MBP now or wait for 64-bit?

[92GTA]

Now that Apple has released a way to dual boot with nearly full driver support, I want to buy a MBP NOW! However I want the 64-bit proc, Meron I think it's named.

Anyway, I've heard rumors that it will be backwarks compatible with the same motherboards the MBP's have now. Can someone please confirm this 100%? It would be GREAT to buy a 2GHz MBP now and then upgrade the proc on it to 64-bit for 64-bit Vista and 64-bit 10.6. Heck maybe even 64-bit Linux soon.

Thanks!

[Subiklim]

I think it's pretty unlikely that they'll be cross-compatable. Are you sure you need 64bit?

Buy it now if you want it, the new macbook pro is a fantastic system.

[92GTA]

I don't see why they wouldn't, it would save Apple allot of it money. Intel said it would be the same socket and work on the same motherboards. I was just looking for an offical link or something that's more substantial than the rumor you know.

[dmw007]

If you need/want a new computer now, then go with the MacBook Pro. It will last you a long time, runs Mac, Windows, Linux, etc..., and is an extremely fast computer.

I am pretty sure that the CPU in the MBP is soldered to the motherboard, making upgrades impossible- or very difficult. The iMacs however, allow you to swap out the processors (someone already has done this; replaced the 2GHz Core Duo with a 2.16GHz Core Duo).

[Eidorian]

If you need/want a new computer now, then go with the MacBook Pro. It will last you a long time, runs Mac, Windows, Linux, etc..., and is an extremely fast computer.

I am pretty sure that the CPU in the MBP is soldered to the motherboard, making upgrades impossible- or very difficult. The iMacs however, allow you to swap out the processors (someone already has done this; replaced the 2GHz Core Duo with a 2.16GHz Core Duo).The MacBook Pro's CPU is soldered onto the motherboard. The Intel Mini and iMac have socketed CPU's but they're rather difficult to get to.

[dmw007]

The MacBook Pro's CPU is soldered onto the motherboard. The Intel Mini and iMac have socketed CPU's but they're rather difficult to get to.

But it can be done- opening up a world of opportunities. :)

[treblah]

What is the max RAM of the MacBook Pro right now and the foreseeable future?

Why do you think 64bit is better?

Have you looked at benchmarks comparing 64bit/32bit?

[menziep]

Well im waiting for 64bit

[kksolano]

i heard on some Mac Geek podcasts that the intel Core Duo is actually a 64-bit processor.. But os X isn't taking full advantage of it..
Maybe panther might change that!!

Dont wait and buy now if you need a new computer.

[dmw007]

i heard on some Mac Geek podcasts that the intel Core Duo is actually a 64-bit processor.. But os X isn't taking full advantage of it..
Maybe panther might change that!!

Dont wait and buy now if you need a new computer.

As far as I know, the Intel Core Duo has X86-64 extensions, but they are disabled (by Intel- not Apple).

[Eidorian]

As far as I know, the Intel Core Duo has X86-64 extensions, but they are disabled (by Intel- not Apple).I heard this as well. ALL new Intel Macs currently have a 2 GB (2 x 1 GB) limit on RAM. If you're going to NEED more than that get 64-bit anyways. 32-bit is just fine for most of the market.

[92GTA]

First off, yes I want more than 2GB's for utilizing the virtualization features in 10.6 like having Vista and OS X booted at the same time. Also I do allot of memory intensive multitasking. Also who says the MBP won't recognize 2GB SO-DIMM's?

Second, since when does a CPU being soldered into the mobo mean it's not upgradeable? I'm not an 80yr old grandma who needs her grandkids just to open word or turn on the machine, lol.

Third, because of Vista. when Vista comes out I am going to switch to 64-bit because the Vista 64-bit driver supports is VERY good, even at this point. So why not run 10.6 and Linux in 64-bit too.

I am however thinking about waiting for the 17", this will be my main, and at times, only computer, so I'm not sure if the 15 will cut it.

[Demon Hunter]

Well im waiting for 64bit

Me too.

