Apple Ditches Nvidia, Goes ATI-only for Desktops
Apple using Radeons across the board for iMac and Mac Pro.
If you take a closer look at the Mac Pro and iMac refreshes this week, you'll notice that Apple has ditched Nvidia graphic parts in favor of strictly choosing ATI GPUs.
From a technology perspective, Nvidia right now has the shinier bullet point list with its Fermi-based chips, but all iMac and Mac Pro options are comprised of ATI's Evergreen family.
That's not to say that Apple has switched sides, as the company employs Nvidia chipsets and GPUs across the entire MacBook, starting with the GeForce 320M in the 13-inch MacBooks to the GeForce 330M discrete part in the MacBook Pros.
This could be a sign, however, that Apple and AMD are forming a stronger relationship. Earlier this year, rumors did the rounds that Apple may be considering using AMD CPUs in its upcoming computers.
(Sources: AppleInsider, Icrontic.)
- These Countries Hold the Keys to the Internet
- Intel's 50Gbps Laser Light Beams Are the Future
- Super Talent Also Releasing Dual Interface SSD
- Nvidia Launches Fermi-based Quadro GPUs
- Nvidia Demonstrates Interactive Ray-tracing
- Deals for July 28: 80% Off Restaurant.com GC
- BOXX 'World's Fastest Single-CPU Workstation'
- Intel to Stunt Overclocking on Sandy Bridge CPUs
- Apple Debuts Desktop Trackpad, Rechargeable AA
- Patriot Injects Inferno Series with Additional SSDs
- Creative Software Boosts On-Board Audio to Hi-Fi
- YouTube Now Ready for Your 15 Minutes of Fame
- Deals for July 30: Up to 40% Off Gaming Sale
- Mineral Oil Aquarium PC Now Allows EATX Mobos
- NZXT's Phantom Chassis Makes Way For 7 Fans
- This Guy Definitely Has More CPUs Than You Do
- ATI Beats Nvidia in GPU Shipment Battle in Q2
- Easy Tweak to Avoid StarCraft II Overheating PC
More money for AMD. =D
I've always preferred red apples to green apples. But Steve Jobs is turning me bananas!
Looks like Apple finally learned the meaning of value for money,but only forgot to lower the price!.
this may have something to do with valve being massive ATI fanboys? no? steam on mac ect?
anyway, I recently did the same thing. I dono, I just get this feeling ATI are more reliable.
Good move I'd say.
Ati's recent offerings offer the same performances at marginally lower prices and much less power consumption (so Apple saves on a LOT on PSU wattage). Just worried about Ati's drivers.
As for AMD CPU's, another good move. Given that Apple users aren't enthusiasts, there's no need for i5s and i7s.
Good job AMD, now bring out those 16-core Bulldozer CPU's by the beginning of next year and i swear i will pay anything between 300-800 for one! (still cheaper than Intels upcoming CPU's AND CURRENT high-end CPU's)
Im sorry but this just screams "we want to charge the same price for cheaper made computers" and When/IF they pick AMD cpu's up on the desktop line, It will just make the "Apple Premium" cost even more. I mean with Intel CPU's at least you get a decent Horsepower with the computer, AMD's have price/performance on their side which is what makes them great when you slap "price/performance" in a "premium brand" you aren't really getting "price/performance".
....Then again this hinges on the idea that they dont change the prices >_>
We love Apple. What we love is anybody taking away your freedom.
definitely a meme.
Which i doubt will make their products ANY cheaper...
... i guess... it's because of thermal...
i don't understand why there still so many people out there thinking AMD is POS, at my company, which we use workstations for 3d modelling/design, I currently sport a x6 1090T and its heaps faster than our i7's for graphic renderings. the i7 930 pulled 1min30secs rendering a scene while my 1090T did it under a minuite. so i'd say yes, good move on the AMD switch
... i guess... it's because of thermal...
I agree,they couldn't use GTX 4xx series because they of their power consumption and heat.
Apple customers must be chumps.
21-inch LCD
i3-540
4GB RAM
500GB HDD
$1200 Apple Mac
$600 Windows PC (max)
Even with the free shipping on the Apple option, this is an utter joke.
Please tell me why this company is still posting profits.
