Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Integrated Graphics: Seizing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Last time, we looked at the rather disappointing announcements Apple made earlier this week, particularly the new MacIntel mini.
Now, courtesy of a sobering set of benchmarks over at ExtremeTech, comes the unvarnished truth about just how craptacular the integrated Intel GMA950 graphics processor - which steals system RAM in order to do its work - really is:
So the transition to Intel will finally allow Macs to be perceived as viable gaming machines - except maybe not. But not to worry - if you want to do the normal sort of activities you're used to doing with a Mac, then this Intel graphics setup is "probably suitable."
Not exactly a ringing endorsement. And of course, as bad as this is in a beige-box machine from some no-name PC maker, it's even worse in a Mac mini, becuase you can't upgrade the thing - there's no PCI slot or anything slot for an aftermarket graphics card. So much for playing Halo on your Mac mini hooked up to a 50" plasma set in the living room.
But surely, you say, there must be a reason for this graphics chip to be on this system board. There is, as ExtremeTech again explains:
So you see, there is a reason. Too bad that reason has absolutely, positively nothing to do with the design of Macs or the target market for Macs.
And the glory days of the Intel era are just beginning. Sigh.
Now, courtesy of a sobering set of benchmarks over at ExtremeTech, comes the unvarnished truth about just how craptacular the integrated Intel GMA950 graphics processor - which steals system RAM in order to do its work - really is:
We can state flatly that if you buy a system using Intel's GMA950 integrated graphics and want to play 3D games, invest at least $60 in an add-on card. If what you want is simply a system that can run standard office software, plus maybe play some DVD movies, then Intel's new graphics core is probably suitable.
So the transition to Intel will finally allow Macs to be perceived as viable gaming machines - except maybe not. But not to worry - if you want to do the normal sort of activities you're used to doing with a Mac, then this Intel graphics setup is "probably suitable."
Not exactly a ringing endorsement. And of course, as bad as this is in a beige-box machine from some no-name PC maker, it's even worse in a Mac mini, becuase you can't upgrade the thing - there's no PCI slot or anything slot for an aftermarket graphics card. So much for playing Halo on your Mac mini hooked up to a 50" plasma set in the living room.
But surely, you say, there must be a reason for this graphics chip to be on this system board. There is, as ExtremeTech again explains:
Intel's new GMCH will probably run [Microsoft's] Longhorn's upper tier Aero Glass interface pretty well. And Intel certainly wants that, because its OEMs sell truckloads of systems with integrated graphics into businesses. So businesses whose users want to use the Aero Glass interface will have a solution that works, but the IT budget won't be severely impacted.
So you see, there is a reason. Too bad that reason has absolutely, positively nothing to do with the design of Macs or the target market for Macs.
And the glory days of the Intel era are just beginning. Sigh.
