New Retina MacBook Pro Processor Bumps Offer Minor 3-5% Performance Improvements

MacRumors · Feb 22, 2013, 09:41 AM

Following last week's introduction of new processors for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Primate Labs has analyzed benchmarks coming in from the new machines through the company's popular Geekbench 2 software.

Unsurprisingly, the benchmarks reveal a roughly 3-5% increase in Geekbench scores for each of the processor bumps. For the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Apple bumped each of the three available processors by 100 MHz, accounting for the minor benchmark improvements.

Quote:

One thing to note is that the new mid-range Retina MacBook Pro has the same speed processor as the old high-end Retina MacBook Pro. However, the new mid-range model is slightly slower than the old high-end model. While this seems surprising at first, the difference is easily explained by comparing the two processors: the old high-end processor has more cache than the new mid-range processor.

For the 13-inch lineup, the 100 MHz speed bumps were limited to machines based on the high-end stock configuration starting at 256 GB of storage, with those machines also seeing a 3-5% improvement in Geekbench scores.

Aside from the processor improvements for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Apple also reduced pricing on the 13-inch models by $200-$300, increased RAM on the high-end 15-inch stock configuration, and reduced pricing on storage options.

Article Link: New Retina MacBook Pro Processor Bumps Offer Minor 3-5% Performance Improvements

Smartass · Feb 22, 2013, 09:52 AM

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

noiseordinance · Feb 22, 2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartass

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

I'm pretty sure that's what they are currently doing. There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months. I know I will not be buying an Apple laptop / desktop again unless they do a major overhaul in their approach at conducting business.

barkmonster · Feb 22, 2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartass

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

But they're a computer company first and a gadget company second, it's just the gadgets are available for far less than a Mac and sell in far higher quantity. They've been offering very slim laptops with decent enough specs for quite some years before the Windows Ultrabook/Google Chromebook systems came out to "try" and compete with them and only beat them on cost.

lunarworks · Feb 22, 2013, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartass

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

Well, they could have simply not bumped the processors... would that have been better?

Imory · Feb 22, 2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noiseordinance

I'm pretty sure that's what they are currently doing. There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months. I know I will not be buying an Apple laptop / desktop again unless they do a major overhaul in their approach at conducting business.

Not a single update in over 4 months? Is that considered a long time? Apple has pretty much always released a major overhaul/change once every year, and I don't see why that has to change when it comes to their laptops.

G4DP · Feb 22, 2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noiseordinance

I'm pretty sure that's what they are currently doing. There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months. I know I will not be buying an Apple laptop / desktop again unless they do a major overhaul in their approach at conducting business.

Bo bl***y ho, no update in 4 months try waiting 2 years to buy an updated damn computer.

barkmonster · Feb 22, 2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartass

still, macbooks are a waste of money.

----------

Yes it would be because then they wouldn't look like they're totally incompetent. 3-5% boost? really?

Based on what? The opinion of someone who just uses facebook and plays angry birds?

There's loads of uses for a Macbook that couldn't be done with some tablet toy or lousy netbook/chromebook that's only geared up as a glorified browser/email client. Think on-location video editing, DJs/EDM Producers, people in the design industry who need a decent system and OS to use with robust system-wide colour management and accurate font-rendering or people who simply want the option of not running Windows as their OS of choice and don't want to get all geeky and opt for a compromising nightmare of open source nonsense.

noiseordinance · Feb 22, 2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imory

Not a single update in over 4 months? Is that considered a long time? Apple has pretty much always released a major overhaul/change once every year, and I don't see why that has to change when it comes to their laptops.

Let's see... Safari is totally ruined on rMBP (CSS not rendered correctly on half the websites, blank white pages), mouse and keyboard become unresponsive when switching GPU, background resets after every reboot, stuttering audio, etc. Yeah, I guess you're right... I should have to wait a year for these to be fixed, as should countless others who complain about the same exact problems.

noiseordinance · Feb 22, 2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G4DP

Bo bl***y ho, no update in 4 months try waiting 2 years to buy an updated damn computer.

