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New MacBook Pro's Dedicated AMD Graphics Chips Are 'Significantly' Faster and Support Dual 5K Displays (macrumors.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the new-and-improved dept.

Whereas Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pros feature integrated Iris Pro graphics, the 15-inch MacBook Pros feature dedicated AMD graphics, resulting in significant performance improvements over previous MacBook Pro models. Ars Technica's Andrew Cunningham found the Radeon Pro 455 graphics chip in particular to be a "significant boost" over the dedicated GPUs available in the 2012-2015 MacBook Pro models, such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 650M, Nvidia GeForce GTX 750M, and AMD Radeon R9 M370X. MacRumors reports: AMD's Polaris-based Radeon Pro 450, Radeon Pro 455, and built-to-order Radeon Pro 460 GPUs in the new 15-inch MacBook Pro support up to six displays, whereas Intel's integrated GPUs affixed to the logic board can drive a total of three displays. The expanded support enables the new MacBook Pro to drive two of Apple and LG's new UltraFine 5K displays at 60Hz simultaneously. Intel's GPUs can't because, due to bandwidth limitations of the DisplayPort 1.2 spec, the two 5K displays technically function as four displays. This method is known as Multi-Stream Transport (MST). Apple could have used Nvidia's faster Pascal-based GPUs, which support DisplayPort 1.3, but Thunderbolt 3 and most monitors do not support the higher-bandwidth spec yet. In the meantime, Nvidia's GPUs can only drive up to three displays beyond the main MacBook Pro screen -- not enough for dual 5K displays over MST. Apple officially says the 15-inch MacBook Pro offers up to 130% faster graphics performance, and up to 2.5x more computing power per watt, compared to the previous-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro, but those stats are based on the built-to-order Radeon Pro 460 chip that costs between $100 and $200 extra.

21 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Comparison to Current GPUs? by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 5, Insightful

    the Radeon Pro 455 graphics chip in particular to be a "significant boost" over...the Nvidia GeForce GTX 650M, Nvidia GeForce GTX 750M, and AMD Radeon R9 M370X

    I bet it is also a lot faster than the graphics on my 1980's BBC Model B too but that's not really a useful comparison is it? It it were not better than the GPUs in machines which are at least 18 months old it would be pretty pathetic. How about the comparison to the new nVidia 10-series mobile GPUs that new non-Mac laptops are getting?

    1. Re:Comparison to Current GPUs? by edxwelch · · Score: 5, Informative

      > How about the comparison to the new nVidia 10-series mobile GPUs that new non-Mac laptops are getting?
      Because, there are no Pascal GPU's with a TDP of 35W. If you put a 85W GTX 1060 into a Macbook Pro it'd probably burst into flames. Also, mobile Polaris chips are significantly thinner.

    2. Re:Comparison to Current GPUs? by vux984 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Maybe if they shouldn't make it so thin then? That way it could support performance parts.

      Basically I've said it before -- the new macbook pro is the very best macbook air they could make. And if you want a really nice macbook air you are in luck... but if you wanted something that could actually perform in the same league as a Dell Precision, and were willing to carry around a little extra size and weight to get that performance... well ... tough.

      Apple doesn't make design compromises to meet performance targets... apple just makes performance compromises until it fits into their design targets. Just be happy... no be *delighted*... that the new macbook pro is faster than the one they made 4 years ago... because based on Ars Technica this is a somehow an achievement.

    3. Re:Comparison to Current GPUs? by mlts · · Score: 2

      I'd rather have a MacBook Pro as thick as my 2008 aluminum MB, especially if I could get things like replaceable RAM, SSD, and a removable battery. If I want thin above all else, that's what MacBooks are for.

      Barring that, maybe Apple should look at the design of their old PowerBook Duo. A thin laptop, but stick it in a docking station, and you gain a lot more ports. Done right, this could be a decent compromise between a thin laptop and a decent desktop with good performance, especially if it has the ability to have a decent GPU in the dock, additional SSDs/HDDs, and multiple 10gigE NICs. Having a dock with "all the ports" would be useful as well.

    4. Re:Comparison to Current GPUs? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 2

      Dude this is a Pro not an iphone.

      That GPU is 2009 performance so the brainwashing with Apple fans are strong with this one

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
  2. so the new macbook pro by Idimmu+Xul · · Score: 2

    is a great gaming laptop?

    maybe they need to rebrand..

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  3. wtf slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    New dedicated graphics chips are faster than integrated ones and dedicated chips that are 4 and 3 generations older. What amazing news!

    1. Re:wtf slashdot by blindseer · · Score: 2

      Not just faster but "significantly" faster.

      Still not impressed? Me neither.

