Need help about refurbished MacBook Pro 15" 2012 vs 2013

Looks as though they both have RAM soldered to the logic board, so you can't upgrade

those yourself, I double-checked and noticed this factor with the Retina models.

So the graphics processor, and the SSD technologies remain the specs to check.

The mactracker database (download, free) is a good source of information in addition to

the Apple support database, and everymac.com. see http://mactracker.ca to get it.

Hopefully you can choose the very best one. 🙂

edited

PS: side-by-side specs, graphics and drive data rates,

the newer of the two may be the better one to get, as

it has later Thunderbolt with higher capacities, too.

Look into mactracker or other specification chart that

can be opened beside each other (as I have now) &

then you can see sections in each model, one at a

time. MacTracker shows general-software-memory+

graphics-connections-history by category.

2013 model Thunderbolt, Hard Drive Interface, graphics

spec all look good. Not sure if the history of graphic issue

in the dual-graphic card model 2012, was overcome or not.

However this may require some research...

If yours is one that shipped with Mavericks OS X 10.9

you may do well to get a copy of the installer on a

USB and dedicate it as a backup or set up a second

drive or other device to safe a download of the installer

and/or a copy-clone of the Mavericks. The limited total

of RAM available may not be a problem, with both units

shipping with an SSD and not a rotational HDD. And if

you like (& if yours has OS X 10.9) you could then use

OS X 10.10 too. Be careful an 'upgrade' isn't done to

an older system by accident; surprises aren't so nice.

With either choice, be sure to get & make suitable backup

of your files in addition to a device to use Time Machine.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

For working with Photoshop and movie editing, etc., you will probably need to have a reliable large external drive (not bus-powered). The 256GB internal in those models is pretty skimpy. Also consider what you will need to do regular backups of your internal drive.

Check out the drives offered by OWC. http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MES3FH7T2.0/ If you click on Specs, you can see what drive is in the enclosure, which is a plus. You can also buy a bare enclosure and install your drive of choice. I've been using HGST and WD Black drives. The aluminum enclosures are very good, and you can easily re-use them with other drives. Being able to easily disassemble an external drive and test the drive with a different enclosure makes it simpler to trouble-shoot if you have a problem with a drive. A USB 3 dock can also be useful for trouble-shooting drives: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3S3HD/

Externals from WD and Seagate come in flimsier enclosures and are bundled with software of dubious value: installing it has caused problems for some users. Some only have 1-year warranties. Skimpy power supplies in enclosures have caused problems for people also. This affected LaCie externals a few years ago; I don't know if the problem has been recitfied since then, but would hope so.

The main site page has sub-sections to include Internal, External, +Thunderbolt,

and other kinds of upgrade or extra products, for a variety of useful purposes...

OWC main page with header sub-menus:

http://eshop.macsales.com/

The good ones for power and faster spin rate HDD or durable SSD with bootable

systems inside, should have a power supply of their own. Port power is limiting.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

if you are going to do it then do it properly. Get the most for your $$$$$ Nothing earlier than a late 2013 rMBPro. Look for that either 2.3 or 2.6 GHZ These are as good as the current mid 2014 models.

There have been new I've seen recently $1919.00 for 2.3 $2200.00 for 2,6 check web site Adorama they have nice deals.

You can buy Applecare anytime within the one-year warranty period, so that is an expense you can defer for a while. Also, you can save some by not buying it from Apple: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1088828-REG/apple_s3142ll_a_3_year_appleca re_for_15.html

Here's another source: http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=listitems&type =group&group=appcare