As you know, the new MacBook Pro the end of 2016 (and we’ll discuss it on the 15 inch versions), Apple decided to use discrete graphics from AMD, which led to a significant increase in performance compared to previous models. And, of course, this update had a positive impact on the support of external monitors, many users choose a MacBook Pro as a portable computer, and to work effectively use large displays.
Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica columnist and an expert on Apple products notes that the AMD Radeon Pro 450, 455 (460 c as well as 4 GB of memory, which you can install in your MacBook Pro to order, pay $ 100) to the laptop, you can attach up to six (!) additional monitors, while the integrated Intel graphics Iris allowed to work a maximum of three screens. Or else these resources will be enough for comfortable work with two 5K monitors, such as LG UltraFine 5K at 60 Hz. On previous models this could not be done, because technically two 5K monitor work the same as four conventional. This method is called MST Multi-Stream Transport.
“When you connect one of these 5K monitors from LG to the new MacBook Pro displays two pictures of the two “ports” that connect one. The fact that the current version of DisplayPort 1.2, which is supported by graphics from Intel and all monitors available today, cannot provide the bandwidth necessary for 5K displays at 60 Hz. So Apple actually launches two DisplayPort 1.2 ports to one monitor via Thunderbolt 3.
There is nothing wrong with what Apple uses a similar method except that the reduced number of supported laptops monitors. And if built-in graphics from Intel allows you to work a maximum of three displays, by connecting a 5K-Manitou, you take two threads of the three possible, so you have one thread that you can use when you connect a regular monitor”.
In fact Apple could use graphics processors from Nvidia on the basis of Pascal that support DisplayPort 1.3, but unfortunately, Thunderbolt 3, and most monitors do not work on this technology. Moreover, Nvidia would be unable to provide the ability to work two 5K monitors at the same time, because they have bandwidth for regular three.
“In the future, Apple may need to use DisplayPort 1.3 in order to get the opportunity to work on two 5K monitors and the laptop display using DisplayPort three streams instead of five. But in order to provide the opportunity to work with two 5K monitors in the current situation, Apple had no choice but to use components from AMD”.
In addition, Cunningham produced several synthetic tests with an average 15-inch MacBook Pro with Radeon Pro 455, and compared it’s graphics capabilities with other versions of laptops. It turned out that MacBook Pro the end of 2016 expected more powerful than almost all previous laptops, except for MacBook Pro 2015 (15-inch), has a Radeon R9 M370X. However, the capacity of the novelty is not enough for a comfortable game or VR.
In the end, Cunningham finds it strange that Apple has not made the product more productive – in favor of support for external displays MacBook Pro the end of 2016 was not the most powerful device in the line of “Apple” of the company. However, the developers argue just the opposite – at the presentation it was stated that a new laptop was on 130% more productive in terms of graphics. Although it is likely that it was about top laptop with installed Radeon Pro 460, which will have to pay.
