Nvidia chips score big in Apple Mac lineup

Updated at 11:50 a.m. PST with additional information on Nvidia and ATI graphics in Mac Pro

Apple's rollout of new Macs Tuesday was a vote of confidence for Nvidia: its graphics chip have now become as ubiquitous as Intel's processors across the Mac line.

Apple's entire Mac lineup now features Nvidia GeForce GPUs. "If you go into a retail store, it's (Nvidia) top to bottom," said an Nvidia spokesperson today. "The message is that Apple is differentiating itself, investing in the GPU," he said.

The GPU, or graphics processing unit, is used to accelerate HD video, image editing, video transcoding, and games.

So, which GPUs are where?

• New versions of the iMac and Mac mini use the GeForce 9400M GPU
  
• 24-inch iMac available with GeForce 9400M, GeForce GT 120, or GeForce GT 130
  
• New Mac Pro equipped with the Nvidia GeForce GT 120
  
• MacBook Air, MacBook, and MacBook Pro already use GeForce 9400M and/or 9600
  

Note that the Mac Pro is offered with either the GeForce GT 120 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory or the ATI Radeon HD 4870 with 512MB of GDDR5 memory.

[myles taylor]

We'll see how it goes. Personally I think it's a great move from the graphics chips they were using.

[deregtx]

There must be a discount or something for apple, because it had lots of trouble with faulty Nvidia chips ,and Amd went for Apple's OpenCL programming Language for GPGPU to please Apple.
And now no Ati Gpu´s... i smell intel like discount deals.

[kcotham]

It's interesting to see them move away from ATI, which they had used exclusively for years. Although, it's interesting to note that the top dog available in the Mac Pro is the ATI Radeon HD 4870 with 512MB of GDDR5.

[thelemurking]

But if I were to believe the crap Intel spews, Nvidia chips are worthless and Intel graphics are more bang for the buck ;)

Good thing no one listens to Intel when it comes to graphics. Except maybe Microsoft who buckled under Intel pressure on the Vista Capable campaign.

Intel should just drop out of the graphics game and leave it to the professionals.

[Mr. Dee]

Prepping for Snow Leopard it seems.

[jabberwolf]

Prepping for snowleopard because they KNOW that its gonna be a resource hog.

I agree though that the base intel chips don't compare and most makers offer chips other than intel for their GPU and should always do so, its good apple is making this move.

Apple always seems to be 1 generation behind available GPU's for their machines, though.

[dadsgravy]

"Prepping for snowleopard because they KNOW that its gonna be a resource hog."

E-D-U-C-A-T-E yourself.

[ballmerisanape]

Your embarrassing yourself. Seriously.

[downhillwarrior]

On the two high end iMacs the ATI Radeon HD 4850 is available as the high end graphics choice.

[Rolv]

Aren't Nvidia's chips infringing on Rambus' patents? Strange that Apple would go full tilt with infringing products. See http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN0349253520090304