What is the best I7 Intel processor to get on the Macbook Pro 15"? Are these processors 2nd generation processors? Does it matter? Should I wait until - when? - for 2nd generation processors to be used? Does the 2.5 Mh processor make a difference?

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What is the best I7 Intel processor to get on the Macbook Pro 15"? Are these processors 2nd generation processors? Does it matter? Should I wait until - when? - for 2nd generation processors to be used? Does the 2.5 Mh processor make a difference?

I'm about to order a MacBook Pro 15". I wonder if the I7 processors are 2nd generation or if it matters. Also, is there significant benefit to getting the 2.4 or 2.5 Ghz processor over the 2.2? I'm not a gamer or graphics manipulator, but I do look at (not edit) a lot of video for my work, and I typically multi-task, having many applications and internet windows open at once. Also, I will be running Windows for work access and applications. Of course, I have little idea what makes a difference in my use experience, except I plan to get max RAM and probably the fastest hard drive. Any advice welcome.

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 2:22 PM

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Answer 1

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steve359

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Nov 10, 2011 3:53 PM in response to daw45

Apple uses 2nd generation i7, with hyper threading, turbo boost, ... one of the reasons you will not find them sold for $499 at Walmart.

2.4/2.5 uses a better discrete graphics card than 2.2. But 2.2 is not exactly a slow turtle. My 2.0 GHz (early 2011) opens one java application in 5 seconds compared to 30 seconds on a AMD dual-core Linux. 2.2 will likely fit your non-video editing applications, my opinion.

The systems with upgraded specifications are barely 3 weeks old so performance benchmarks, if they exist, have not appeared much in disucssions in this forum.

As to RAM and HDD ...

Apple charges $200 for 8 GB ram, but you can buy 8 GB at macsales.com for $70. 16GB is currently aroung $550, but will likely be $200 in a year.

Harddisk replacement is also cheaper through macsales.com than through Apple. This cot varies depending on your tastes.

Also ... I would stay with 2.2 just to have $150 to spend on a hi-res (1680x1050) anti-glare screen. AND you will be buying AppleCare for $350 within 12 months if you are smart.

It just sounds like you need a good display, i7 processor, and eventually more RAM and HDD space. Not the best barn-burner on the block.

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Answer 2

daw45 Author

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Nov 11, 2011 10:16 AM in response to steve359

Thanks. Very helpful (probably Correct too, but I'm new at this, so sorry if you don't get all the points you should).

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Answer 3

steve359

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17,169 points

Nov 11, 2011 10:21 AM in response to daw45

Points are not the real goal in this forum. You getting the answers you need is.

But thanks anyway for the points.

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Answer 4

daw45 Author

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Nov 11, 2011 11:33 AM in response to steve359

Steve,

I appreciate your focus on assistance, and thank you for your help. Couple of follow up questions: What you said about the new specs suggests that the MacBook Pro line has recently been upgraded with, what, the 2nd gen Intel chips, some other incremental improvements? So maybe it has paid off to crawl along with my old mac to get the latest tech. For these kinds of upgrades, I guess Apple doesn't advertise that they have the latest chips (I've seen PC ads touting the 2nd gen chips, and checked out the Intel site, so that's how I became aware) and all?

I'm planning to enjoy this computer for quite some years. Of course I will get the 3 yr extended warranty. And I was planning to get the hi res antiglare screen: that seems to be the best of the options. It looks like one can now get a faster 750 Gb fast drive, instead of having to settle for 500 in the faster version. The cost does add up, but my feeling was to go for broke and get the best machine I can. So does getting the faster cpu and hd and max ram (perhaps buying third party) and all make sense, assuming I can afford it when I add everything up, or is it like a moderately good guitar player getting a top of the line guitar he can't really play well enough to warrant it? (I remember a story about a student under Segovia arriving with a very very expensive guitar when he was still early in the learning process; it may be apocryphal, but story goes that Segovia took the guitar from the student and smashed it to smithereens. I assume that was not just because the student mistook the instrument for skill in playing it, but perhaps also because he would be too careful with such an expensive instrument, and fail to master it. Maybe not a perfect analogy, but I could be mislead by seeking the "best barn burner on the block" when what I need is what will work fine for my purposes.) So I think your original response was probably right on in terms of what will actually be of use to me.

Thanks again,

David

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