New iBook Radeon 9550 Benchmarks
Xlr8yourmac has published some video benchmarks of the recently release iBooks. The new iBooks offer the Radeon 9550 graphics card which provides additional performance as well as support for Core Image and Core Video.
In a comparison between a 1.2GHz iBook / Radeon 9200 (old) and a 1.2GHz iBook / Radeon 9550 (new), the Radeon 9550 iBook delivered an 11% frame rate advantage in Quake 3 with sound on and a 22.9% advantage with sound off.
(Video benchmarks frequently are tested without sound to eliminate additional bottlenecks.)
Note: The actual shipping iBooks come in 1.33GHz and 1.42GHz models.
In a comparison between a 1.2GHz iBook / Radeon 9200 (old) and a 1.2GHz iBook / Radeon 9550 (new), the Radeon 9550 iBook delivered an 11% frame rate advantage in Quake 3 with sound on and a 22.9% advantage with sound off.
(Video benchmarks frequently are tested without sound to eliminate additional bottlenecks.)
Note: The actual shipping iBooks come in 1.33GHz and 1.42GHz models.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)85 months ago
It seems like a nice addition.
I had assumed it was just some kind of underclocked radeon 9600.
I had assumed it was just some kind of underclocked radeon 9600.
85 months ago
It would be great if someone could make all of that giberish easier to understand. :rolleyes:
85 months ago
It's pretty easy to understand. You can expect to see at least a 10% increase in performance in most 3D apps and games. Not breathtaking quality, but okay for a low end laptop from Apple. Also, now the iBook supports the new core image function of Tiger, which renders advanced graphics in real time and is built into the OS.
This means you will see things like the ripple effect on the dashboard, along with more sophisticated usages from new apps that render with core image.
This means you will see things like the ripple effect on the dashboard, along with more sophisticated usages from new apps that render with core image.
85 months ago
This means you will see things like the ripple effect on the dashboard, along with more sophisticated usages from new apps that render with core image.
This is what I was most concerned about. I think its astonishing that Apple didn't put a Core Image capable card in the Mac mini. Its STUPID! :confused:
85 months ago
I don't really mind their lackluster low-end video cards. What I think is silly are the video capabilities of Power Macs and Powerbooks. The cards are okay, but give more options and at least offer some true pro-cards. Also, what is with the prices? Once the Intel macs come out, I hope we won't still see the "Apple tax" on video cards, and they'll start selling them for a reasonable amount.
85 months ago
This is what I was most concerned about. I think its astonishing that Apple didn't put a Core Image capable card in the Mac mini. Its STUPID! :confused:
Agreed. The latest update to the Mac Mini was laughable. I think they should have also made it possible to do 64mb BTO for an extra $79 or something for both the iBook & Mac Mini-- I'm sure they'd sell like hotcakes.
Why there's not better cards in the entire laptop line astounds me. My girfriend's dad just got a new PC laptop for $750 with an nVidia card in it that would whoop the crap out of the ones in the powerbooks, come on Cupertino!
85 months ago
This is a really money grab from xlr8yourmac. Many props to them for contacting ATI to get these benchmarks.
I too wish though, that Apple had moved to a core-image capable card in the Mac Mini. I know its supposed to be the bottom of the line mac, but it should at least be able to minimally support the feature! Heck, the 5200 Ultra or Go gives piss-poor performance, but is at least compatible! Include that!
I too wish though, that Apple had moved to a core-image capable card in the Mac Mini. I know its supposed to be the bottom of the line mac, but it should at least be able to minimally support the feature! Heck, the 5200 Ultra or Go gives piss-poor performance, but is at least compatible! Include that!
85 months ago
So we're basically looking at a 25-30% improvement, factoring in both the CPU and the GPU upgrade. I'll take it, but I was hoping for more. The Radeon 9550 is a considerably better card than the 9200. But I suppose the real difference is that the 9550 has /much/ better shader support and performance than the 9200, and that's not something that's measured in the Quake 3 benchmark.
85 months ago
Heck, the 5200 Ultra or Go gives piss-poor performance, but is at least compatible! Include that!
Hey! I have a 5200 Ultra. Back off. :p
85 months ago
Everyone is saying that the new iBooks support core image, but according to Apple's website, the ATI Radeon Mobility 9550 is not included in the supported cards list. Can someone clear this up for me?
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