[92GTA]

Well I just did a google. Yonah is 478. The Merom T7600 and other models #'s will be out in Q4. It would appear from searching that maybe not the T7600 but atleast other Merom core based procs WILL in fact be able to be a direct replacement for the Yonah's that are in the MBP.

So, if I can't wait I guess I'll get a 15" MBP. I really want a 17" though. Does anyone know what the $$$ will be for a 17" MBP? I mean I'll be spending $2400 on the 15" so another $500 for a 17" is not a stretch but anymore than that would be and would promt me to get a 15 right now...

[Demon Hunter]

So, if I can't wait I guess I'll get a 15" MBP. I really want a 17" though. Does anyone know what the $$$ will be for a 17" MBP? I mean I'll be spending $2400 on the 15" so another $500 for a 17" is not a stretch but anymore than that would be and would promt me to get a 15 right now...

I know how you feel, the 17-inch is just love at first sight.

The new Intels mean the old prices; I suspect the 17-inch will start at $2999, like the PowerBooks of yore. But who knows, maybe we'll get a 19-inch... or 20-inch...

Bring on the madness!

[92GTA]

Well all I care about is the best video card. That means I HAVE to get the $2500 MBP and can't get the $2000 one. Do you suspect the $2999 17" may have a low end video card and the upper model a better video card? If so I'll just order my 15" now, now way in hell I'm paying more than $3K for a notebook, lol.

[gman71882]

If you want to be able to "tri-Boot" ;)
Windows XP, Vista, and OS X then you would def need a 64 Bit Processor...
As of now ALL bets are off with Apple & Windows. who know what will happen by the end of year?!?!?! :eek:


"Additionally, with support for both EFI and BIOS for booting, Microsoft Vista will also be supported on a Mac," ...
"We view this as an incremental negative for HP, DELL and other PC makers as Apple will be able to garner additional PC market share"

- From appleinsider article: Analyst says Apple's Boot Camp could be "game changer"

[PrOeliuM]

Well all I care about is the best video card. That means I HAVE to get the $2500 MBP and can't get the $2000 one. Do you suspect the $2999 17" may have a low end video card and the upper model a better video card? If so I'll just order my 15" now, now way in hell I'm paying more than $3K for a notebook, lol.

I imagine that they will do it like they did before and only have one 17 inch model that will have the best video card they offer equipped standard.

[Demon Hunter]

Well all I care about is the best video card. That means I HAVE to get the $2500 MBP and can't get the $2000 one. Do you suspect the $2999 17" may have a low end video card and the upper model a better video card? If so I'll just order my 15" now, now way in hell I'm paying more than $3K for a notebook, lol.

The only option it might have is higher VRAM, but usually it's standard.

[DTphonehome]

First off, yes I want more than 2GB's for utilizing the virtualization features in 10.6 ...[snip]...

Second, since when does a CPU being soldered into the mobo mean it's not upgradeable? I'm not an 80yr old grandma who needs her grandkids just to open word or turn on the machine, lol.


You're waiting for 10.6?!? You do realize that 10.5 won't even be out till 3Q 2006, or even 1Q 2007? Who can even imagine when 10.6 will be out (and what it'll be like)??

And as for upgrading a soldered CPU, that's expert technician stuff. I would think maybe 1/10000 computer geeks are capable of doing that (successfully).

[92GTA]

Sorry, I did mean 10.5, my bad :doh:

I'd say your ratio estimation is correct. However where I work I have direct access to one :) I've hard modded the back mobo side of a ZIF socket proc adapter before with sucess quite a few times on older AMD boards no problem. I just don't have the patience for it anymore, or the eyesight and steady hand for that matter, lol.

[Maxiseller]

Or...why not wait until 2015 when 256 bit processors will be around and the screens are projected onto fountains in front of you!

While it may seem that I am being sarcastic, the point I am trying to get over is that waiting only means that you're missing out now. This whole 64bit malarky is nothing, in my opinon other than a marketing scam!

2Gig is more than enough - and after all, is there really guarantee that we will see the boundary push up to 4Gig with the introduction of true 64 bit processors?

[hulugu]

Sorry, I did mean 10.5, my bad :doh:

Hey, don't worry about it, I'm going to wait until 11! :D

You see, most blokes will be playing at 10. You’re on 10, all the way up, all the way up...Where can you go from there? Nowhere. What we do, is if we need that extra push over the cliff...Eleven."

