Comments on: Why Apple’s New Laptops Get Their Own GPUs http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/ Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: charlie http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/#comment-905075 charlie Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:28:17 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=24759#comment-905075 <p>the other problem is that there is zero evidence that any MacOS software is going to take advantage of the GPU. There is too much overhead being drawn down by the Finder and the fancy screen effects, but I don't see the GPU actually changing anybody's computing experience for 2-3 years, by which time those computers will be obsolete and EOL.</p> <p>I suspect Apple went with Nvidia in under to get cross-over gamers to buy their middle-tier notebook.</p> <p>My 8 year old Mac cube as a old ATI 128 GPU and can still handle Mac OS 10.4 Finder's and graphics. Amazing.</p> the other problem is that there is zero evidence that any MacOS software is going to take advantage of the GPU. There is too much overhead being drawn down by the Finder and the fancy screen effects, but I don’t see the GPU actually changing anybody’s computing experience for 2-3 years, by which time those computers will be obsolete and EOL.

I suspect Apple went with Nvidia in under to get cross-over gamers to buy their middle-tier notebook.

My 8 year old Mac cube as a old ATI 128 GPU and can still handle Mac OS 10.4 Finder’s and graphics. Amazing.

]]> By: eas http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/#comment-904978 eas Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:13:50 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=24759#comment-904978 <p>This post is confused.</p> <p>1) The Air and the MacBook had the GPU integrated into the chipset before, and the new models still have a GPU integrated into the chipset. The difference now is that the chipset (& GPU) come from NVidia, rather than Intel. I'm assuming that its better than anything Intel offers.</p> <p>2) The MacBook Pros actually have integrated GPUs now, but they also have a higher performance (but more power hungry) discrete GPU. The user can choose which to use. The current arrangement seems a little clunky. I'm curious if Snow Leopard will make it better, perhaps even allowing both GPUs to be harnessed for some tasks. I guess we'll have to wait and see.</p> <p>As for what the GPU is good for, besides the obvious like 3D graphics, I don't understand the point about transferring files to the iPod. I assume you meant transcoding, or converting files for the iPod, especially given the post you linked to.</p> This post is confused.

1) The Air and the MacBook had the GPU integrated into the chipset before, and the new models still have a GPU integrated into the chipset. The difference now is that the chipset (& GPU) come from NVidia, rather than Intel. I’m assuming that its better than anything Intel offers.

2) The MacBook Pros actually have integrated GPUs now, but they also have a higher performance (but more power hungry) discrete GPU. The user can choose which to use. The current arrangement seems a little clunky. I’m curious if Snow Leopard will make it better, perhaps even allowing both GPUs to be harnessed for some tasks. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

As for what the GPU is good for, besides the obvious like 3D graphics, I don’t understand the point about transferring files to the iPod. I assume you meant transcoding, or converting files for the iPod, especially given the post you linked to.

]]> By: Lucas http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/#comment-904972 Lucas Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:42:51 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=24759#comment-904972 <p>Use of Nvidia GPU acceleration opens up a whole new world of possibilities, like hacking WPA and WPA2 for example :-). The Russians are already at it, or provide "password recovery" at a more commercial level (Source: http://www.elcomsoft.com/edpr.html?r1=pr&r2=wpa )</p> Use of Nvidia GPU acceleration opens up a whole new world of possibilities, like hacking WPA and WPA2 for example :-). The Russians are already at it, or provide “password recovery” at a more commercial level (Source: http://www.elcomsoft.com/edpr.html?r1=pr&r2=wpa )

]]> By: Stacey Higginbotham http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/#comment-904899 Stacey Higginbotham Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:28:27 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=24759#comment-904899 <p>Sebastian, I mean these MacBooks get their own separate GPUs rather than an integrated graphics chip. The link on transferring movies or music to an iPod sends you to a story about Elemental Technologies which is using Nvidia's GPU to do rapid transcoding. Elemental uses the GPU's parallel processing to speed up the transferring of files to an iPod. It's pretty awesome stuff, so check it out.</p> Sebastian, I mean these MacBooks get their own separate GPUs rather than an integrated graphics chip. The link on transferring movies or music to an iPod sends you to a story about Elemental Technologies which is using Nvidia’s GPU to do rapid transcoding. Elemental uses the GPU’s parallel processing to speed up the transferring of files to an iPod. It’s pretty awesome stuff, so check it out.

]]> By: Sebastian http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/#comment-904834 Sebastian Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:03:50 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=24759#comment-904834 <p>"Why Apple’s New Laptops Get Their Own GPUs"</p> <p>seriously what do you mean with their own gpu´s? These GPUs are not exclusive to apple. That BT article was already a disaster, and this one is not much better. The GPU will assist with th rippiung of music files from a CD, how ever in no way will it boost transfering files to an ipod. All this stuff is nothing new, can be done with AMD/ati GPUs too. If anything consumers dont want to touch nVidia mobile chips after the latest fiasco.</p> “Why Apple’s New Laptops Get Their Own GPUs”

seriously what do you mean with their own gpu´s? These GPUs are not exclusive to apple. That BT article was already a disaster, and this one is not much better. The GPU will assist with th rippiung of music files from a CD, how ever in no way will it boost transfering files to an ipod. All this stuff is nothing new, can be done with AMD/ati GPUs too. If anything consumers dont want to touch nVidia mobile chips after the latest fiasco.

]]> By: missllona http://gigaom.com/2008/10/14/why-apples-new-laptops-get-their-own-gpus/#comment-904798 missllona Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:51:09 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=24759#comment-904798 <p>I hope they can improve Macbook Air more, I like its being thin, maybe there are ways that they can customize it.</p> I hope they can improve Macbook Air more, I like its being thin, maybe there are ways that they can customize it.

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