      I will say that a laptop that can drive two 5K displays and it's internal HD display, without additional hardware, is impressive. But then maybe I'm easily impressed and/or I'm just ignorant of how laptops have improved lately.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
  4. Not exactly a high bar to clear by Solandri · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The older 650m, 750m, and M370X were all mid-tier laptop GPUs when released, and passed on to low-tier within a year even though Apple kept selling them for 2-3 years. Benchmarks for the 455 aren't in yet, but it's expected to come in around the 950m or 960m. Which leaves the MBP dedicated GPUs a distant runner up against laptops equipped with a 970m or 980m. It'll fall even further behind the newer 1060m-1080m when they're released, and Apple doesn't update the MBP GPU for 2-3 years as per the pattern.

    The problem stems from Apple's insistence on using a unibody aluminum chassis without any vent holes. That traps hot air inside (the superior heat-conducting properties of metal make no difference when there's an insulating layer of air between the hot components and the chassis). That makes the MBP designs extremely heat-constrained. They're already using special Intel quad core CPUs with a 25W TDP instead of the regular 45W TDP. And the GPU is limited to about a 35W TDP while other laptops use GPUs with up to a 120W TDP.

    1. Re:Not exactly a high bar to clear by felixrising · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But, this isn't a high end desktop replacement gaming laptop, is it?! The laptop isn't exhausting very hot air, instead it is a good performing laptop that achieves this within a very usable form factor. There are trade-offs to be made, and so far this *extremely long overdue* refresh is so far looking like it's well balanced. Now, comparing this to previous gen Macbook Pro, is definitely a piss poor comparison.

    2. Re:Not exactly a high bar to clear by Kindaian · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The TDP limitations is not only due to heat issues, but also to maintain the battery levels.

      Sure you can ran the hardware at a higher speed with more TDP / wats, but you will also drain the batteries way faster.

      That is why you will never see one of the "gamer" laptops with better battery then 2 hours (which is nothing as those numbers are of average use).

      Not defending the "technical" solutions of Apple, because i think they missed the mark with MBP this time.

      The touch bar is a gymnick, and the hardware a bit sub-scale.

      I will wait for better CPUs and faster memory / SSD combos... maybe next year?

    3. Re:Not exactly a high bar to clear by kuzb · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Except if you can't run it with modern hardware because it'll overheat it's not a good design at all. Certainly not deserving of the premium label Apple ascribes to their highest end hardware. This might be different if there weren't tons of laptops already running nvidia's 10 series chipsets, but once again Apple proves that they'd rather sell you old hardware at inflated prices using sub-par designs.

      --
      BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
    4. Re:Not exactly a high bar to clear by Wrath0fb0b · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's not about modern hardware, it's about hardware with a particular TDP. The engineering choices around the design and the weight/thermal/battery performance gave a certain wattage to be divvied up amongst the components. Maybe you don't like the particular tradeoffs they made, but that's not "bad design".

      Those other laptops running Nvidia 10-series chipsets made different tradeoffs. Some are heavier (I saw some on Newegg for 5.5lbs, the MBP is 4.5lbs), some consume battery quicker or take longer to charge. They just picked different points along the power/performance/thermal tradeoff space.

      You might as well say a sedan is not a good design because the transmission and tires cannot handle the torque from a sports car engine. Sure you could upgrade the transmission and the tires and the engine, but then you're just asking for a different car entirely.

  5. The MacBook Pros never had any GTX graphics cards. by crweb · · Score: 2

    MacBook Pros always shipped with GT graphics cards not GTX. There is a huge difference in performance between the two. Think 1/2 the clock rate of the ALREADY Mobile GTX 750M

  6. Re:WTF is a "5K" display? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

    WTF is a "5K" display?

    "5k display" refers to how much they cost.

    --
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  7. Re:WTF is a "5K" display? by berj · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple has been selling machines with 5K displays for over two years now. Not sure how long LG and Dell (and others) have been selling 5K displays.. but this is definitely not an apple-only thing.

    Anyway.. they're great if you want to be able to do things like edit 4K video at full resolution and still have room left over for your editing software GUI.

  8. Apple replace GPU. You won't believe what happens by viperidaenz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Newer, more powerful GPU offers superior performance compared to old ones!
    More at 11.

  9. Re:WTF is a "5K" display? by viperidaenz · · Score: 2

    Usually a 5120x2880 pixel display.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  10. Question by fluffernutter · · Score: 2

    I'm about to buy a 15" MacBook pro because I have to and I need to dual boot linux. Does anyone know if the new touch strip will work with linux?

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    1. Re: Question by wosmo · · Score: 2

      I've only heard one report so far, and it wasn't good - no support for the keyboard or trackpad, let alone the touch strip. (Apparently because they're SPI devices rather than USB). I'd advise a cursory google.

    2. Re:Question by friedmud · · Score: 2

      Works perfectly for me.

      Tested in Safari, XCode and TextEdit

      However, I never use that because I'm always in Emacs and "ctrl+space" - "ctrl+e" is the business ;-)