Is the 2.8Ghz MBP worth it?

lucasmath · Oct 21, 2008, 03:54 PM

I have a large budget to purchase a laptop for work. So I can spend the extra $450 for he 2.8GHz. But is it worth it? Will this decrease battery life in general? Will the machine run hotter? I'm just curious.

techound1 · Oct 21, 2008, 04:06 PM

Well... You could use some of that large budget to get a second battery if you need to be super mobile with it.

The new design is also supposed to (among other things) help dissipate heat more, so ideally it's not an issue.

lucasmath · Oct 21, 2008, 04:19 PM

Thanks for reminding me. I'll be getting an extra battery too.

emt1 · Oct 21, 2008, 04:23 PM

NOT worth it unless you are doing some really CPU demanding computing. Trust me on this one.

thejadedmonkey · Oct 21, 2008, 04:27 PM

Just, FYI, I can get an entire laptop for $450...

emt1 · Oct 21, 2008, 04:38 PM

How much more would you have to pay for the 2.8Ghz upgrade?

virtuatony · Oct 21, 2008, 04:45 PM

The battery life will be unchanged, and the heat will be the same.

lucasmath · Oct 21, 2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emt1

NOT worth it unless you are doing some really CPU demanding computing. Trust me on this one.

Yes, but I have the money now and not later. Will the computer still be relatively fast for longer if I buy something with more Ghz?

Umbongo · Oct 21, 2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucasmath

Yes, but I have the money now and not later. Will the computer still be relatively fast for longer if I buy something with more Ghz?

It will make no difference in that respect. The faster processor saves you time (10% theoretically) spent waiting for processor intensive tasks to finish. You shouldn't come across any software in the future where the 2.8GHz will be "fast" and the 2.53GHz won't.

lucasmath · Oct 21, 2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umbongo

It will make no difference in that respect. The faster processor saves you time (10% theoretically) spent waiting for processor intensive tasks to finish. You shouldn't come across any software in the future where the 2.8GHz will be "fast" and the 2.53GHz won't.

So why should I get the 2.53Ghz vs the 2.4Ghz then? The difference there is even smaller. It seems like the upper configurations are just ways to get us to spend more money.

Digital Skunk · Oct 21, 2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucasmath

Yes, but I have the money now and not later. Will the computer still be relatively fast for longer if I buy something with more Ghz?

What will you be using the machine for?

If you are going to be running 5 or more productivity apps like web browsers, MS Office apps, iCal, Address book, iTunes etc. then NO you won't need the 2.8GHz. Spend it somewhere else or for up-to-date apps or RAM, or bigger HDD, or a bag or.... so forth and so on.

If you are going to be running core aware applications that take a good chunk of your CPU to run like DVD Studio Pro, Compressor, any Adobe CS3 apps, Logic Pro, etc. or if you plan on ripping/encoding/decoding tons of DVDs then yes, you will benefit.

If you buy a faster machine now thinking it will give you the feeling of it NOT being obsolete in 2 years then get it if you want, but either way in about a year your machine will be slow since processors just don't get faster, they change completely. By this time next year, the Front Side Bus is supposed to be obsolete and mobile quad cores will be hitting the streets.

There you have it.

thegoldenmackid · Oct 21, 2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucasmath

So why should I get the 2.53Ghz vs the 2.4Ghz then? The difference there is even smaller. It seems like the upper configurations are just ways to get us to spend more money.

Yes, that is the point of capitalism. Is the 2.8ghz worth it, it really depend on your habbits. Chances are if you opt for it you won't regret it, I mean if you have the money.

Kane.Elson · Oct 21, 2008, 06:42 PM

http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/...z-performance/ is the best benchmark I have seen so far on the different macbook pros. As you can see the 2.8 isn't blow your mind away fast but it is consistently measurably faster than the other models. I would personally get the 2.8 if you can afford it (I did)

bug · Oct 21, 2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Just, FYI, I can get an entire laptop for $450...

I can get an entire car for $450. Maybe even a car and a new hat. Then I'll be the talk of the town!

I'd get the 2.8. "Worth" is a relative term. From a practical standpoint I doubt it is worth it, but I'd still get it.

...keep in mind I'm rocking a 1.67 G4 PB still, so I would like to live vicariously through you, and thus, would like you to get the 2.8.

Oct 21, 2008, 03:54 PM	#1
lucasmath macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2008	Is the 2.8Ghz MBP worth it? I have a large budget to purchase a laptop for work. So I can spend the extra $450 for he 2.8GHz. But is it worth it? Will this decrease battery life in general? Will the machine run hotter? I'm just curious.
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Oct 21, 2008, 04:27 PM	#5
thejadedmonkey macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pa	Just, FYI, I can get an entire laptop for $450... __________________ MacBook Air • 17" MacBook Pro • iPod Nano • Apple TV Custom Windows 7 Desktop • Surface RT • WP7 "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment." - Mulla Nasrudin
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Oct 21, 2008, 04:45 PM	#7
virtuatony macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada	The battery life will be unchanged, and the heat will be the same. __________________ MacBook Air; Mac Pro; iPhone 4S; iPad 2
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Oct 21, 2008, 04:06 PM	#2
techound1 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2006	Well... You could use some of that large budget to get a second battery if you need to be super mobile with it. The new design is also supposed to (among other things) help dissipate heat more, so ideally it's not an issue.
	0

Oct 21, 2008, 04:19 PM	#3
lucasmath Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2008	Thanks for reminding me. I'll be getting an extra battery too.
	0

Oct 21, 2008, 04:23 PM	#4
emt1 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin	NOT worth it unless you are doing some really CPU demanding computing. Trust me on this one.
	0

Oct 21, 2008, 04:38 PM	#6
emt1 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin	How much more would you have to pay for the 2.8Ghz upgrade?
	0

Oct 21, 2008, 06:42 PM	#13
Kane.Elson macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia	http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/...z-performance/ is the best benchmark I have seen so far on the different macbook pros. As you can see the 2.8 isn't blow your mind away fast but it is consistently measurably faster than the other models. I would personally get the 2.8 if you can afford it (I did)
	0