Macbooks and a non-intel video card?

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SilverBlade

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Will the Macbook series (not Macbook Pro) ever get a better video card then the Intel integrated one?...that's pretty much the only reason why, if I ever get a Mac, I'll always avoid Macbooks because their video cards suck, where the Macbook Pro Video cards, are pretty good.
 
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Your reason is the exact reason why they will probably keep it this way. You want a powerful video card, then go for the pro series. The MacBook is fine for most people
 
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I would be very surprised if they did get non-integrated video cards. They don't have them now for the same reason they don't have backlit keyboards, a 15" screen and any other feature of the MacBook Pro... they are consumer level machines. These are the big differences that separate the two lines of notebook and likely won't change unless the MacBook Pro gets something "bigger and better" first.:black:
 
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The ibooks had non intergrated video, crap but non intergrated just the same.
 
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The ibooks had non intergrated video, crap but non intergrated just the same.

Exactly - even my iBook G3 had an ATI R7500, which is probably faster than the Intel G950 in some ways.

I think it's a shame the MacBook doesn't get an ATI or nVidia card... even an FX5200 would have been better. I'd like to play some games, like Civ IV and Sims II, but still have a small machine (13"). Apple doesn't offer this. Also, there should be no reason why the difference in price between an entry level MacBook and one with e decent video card is almost $1000.
 

dtravis7


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The very last iBook with a Radeon 9550 will not play 1080p video without missing so many frames the video is unwatchable. The Macbook and even Mini with the Intel GMA 950 plays it PERFECTALLY. To me that is a lot more important in a lower priced laptop than whether it will play Doom III at max resolution or not. The Intel Graphics in the Macbook is fine for most uses and people. It's a lot better than some think it is. If you want better, as has been said already, get the Macbook Pro.

The only gaming laptops that will play the games I play on my PC are Expensive, Heavy and Hot.
 
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The very last iBook with a Radeon 9550 will not play 1080p video without missing so many frames the video is unwatchable. The Macbook and even Mini with the Intel GMA 950 plays it PERFECTALLY. To me that is a lot more important in a lower priced laptop than whether it will play Doom III at max resolution or not. The Intel Graphics in the Macbook is fine for most uses and people. It's a lot better than some think it is. If you want better, as has been said already, get the Macbook Pro.

The only gaming laptops that will play the games I play on my PC are Expensive, Heavy and Hot.

The video playback point is a very good one. However the problem is that the GMA 950 has been deliberately crippled by only allowing it to access 64MB of RAM, when technically it can address 224MB. The reason Civ IV crawls is not because of the speed of the chip, but the RAM it can access, defined by the architecture.

I am taking it very personally because I play Civ IV on my MacBook and it's really r-e-a-l-l-y s--l--o--w

Sniff.
 

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