the same kind of 3D libraries and processes.

 

[pldelisle]

No.

Very few PPC die hards wanted Intel in the 1st place.

So Mac ARM and leaving Intel behind? For me?

A cause for celebration.

Whether we'll celebrate Mac ARM products depends on product, value and performance.

But Macs with Mac cpus made by Apple?

'Did we not know....didst we not realise...? That this day would come and be soon upon us Did our prophet Steve Jobs not forsee this great moment?'

Nothing less than trailing the spine of the Intel carcass throught the campus of Cupertino Infinity will suffice...

The kind is dead. LONG LIVE THE KING!

(*coughs...that said...I'm buying this 'last' Intel CPU Mac...* *Shuffles off stage...)

Azrael.
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I think Apple 'owners' are 'closet' gamers. And that Apple Arcade is on Mac is no accident.

My days of 'hardcore' gaming ended with the C64. I think I lost two years of my life there...*(misty dew eyed memories...from the corner of my mind...*trails off with Streisand music playing in the background...)

We won't see the Mac Pro or iMac Pro advertised for gaming any time soon.

As for the RDNA1. It will be enough. For now. But it's already a year old. And it's going to age. Real quick. But in isolation, a big upgrade over Polaris which is 3 years old now. And it's showing it's age.

And if the PS5 demonstrated. It's never enough for 'most of us.' Or how do you sell 100 million PS5 boxes?

And that's why we want this update. The current iMac is iStale. It stinks like old cheese in a fridge. It's been left to 'sit' and lose it's iconic reason to live. The last update to it? Was really the internal design cooling change of the iMac Pro. Or the iMac Pro. The last significant update to the iMac line in my view. 3 years ago.

And yes. We know Vega had respectable gaming performance. But it's reason for being was compute. And that was Radeon's approach. The VII was just a rebadge workstation card in many respects. Respectable...but...

You can see the limitations of Radeon's approach when you see RDNA2. They've had to go back to the drawing board and have a rethink and the results are impressive. The efficiency must be good. It's in a console. Even the 36 cu version is :OOO

They've had to change this approach with RDNA2 vs Arcturis. We'll see how that pans out.

As for gaming in general. You want to serenely create without pulling your hair out? Wait for a competitive iMac. (I've been waiting years...and years...for this 'new' iMac. Which is a sort of coming of age iMac with RDNA1. Year old or not.) You want more cores for 3d rendering power? Get a PC tower. Want to game without paying 2080 Ti £1200 for a gpu? Get a PS5 for a third of the price. Want to paint on your Mac? Don't get a wacom. Get the iPad instead.

Different solutions to different problems.

Azrael.

Don't get fooled. I doubt the rendering you saw were rendering computed for the target platform. These renders took days on super computers and arrays of GPU to finalize. This is how it works. When it's going to be time to play these games at this quality on 4K, don't expect 144 fps on a 36CU, even if it's RDNA2.

But I'm just saying this based on my feeling. I'm not a gamer. Gaming is a waste of time.

 

[Azrael9]

Agreed. Unless you absolutely must have a new machine right now, I'd be sitting on the sidelines for another 12 months watching this whole thing unfold. See where Apple goes with it and more importantly, see where the software you use goes.

I'm afraid, Master Krell, that I can't wait. This time. My iMac is 'walking dead.' I can't access the Mac partition. Only The Windows partition. (GPU fried...)

I don't fear the Mac ARM transition though. I embrace it.

By time I'd worn in the 'new' Intel iMac...the transition will be over and Mac ARM cpus will make this ('new' WWDC pretender...) look like the relic it will be in a few years time.

Intel are at a thermal wall. And the RDNA1 is a year old.

Azrael.

 

[Kalae]

The anger will be real if the new iMac at WWDC is just a bump to 10th gen Intel and same form factor.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about Apple keynotes, set your expectations low and you won’t be too disappointed. 😕

yeah, this thread is getting a little too excited while I still say some parts of the rumors don’t fully add up. don’t set yourself up for disappointment

 

[Azrael9]

Don't get fooled. I doubt the rendering you saw were rendering computed for the target platform. These renders took days on super computers and arrays of GPU to finalize. This is how it works. When it's going to be time to play these games at this quality on 4K, don't expect 144 fps on a 36CU, even if it's RDNA2.

But I'm just saying this based on my feeling. I'm not a gamer. Gaming is a waste of time.

Gaming is a 'spare time' (if I get spare time) kind of thing for me. Ergo. 'Closet' Mac gaming.

Being a creative person, creating is a better use of my time. And the last time I recall being a serious hard core gamer was a long time ago...though the odd 'naughty' indulgence in an old favourite game...hard to resist inbetween convincing my left brain that right brain isn't going to pose an existential threat by drawing and painting.

144fps at 4k. Unlikely.

But 30-60fps. With fidelity? More likely.

There was obviously pre-rendered footage. It's easy to spot. But there was also game play footage too for the live event which was impressive enough. I'd happily take that level of graphics in any iMac right now, let alone my old 'gpu fried' iMac. The RDNA1 will 'do'. For 'now.'

The PS5 offering 30-60fps for 4k TVs and (finally) bringing ray tracing to the masses is a fulcrum shift. Sony did a great job on that launch. As did Radeon group. If that disrupts Nvidia's greedy gpu hedgemony on GPU pricing it may mean that GPU buyers can probably get access to the RDNA2 stack starting(!) at £400-450.

Azrael.

 

[pldelisle]

Is ray tracing hardware like nvidia ?

I feel like nvidia is still 2-3 years ahead of amd on this one with the tensor cores. Might be tinted by my experience in ML.

 

[fokmik]

Bingo cards

 

[Freida]

Everything is a waste of time when you think about it.

I think the old fashioned way of looking at games needs to go away. Is going to a bowling bar and play bowling with friends a waste of time? If not, how is that different when doing the same online?
I occasionally play with my friend. We have tons of fun and we also chat. He is in Europe and I moved to Canada so we can't just go out for a beer/bowling etc.
So we turn on Warcraft Reforged and have good old fashioned 2v2 which we used to play as kids. We are not as good as we used to but it doesn't matter. Its fun!

Its entertainment just like anything else. Labelling it "waste of time" is really old fashioned and unfair.

Sorry, but it is what it is.

If you label it 'waste of time' then you should be fair and label everything else too

Don't get fooled. I doubt the rendering you saw were rendering computed for the target platform. These renders took days on super computers and arrays of GPU to finalize. This is how it works. When it's going to be time to play these games at this quality on 4K, don't expect 144 fps on a 36CU, even if it's RDNA2.

But I'm just saying this based on my feeling. I'm not a gamer. Gaming is a waste of time.