I'm talking about waiting several months for fixes to the plethora of issues plaguing the current generation of rMBP. See, I'm complaining about something that I've already paid for. You're waiting 2 years to buy an updated computer? How about you try getting a job and just buy a new computer that currently exists. That usually works well for people. Or you can just cry about it. Then maybe you can collect all your tears, bring it into the Apple store and see if you can trade them in for a magical new product that doesn't exist.

stycool24 · Feb 22, 2013, 10:12 AM

I love my rMacbook pro, the screen is amazing, I bought it in the first week it came out. I am a software developer and it is one of the top investments I have ever made. I used HP's and Dell's before and their user experience is nothing compared to this laptop's. But I won't be upgrading it until a much better processor and GPU come out.

alsec · Feb 22, 2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartass

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

I hope they don't just stick to phones and tablets. Apple's computers are awesome, especially considering the need for bootcamp. Makes my work life a lot easier!

WestonHarvey1 · Feb 22, 2013, 10:13 AM

Sounds like most people here are confused. Apple does not make the CPU.

JaySoul · Feb 22, 2013, 10:17 AM

They hit a speed bump.

Aluminum213 · Feb 22, 2013, 10:35 AM

Never buy first generation apple hardware, so many flaws with rMBP, even worse with the 13"

Can't wait to get gen 2 15"retina this fall though

Mike MA · Feb 22, 2013, 10:44 AM

Better than nothing.

PinoyAko · Feb 22, 2013, 11:15 AM

My safari will be much more snappier with these performance improvements.

winston1236 · Feb 22, 2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barkmonster

But they're a computer company first and a gadget company second, it's just the gadgets are available for far less than a Mac and sell in far higher quantity. They've been offering very slim laptops with decent enough specs for quite some years before the Windows Ultrabook/Google Chromebook systems came out to "try" and compete with them and only beat them on cost.

Apple is a phone tablet company first. Dont even get me started on the mac pro abandonment.

ka-spot · Feb 22, 2013, 11:24 AM

$200-300 less... holy-moly!

centauratlas · Feb 22, 2013, 11:25 AM

Just don't sell them in Brazil....

h1r0ll3r · Feb 22, 2013, 11:25 AM

It's still faster than my 2010 MBP that's for sure.

ctdonath · Feb 22, 2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noiseordinance

There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months.

...he says in response to an article starting with "Following last week's introduction of new processors for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup".

gnasher729 · 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centauratlas

Just don't sell them in Brazil....

You're assuming that just because Apple gets sued for improving its products they couldn't be also sued for not improving their products. By the same people.

barkmonster · Feb 22, 2013, 11:35 AM

I was just looking at the non-retina 15" and think £80 for a higher resolution matte display is fine, £160 for another 300Mhz of CPU and double the GPU RAM is just about bearable but £360 more for another 400Mhz, another 2Mb in CPU cache and double the GPU RAM is excessive. Then you look at the basic storage and RAM and it's even more money grabbing:

Drives

Give back 500Gb 5400rpm HDD -£0.00 (Approximate value £35 for Hitachi Travelstar) + either...

Option 1: A faster, bigger HDD
Add 750Gb 7200rpm HDD +£120 (Approximate value £62 for Scorpio Black)

Option 2: A faster, smaller SSD
Add 128Gb SSD +£160 (Approximately value £107 for Vertex 4)

Those drives are worth no more than a token amount more than that in BTO charges. £30 at most.

RAM

Give back 4Gb -£0.00 (Appoximate value £25.19 based on Crucial RAM prices) +

Add 8Gb +£80 (Approximate value £43.19 based on Crucial RAM prices)

The increase is worth no more than £20 at most. If user installable RAM was possible, you could get a 16Gb kit for £76.79!!!

TomA · Feb 22, 2013, 11:43 AM

For those saying Apple laptops are too expensive, have you seen the specs and pricing on Google's latest offering?

$1300, for a 13-inch, 3.3 lbs, 32 GB!HD, USB2 laptop.

