Good as integrated GPUs maybe (as they can now accomplish more tasks), they are ...

Samuel_Michon · on April 6, 2013

Sure, but we're talking about notebooks. Putting a mid-range dedicated GPU in a notebook would make it a mobile workstation (read: useless when not connected to a power source). The second, dedicated GPU in a 15" MacBook Pro isn't even mid-range while it does use a lot more power than the integrated GPU.

For most tasks, integrated graphics work fine. On my MacBook Air, I use Final Cut Pro, AfterEffects and Blender. For many people, the most graphics intensive thing they use their computer for is HD video playback.

meric · on April 7, 2013

I agree, though I consider the dedicated GPU in the 15" Macbook Pro to be at the bottom end of "mid-range". :)

Nvidia's GPU model numbers go from, at low end, X10, to, at the high end X90. X50 is right in the middle.

Sorry, I just had to leave a comment here, because I found my Nvidia integrated GPU in my 2009 13" Macbook Pro woefully inadequate for CUDA computation.