2.6 GHz i7 vs. 2.8 GHz i7...Is there a noticable difference?

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Level 1

10 points

2.6 GHz i7 vs. 2.8 GHz i7...Is there a noticable difference?

Hello,

I just purchased a refurbished MBP through the Apple store with a 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz). I chose a refurbished model because I wanted to save money and I was able to get a 1TB hard drive for a great price. However, it is a late 2013 model and a new (not refurbished) mid 2014 model MBP with a 2.8GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz) would have cost me only about $70 more. This would have only a 512GB hard drive; otherwise all internals are the same.

I need a fast computer that can support many processes at once for work but I also need hard drive space.

Did I make the right decision? Would there have been a noticable difference between these two processors? Is there any significant difference / benefit to the mid 2014 model compared to the late 2013 model?

Thanks for your input.

Holly

Posted on Aug 14, 2014 5:16 AM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,308 points

Aug 14, 2014 5:30 AM in response to HollyB47

The good news about refurbished models, is they may support more Mac OS X versions than brand new Macs.

And no, very rarely is there a noticeable difference. Pretty much all Macs from 2010 and later have similar processors.

More RAM, and SSDs may offer better speed, but SSDs offer a security pitfall which I'm uncertain if they have been resolved.

The normal erase software does not completely wipe clean the SSD. Thus before selling it to someone else, you don't want them to have access to the drive you put in, if you get an SSD. All the more reason you should have a good LapCop, Findmymac, or Lojack program installed on your Mac in case it is lost or stolen.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6413 will help you ascertain the age of the mac, and if it is a prior release with more operating systems available to it. The Mac operating system on Macs released on or after:

October 22, 2013 only run 10.9 or later.

June 25, 2012 10.8 or later.
July 20, 2011 10.7 or later.
August 28, 2009 10.6 or later.

Older Macs may not run 10.8 or later based on http://www.apple.com/osx/specs/

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Answer 2

HollyB47 Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 14, 2014 6:31 AM in response to a brody

Thanks for the response. That is helpful and makes me feel better about my purchase. I don't have the computer yet so no serial number but the posting for the computer said it was originally released October 2013.

It has 1TB flash storage. I believe that is SSD. Is that correct? Will a lojack program really help the issue with not being able to erase my data? Anyone who steals it would have access to it before I erased it any way. I don't travel with my computer and only use it at home. It would never get lost and is unlikely to be stolen, though I suppose there could be a break in. One never knows.

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