----------

[QUOTE=gnasher729;16889978]You're assuming that just because Apple gets sued for improving its products they couldn't be also sued for not improving their products. By the same people.[COLOR="#808080"]

Brazillian courts are loony. Always have been.

Feb 22, 2013, 10:44 AM	#16
Mike MA macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Germany, Europe	Better than nothing. __________________ Macbook Air 13" SSD (late 2010) - Macbook Pro 15" (late 2008) - Apple TV2 - iPhone 4
	1

Feb 22, 2013, 11:24 AM	#19
ka-spot macrumors member Join Date: May 2012	$200-300 less... holy-moly! __________________ Macbook Air, iPhone 4
	1

Feb 22, 2013, 11:25 AM	#21
h1r0ll3r macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maryland	It's still faster than my 2010 MBP that's for sure. __________________ 15" MBP iPad (3rd Gen) iPod Nano (6th Gen) & 160GB Classic ATV Galaxy Note 2
	0

Feb 22, 2013, 11:35 AM	#24
barkmonster macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lancashire	Build to order prices still a joke though. I was just looking at the non-retina 15" and think £80 for a higher resolution matte display is fine, £160 for another 300Mhz of CPU and double the GPU RAM is just about bearable but £360 more for another 400Mhz, another 2Mb in CPU cache and double the GPU RAM is excessive. Then you look at the basic storage and RAM and it's even more money grabbing: Drives Give back 500Gb 5400rpm HDD -£0.00 (Approximate value £35 for Hitachi Travelstar) + either... Option 1: A faster, bigger HDD Add 750Gb 7200rpm HDD +£120 (Approximate value £62 for Scorpio Black) Option 2: A faster, smaller SSD Add 128Gb SSD +£160 (Approximately value £107 for Vertex 4) Those drives are worth no more than a token amount more than that in BTO charges. £30 at most. RAM Give back 4Gb -£0.00 (Appoximate value £25.19 based on Crucial RAM prices) + Add 8Gb +£80 (Approximate value £43.19 based on Crucial RAM prices) The increase is worth no more than £20 at most. If user installable RAM was possible, you could get a 16Gb kit for £76.79!!! __________________ 16Gb iPhone 5 • 2.53Ghz Mac Mini (8Gb, 60Gb Vertex 2) • Mbox2 • LG W2343T • Samsung SyncMaster 913n
	0

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Feb 22, 2013, 09:52 AM	#2
Smartass macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2012	Stick to phones and tablets Apple.
	1

Feb 22, 2013, 10:12 AM	#11
stycool24 macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2013	I love my rMacbook pro, the screen is amazing, I bought it in the first week it came out. I am a software developer and it is one of the top investments I have ever made. I used HP's and Dell's before and their user experience is nothing compared to this laptop's. But I won't be upgrading it until a much better processor and GPU come out.
	0

Feb 22, 2013, 10:13 AM	#13
WestonHarvey1 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2007	Sounds like most people here are confused. Apple does not make the CPU.
	10

Feb 22, 2013, 10:17 AM	#14
JaySoul macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2008	They hit a speed bump.
	2

Feb 22, 2013, 10:35 AM	#15
Aluminum213 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2012	Never buy first generation apple hardware, so many flaws with rMBP, even worse with the 13" Can't wait to get gen 2 15"retina this fall though
	3

Feb 22, 2013, 11:15 AM	#17
PinoyAko macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012	My safari will be much more snappier with these performance improvements.
	0

Feb 22, 2013, 11:25 AM	#20
centauratlas macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida	Just don't sell them in Brazil....
	3

Feb 22, 2013, 11:43 AM	#25
TomA macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2003	For those saying Apple laptops are too expensive, have you seen the specs and pricing on Google's latest offering? $1300, for a 13-inch, 3.3 lbs, 32 GB!HD, USB2 laptop. ---------- [QUOTE=gnasher729;16889978]You're assuming that just because Apple gets sued for improving its products they couldn't be also sued for not improving their products. By the same people.[COLOR="#808080"] Brazillian courts are loony. Always have been.
	0