rMBP vs. MBP for Music Production

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Level 1

8 points

rMBP vs. MBP for Music Production

Sorry to get another Retina vs. original macbook pro discussion going here, but my 2008 MacBook Pro just kicked the bucket (RIP) and I need help deciding on which one will better fit my needs.

First off I want to emphasize that while yes, I would prefer more pixels and a higher resolution, this elegant feature is fairly low on my list of "necessities". I am a music producer and use programs such as ProTools, Reason 6.0, Ableton Live 8, GearBox, etc. (mainly Ableton or ProTools along with Reason), for those of you not familiar, these programs require quite a bit of CPU usage, especially when used together. My old 2008 MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz w/ 8GB RAM (the model right before they came out with the black keyboards & glass screens) seemed to handle these applications ok, however at times they took a second or two to load. But it wasn't like I was going to buy a new laptop because I couldn't wait 7 secs for a large set to load on Ableton.

My main question, or discussion topic, is

1) Is a solid state hard drive worth the extra $ if I go with the regular macbook pro?

2) Is the flash memory on the retina really worth it?(I need at least 256GB)

3) If I'm not in it for the resolution, is the Retina overall going to be worth the extra money, and if so I need to stay in a budget of around $2,500.

I'm kinda leaning towards a OG MacBook Pro 15-in 2.6 GHz w/ a 750 GB HD @7200 rpm with an anti-glare screen and Apple Care, it's sitting around $2,700. However, I know I could get a retina (with lower specs of course) for the same price or even cheaper! Thoughts? I appreciate your input. It's a tough decision as we all know...

P.S. (I do like the fact that I can somewhat get into the regular MacBooks Pros as I had to replace the battery and HD on my old one)

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1), Music Producer

Posted on Aug 29, 2012 2:28 PM

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Answer 1

bvann89 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2012 1:36 PM in response to bvann89

Anyone?

I'm pretty set on the MBP 15-in 2.6 GHz | 750 GB HD @ 7200 rpm | HD anti-glare screen with Applecare. But I'd really appreciate somebody's input...😐

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Answer 2

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Sep 4, 2012 1:40 PM in response to bvann89

Stay away from the Retina. It is New techology in many senses and there have beenn problem with it.

You need a Stable Working Computer so go for the standard model.

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Answer 3

bvann89 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 6, 2012 8:03 AM in response to Shootist007

Agreed. Thank you. Now what are your thoughts on a SSD vs HD? I'm going to need at least 256GB which gets pretty pricey.

Is there really a huge advantage?

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Answer 4

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Sep 6, 2012 9:06 AM in response to bvann89

Buy a Base MBP with the CPU you want and upgrade the RAM and the HDD>SSD yourself. Apple gives instructions on doing both those upgrades and neither voids the warranty.

Yes a SSD is 100000% faster then most spinning HDD and double that for the slow 5400RPM models Apple uses in the base systems.

Yes SSDs are still, and IMHO will remain, expensive for some time.

The other option, which is what I used on my MBP (As apposed to the Dell I have which I put a SSD in and then a spinning HDD in the Optical/Media bay), is to get a Seagate XT drive, the 750GB model. That has both Spinning platters for storage space and a Flash memory system for Reads and Writes to the spinning platters. I'm using the 500GB model which is slower then the 750GB model but yet much faster then the standard drive Apple uses. But not as fast as a real SSD. BUT a LOT CHEAPER.

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Answer 5

bvann89 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2012 1:08 PM in response to Shootist007

I just recently purchased a new MacBook Pro (non retina) with the following specs:

2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB 1600MHz memory
750GB 7200-rpm hard drive

In conjuction, I have just order a new SSD to replace the stock HDD along with 8 GB RAM. Decided to go with Crucial for both product.--Here's what I ordered from Amazon:

Crucial 256 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT256M4SSD2
Crucial CT2CP51264BC1067 8GB 204-PIN PC3-8500 SODIMM DDR3 (4GBx2)

Installation shouldn't be a problem as I've replaced several HDDs in my older MBPs. I'm going to make a cloned copy of the current HDD drive (because I just imported all my time machine data into it) and then copy it to my new SSD.

Okay so here's my question: Once I get my new SSD in there and everything seems to be running smooth, can I then use this (new) HDD that came with my MBP and put it in my older 2008 MacBook Pro (bought it in May or June of '08)? Will it be compatible? I'd probably want to wipe it clean, but honestly I just want to know if it'd work, because the HDD in my old MBP just crashed (part of the reason why I go a new laptop) as well as to just get a new laptop 😉.

If not, what do you recommend I do with the HDD that came with my new 2012 Macbook? I'd rather it not just go to waste! Appreciate your feedback.

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Answer 6

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Sep 14, 2012 1:22 PM in response to bvann89

If you bought your Mac with 8GBs installed then you will need to send that Crucial RAM back. All notebook only have 2 RAM slots. You now have 8GBs installed, 2 X 4GBs, and both slots are already filled. If you want to increase the amount of RAM then you will need to get 16GBs, 2 X 8GB modules, and then maybe sell the RAM that came with the system.

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Answer 7

bvann89 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2012 2:21 PM in response to Shootist007

Thank god you answered so quickly! I was able to cancel it right before it shipped! Much appreciated. I might just hold off on the RAM for now and first just see how it runs with 8GB. I've been impressed with the speed, however I really realized how much I wanted a SSD after trying to load up Ableton...

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Answer 8

bvann89 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 17, 2012 7:24 AM in response to Shootist007

Shootist007 do you think I should try putting the new HDD (that came with the MBP) in my older MBP? After i make a copy and then wipe it clean? Pretty much:

Okay so here's my question: Once I get my new SSD in there and everything seems to be running smooth, can I then use this (new) HDD that came with my MBP and put it in my older 2008 MacBook Pro (bought it in May or June of '08)? Will it be compatible? I'd probably want to wipe it clean, but honestly I just want to know if it'd work, because the HDD in my old MBP just crashed (part of the reason why I go a new laptop) as well as to just get a new laptop 😉.

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