[92GTA]

WTF? :confused:

I'll just ignore those last 2 posts, lol...

[dmw007]

WTF? :confused:

I'll just ignore those last 2 posts, lol...

Good idea. :) They were just being rather facetious. :)

[generik]

Me too.

Me three..

It is not so much the 64 bit that I'm waiting for really, but 4MB cache on those processors??? God.. that'd make a huge difference in performance I suppose.

[hulugu]

WTF? :confused:

I'll just ignore those last 2 posts, lol...

Sorry, I wasn't actually being helpful. Your mistake just struck me as funny and then I stretched it out and threw in a quote from Spinal Tap because it made sense in my own little world.

The primary advantage of 64-bit computing is large memory addressing, so unless your going to be doing very intensive computing—and maybe better served by a PowerMac—a MBP would be a very good machine with 'just' a 32-bit chip.

[1dterbeest]

2Gig is more than enough - and after all, is there really guarantee that we will see the boundary push up to 4Gig with the introduction of true 64 bit processors?

Yes.

But still, 2GB is probably enough, even with virtualization.
Wait for the 17" if you want, but don't hold your breath
just for 64bit processing.

[faintember]

FWIW i have been wondering the same thing myself. As an electronic music composer i rack the hell out of my G4 1ghz Ti PB. During any given concert my PB is running at 70-90% CPU for an hour or more at a time. It gets pushed even harder when i am building the electronic instruments/interfaces, etc.

I thought 64bit would be the way to go, and hence wait, but who knows if the software that we use will actually benefit from 64bit processing? How long will that transition take? Many developers are still working to release universal binaries, i doubt many are planning for 64bit apps right now. So maybe 64bit apps show up in Q4 2007, or maybe even Q1 2008.

The point is who knows. The MBP is faster that what i own now, by leaps and bounds. I will probably purchase one soon and keep my Ti PB around until all of my apps are universal binaries. I will be enjoying more processing power than i have had in years while others are waiting for 64bit, and then 64bit applications. After 64bit becomes "standard" then i might consider switching over.

[matticus008]

Second, since when does a CPU being soldered into the mobo mean it's not upgradeable? I'm not an 80yr old grandma who needs her grandkids just to open word or turn on the machine, lol.
Since...always, hotshot. Soldered processors aren't "packaged"--in other words, you can't use a retail processor that is packaged on a substrate for use with ZIF sockets. So unless you have an inside source at Intel who can intercept one for you, you can't buy them. Even getting to the processor would be extremely difficult, since the notebook cooling systems aren't meant for disassembly and getting them back together is difficult, even for trained technicians. The risk of damaging the components is extremely high. This isn't a breadboard for a home electronics project.

[w8ing4intelmacs]

I'll just ignore those last 2 posts, lol...

Probably better to ignore the thread.

A 64-bit processor has existed for years. It's called a G5. Any G4 owners (which is most Powerbook and iBook users) want to say that they've missed out on any hardware or software developments over the years that the G5 existed?

With thousands, maybe millions, of 32-bit desktops and laptops in current use (including all Intel computers), it is highly unlikely that 64-bit processors will change anything in the next 3-5 years. I don't suspect I'll own my MBP that long (I usually sell my laptops within two years).

[92GTA]

Since...always, hotshot. Soldered processors aren't "packaged"--in other words, you can't use a retail processor that is packaged on a substrate for use with ZIF sockets. So unless you have an inside source at Intel who can intercept one for you, you can't buy them. Even getting to the processor would be extremely difficult, since the notebook cooling systems aren't meant for disassembly and getting them back together is difficult, even for trained technicians. The risk of damaging the components is extremely high. This isn't a breadboard for a home electronics project.

It's called ordering a "replacement" chip for a repair. I work @ an Apple certified repair center/reseller.

[odedia]

Personally, I'd really like to have an OLED 20" laptop that can be closed TWICE, meaning it it four-sliced. and thus has a very small form factor when closed, but very big when open. OLED can allow this because it can be flexed.

Oded S.