Apple customers must be chumps.21-inch LCDi3-5404GB RAM500GB HDD$1200 Apple Mac$600 Windows PC (max)Even with the free shipping on the Apple option, this is an utter joke.Please tell me why this company is still posting profits.
Absolutely ridiculous amounts spent on their advertising campaigns?
I can't help but wonder if this is some elaborate ploy of ATI and Apple against Nvidia and Adobe.
That is, those buying a new Mac Pro won't be able to use the GPU acceleration feature of CS5. This would mean less reason to choose CS5 over Final Cut and therefore less market penetration of Nvidia's CUDA.
i find it really funny how apple words things... they make it seem like you can only get that sort of graphics power on a mac
well they going for AMD because they have lower prices, so apple can maximize their profit
Great, so soon we can buy apple products with an x800 gpu or something .... they after all don't like giving their customers current generation hardware
no gtx 460s for the macmaniacs
What I find funny is that apple constantly totes that they have the most reliable products because they're so exclusive about the parts/software they use. (or should I say... allow the use of? They're worse about restricting things than most overprotective parents) And then they buy ATI, which has a consistent track record of faulty drivers.
Good, now I dont have to buy Nvidia for hackingtoshes.
What I find funny is that apple constantly totes that they have the most reliable products because they're so exclusive about the parts/software they use. (or should I say... allow the use of? They're worse about restricting things than most overprotective parents) And then they buy ATI, which has a consistent track record of faulty drivers.
They're installing them wrong.
They're installing them wrong.
Could "You are (amusing anecdote) it wrong" be the "Can it play Crysis" of 2010?
What I find funny is that apple constantly totes that they have the most reliable products because they're so exclusive about the parts/software they use. (or should I say... allow the use of? They're worse about restricting things than most overprotective parents) And then they buy ATI, which has a consistent track record of faulty drivers.
It's not like nvidia is better with regards to drivers though. Catalyst has been rubbish for a long time, but nvidia's unified driver package's been a gamble since the get go as well. Often being random if your geforce would work or not. It's gotten better after pcie, but it's still not perfect.
Ah haa haa!
I wonder how the main nVidia guy feels now that he sold his soul to Apple, then they do this.
Good move by Apple. Why would anyone in their right mind want an Nvidia graphics card when an AMD/ATI graphics card can play Crysis better? AMD's Catalyst drivers are the most reliable drivers ever created for a graphics card. Unlike Nvidia, no version of Catalyst has ever destroyed a GPU when used with its stock settings (no overclocking). As for CPU's, Apple is better off sticking with Intel. At least this gives Apple a valid reason for charging a premium for their overpriced crap.
i find it really funny how apple words things... they make it seem like you can only get that sort of graphics power on a mac
Apple uses special graphics cards that nobody else can get their hands on. The differences between Apple's GPU's and other GPU's may be minor, but Apple is right. You can't get quite the same graphics experience on any other computer.
Im sorry but this just screams "we want to charge the same price for cheaper made computers" and When/IF they pick AMD cpu's up on the desktop line, It will just make the "Apple Premium" cost even more. I mean with Intel CPU's at least you get a decent Horsepower with the computer, AMD's have price/performance on their side which is what makes them great when you slap "price/performance" in a "premium brand" you aren't really getting "price/performance".....Then again this hinges on the idea that they dont change the prices >_>
You forgot add less power required and less head created, thus better cooling and less noise for AMD.
Amd CPUs are not that much behind Intel performance, difference is just several percents.
AMD's Catalyst drivers are the most reliable drivers ever created for a graphics card.
You can't possibly mean that ? Currently I'm using 10.5 and in that version all OpenGL games crash on startup. For the time being, I'm using an older opengl driver from 9.10 to play that stuff.
The only graphics driver I've never had problems with is from Matrox, and they don't do performance parts anymore.
ATI hardware is awesome. Their software is ****. If Apple makes sure the software works, what's not to like?
Apple is smart to do this at least for the short term because Nvidea is banned from import of its technology into the USA due to infringement on Rambus patented technology for memory controllers. Nvidia was banned by a recent ruling by the US International Trade Commision just last week. ATI through its parent AMD has had a licence for Rambus technology for some years and renewed the licence just last year. Nvidea has been fighting the licensing of Rambus Technology patents for some time.