15.4 inch with 128MB or 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

[EKG!]

So here's my question. I'm trying to decide if I should go for the MacBook Pro 15.4 inch with 128MB or 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600? Yeah I'll get 0.16GHz faster, 512 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive space, and 128MB more graphics, but for a difference of $500 is it really worth it? My main uses will be Photoshop & Illustrator graphic design/illustration work plus also use it as a digital sketchbook/paintings (Painter 8). Not so much into games. Don't think I'll be doing Final Cut Pro or complex editing on it either (but highly likely will get FCP in a year or 2). I also plan on using an external monitor too.

It'll really help me out if this Mac community will give me some advice. My budget is very tight. Got like $2000 to spend plus I'll get the educational discount too. Thanks!

[CanadaRAM]

Advanced graphic cards do next to nothing for 2-D illustration programs.

[c-Row]

Judging from your list of activities I think you should do really well with 128 MB VRAM. Even if you want to play a game every now and then, 128 MB will still do the trick, and the ATI naturally will outperform integrated graphics anyway.

256 MB is nice to have, but not neccessary, unless you want to play Doom³ in ultra high quality, but then again, this isn't what you buy a laptop for, and "not so ultra high" quality still looks fine.

[Demon Hunter]

I usually recommend the higher graphics, because you never know what Apple has planned for OS X, and you can't upgrade it later. But I agree with the others, 128MB is fine.

[ncook06]

Sounds like you would even be fine with a Macbook, so you might want to look into that.

For MBP, add +1 to the 128 MB

[EKG!]

Thanks guys and gals! The worldwide Mac community is really cool. I think I'll go with the 128 graphics card. Purchasing this Friday!!

[Kingsly]

Dang, I really wish I could JUST upgrade the VRAM for, like, $99. $500 is a little steep for .16 ghz and some RAM.

[MacRumorUser]

Dang, I really wish I could JUST upgrade the VRAM for, like, $99. $500 is a little steep for .16 ghz and some RAM.

LOL! Welcome to the world of Apple :D

[Nar1117]

Say i wanted to play games, such as Battlefield 2... which should i get?

Forgive me, i dont feel like i need to make another thread for the same topic.

[Kingsly]

Say i wanted to play games, such as Battlefield 2... which should i get?

Forgive me, i dont feel like i need to make another thread for the same topic.
then you want the max amount of VRAM you can get. On the other hand, BF:2 plays fine on my 1.83 model.