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Level 1

12 points

SSD vs Flash, CPUs, RAM, Graphics? I GIVE POINTS

Hello All,

I am buying a Macbook Pro in July and will be customizing it but need help as I am not too knowledgeable about computer parts. Below are a few questions - feel free to answer as many as you prefer (please answer them as if money is not of concern). Thanks in advance for your help!

1) What is the difference (in performance mainly) between SSD and Flash Storage, and which is better overall (specific pros and cons would be great)?

2a) What is the difference (in performance mainly) between Intel's Core i5, i7, and upcoming Haswell CPUs (specific pros and cons would be great)?

2b) Please explain what and how an increase in CPU GHz contributes to performance, and what exactly Turbo boost is.

3) What is RAM, and how does more RAM increase performance?

4) What is NVIDIA GeForce GT 650 and and what is it used for, and how does 512MB of GDDR5 memory compare to 1G of GDDR5 memory in regards to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650?

Thank you in advance! I will be awarding points for help!

P.S: Is there anything else I should be aware of when buying a laptop?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 4, 2013 3:44 AM

Best reply

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Posted on Apr 4, 2013 4:06 AM

1) Nothing, they are exactly the same. A SSD is Flash Storage.

2a) Difference between and i5 and i7. i7 run faster then an i5. Hence the naming and the cost difference. As to the new CPU that may be included in a Mac computer well it is not out yet and no one knows if it will be included in Mac computers or when if it is.

2b) Sorry but if you can't figure that one out I don't know how to explain it to you. That's like asking what is the difference between a 4 cylinder engine and a V8 engine and or what is the difference between a car that has 100 horse power and one that has 500 horse power.

3) RAM is Random Access Memory. It is what the OS and program load into from the hard drive or SSD/Flash when the system starts and or when you open a program. It has no baring on overall performance unless you have to little of it.

4) That is the Graphics card that powers the screen and renders what you see on the screen. Bigger is better but basically it is the same as RAM. To small for what you do on the computer is bad, lower performance, and one that is bigger then you need for what you will be doing is just wasted as you will never use it all.

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22 replies

Apr 5, 2013 4:22 AM in response to JSBillian

12GB RAM (bought externally) -

MacBook Pros run more efficiently when the RAM is in matched sets. So I wouldn't just buy one 8GB module to run with a 4GB module - rather upgrade in PAIRS - buy 2 8GB modules (they usually come in matching set 'kit's anyway).

Although one poster here said that I am not a 'normal' user, I frequently hit the wall even with 16GB of RAM installed. If you want to be an 'unusual' user like me, buy the full 16GB upgrade.

Clinton

JSBillian Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 5, 2013 4:43 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

Great! Thanks for all your help! I was just confused about one thing. When you said the VRAM can't be updated, just the specified VRAM, did you mean that I can swap the graphics card entirely, but can not go from 1GB to 2GB?

Apr 5, 2013 4:53 AM in response to JSBillian

No, teh GPU is soldered onto the logic board and can't be changed, nor can the VRAM be upgraded - you can buy a machine with a discrete card with either 512MB or 1GB of VRAM (if I were you, I'd go with the 1GB card, since it CAN'T be upgraded). You can only upgrade the RAM (to a maximum of 16GB) and the hard drive (with one of a higher capacity/speed) or a SSD.

Good luck,

Clinton

Apr 5, 2013 4:55 AM in response to JSBillian

No, the graphics "card" is not really a card in the sense of those used in desktop tower computers. The graphics module is part of the logicboard so what is built at the factory is what you get and cannot upgrade. The graphics memory, the VRAM, is soldered to the logicboard.

And I agree with Clinton, go with matched ram DIMMs, either 2x2 GB or 2x4 GB ro 2x8 GB so you have 4, 8, or 16 GB ram. The MBPs prefer seeing the same in both slots.

There was an MBP model a few years ago that, strangely, could only go to 6 GB so you had to have unmatched DIMMs, one 2 GB and one 4 GB...but today's prefer matched.

And be sure to go with high quality such as from OWC and Crucial as mentioned previously. The memory like Kingston Value Ram and Corsair Vengeance and PNY are really PC ram and are not accurate enough for a Mac.

JSBillian Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 5, 2013 4:59 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

So is the best Graphics card offered by Apple for the 15in MBP the NVIDIA GeForce 1GB GDDR5?

Apr 5, 2013 5:11 AM in response to JSBillian

Yes, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB memory with either the 2.6 or 2.7 GHz i7 is the best graphics available in the MBP. I would note that the price differential for the 2.7 GHz i7 is hard to justify...$250 for 0.1 Gz is hardly worth it. Especially since you get the same graphics module with the 2.6 GHz cpu.

Apr 5, 2013 6:31 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

Don't forget that the 2.7 has 8MB of L3 cache, so it's not just .1GHz difference there, there's some additional pathway memory as well.

Is it worth $250 even with this difference? No, might be worth $150, but even so... if you have money to throw at it and since it is a laptop which can't be upgraded, why not bump it. Personally, if I was that concerned about price, then I'd make up the difference by waiting on a refurb to become listed that had the specs I wanted because then the price would be slightly lower... just enough to make sense getting the highest config.

SSD vs Flash, CPUs, RAM, Graphics? I GIVE POINTS