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farqueue

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 18, 2006
452
26
Hi guys, im looking at a new MBP, just wondering why would some people choose 2.33 over 2.16 is it really worth the extra $?

I mean its only like a 150mhz jump?:eek:
 

Silentwave

macrumors 68000
May 26, 2006
1,615
50
but it happens twice over ;)

it is far from just being the processor... the 2.33GHz version has 2GB RAM standard and a 256MB X1600 video card rather than the 128MB in the 2.16GHz.
 

EvryDayImShufln

macrumors 65816
Sep 18, 2006
1,094
1
The extra videoram is good for some people, I chose the 2.33 over the 2.16 but to tell you the truth they are very similar. Even the old CD MBP was very similar to my 2.33, you won't notice the differences in every day work.

However, the CD heats up like crazy, and the C2D doesn't, which is the best improvement I find.

Anyhow 256 video ram could be useful, the tiny boost is nice and the extra ram is nice too. I guess the 2.16 is better value, but I got mine tax deducted anyway so it was only an extra 250 :p
 

2fives

macrumors regular
Nov 7, 2006
158
0
Surrey BC
for me moving 1 step up to to the 2.33 would have meant spending over $3100 on a friggen laptop!!! Kinda over doing it a bit.....don't ya think??

I'm just gonna drop another 1 gig stick in my 2.16 and call 'er good.
 

islandman

macrumors 6502
Sep 13, 2006
356
0
I learned long ago to buy the best and stick with it. Your 2.33ghz will stay with you just a bit longer, simply because you'll have a little less of an itch to dump it when faster things come along. The additional RAM and the better video card are also worth considering.
 

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
I would have guessed that the 2.16 would have the better residual value. I doubt the 2.33 would sell for $500 more than the 2.16 in a year or so...

agreed - just look at how the core duo mbp models have already come together in price. the difference between the 2 Ghz (second version, with 512 RAM and 128 VRAM) and the 2.16 Ghz is now $150 on the apple refurb store. You're definitely going to take a bigger hit on the high end model. That said, it comes with more HD, more RAM, more VRAM, and more mhz, so I do think it's a meaningful difference.
 

jellomizer

macrumors 6502
Sep 12, 2006
486
4
Upstate NY
Is it ever worth it.

The slower chip you get the cheap the computer is. For best value of Life/Price 1 year old Tech is best (Referbed MBP CD). But how long do you want to keep the system for before you upgrade 3 years? 5 Years? Having that one bit of extra CPU speed 4 years in the future may mean the difference between running slow and running sluggish or the application just doesn't want let you run the app. Or in 8 years it just may be the slight difference that will allow the new version of OS X run or not.

If you are using under normal use today you will probably not see much of a difference. But in the future where the thing is grinding to keep up with the request so if you are parcing out a photoshop filter in 4 year that takes 1 hours on 2.33 it will take an extra 5 minutes on the 1.16 (While a new system at the time will probably take 15 minutes to run) But in the extra 5 minutes can mean the difference of seeing it done or leave it running for tommorow. Or finishing on time or late.

I got the 2.33 myself. But I sometimes go into the heavy processing fit so I kinda like it. But if you are just going to be doing simple stuff and planning to upgrade in 3 year go with 2.16 (assuming all other features are equal). Disk IO, RAM (amount, and Bus Speed), Chache, and Video Cards are often what is the difference between a bad computer and a good one.
 

joshwest

macrumors 65816
Apr 27, 2005
1,143
5
i went 2.33 in my mbp but in my imac the 2.16 was justified by spending the rest on other upgrades
 

EvryDayImShufln

macrumors 65816
Sep 18, 2006
1,094
1
I would say if you plan on reselling it any time soon, get the 2.16, forget 2.33.

I'm planning to keep mine for 4 years if not more, so I wanted to get the TOP that I could to make sure it would be fast during that entire duration (or most of it).

I did the same with my 1st pc, and it was even running current games the day I sold it 5 years after purchase (although at very low graphics)
 

v-ault

macrumors regular
Dec 20, 2006
167
0
i'd go with 2.16, it's what i have. There is not much of a difference between 2.16 and 2.33 models.
 

mangoman

macrumors 6502a
Nov 27, 2002
929
60
Second Floor
I bought a ReFurby 2.16 CD 15" from Apple today. Arrives tomorrow. For $1500, it's got 1GB of RAM (I bought another GB), and 256GB of video RAM. Um, can you say no brainer? Woot!
 

GraceMolloy

macrumors regular
Oct 28, 2006
162
4
Kentucky
I did this partially as a desktop replacement. So I needed something I can game on. The extra 128 (256 total) of VRAM is very nice. I have absolutely no issues with this machine and I'm glad for it every day. This thing knocks the pants off some PC Towers my friends use, and I love rubbing it in when they complain. :D
 

Westside guy

macrumors 603
Oct 15, 2003
6,340
4,158
The soggy side of the Pacific NW
I went with the 2.16, upgraded to 2GB RAM and the 160GB drive. Based on past experience I doubted the processor speed was likely to be the limiting factor in most real-world situations; plus it's just not that much faster to justify the $$$.
 
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