Well, you asked that how the new model is faster than the old one. This isn't really rocket-science: The CPU is maybe 5-10% faster than the previous CPU. Not much, but still faster. The GPU is maybe 40-60% faster. That's a quite tangible difference.
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128MB vs. 256MB VRAM
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Well, you asked that how the new model is faster than the old one. This isn't really rocket-science: The CPU is maybe 5-10% faster than the previous CPU. Not much, but still faster. The GPU is maybe 40-60% faster. That's a quite tangible difference.
Yep. I could pay like 50 dollars as an option, but 500 dollars for CPU and VRAM upgrade is way too much.
Little revision...
1. Is it that much faster to pay $500 to go from current low end to midrange?
2. Then...the difference between the previous midrange and current one isn't that great.
I'd get a MBP this instant if video RAM was a BTO option.
If the iMac and Mac Pro don't shape up at WWDC or later this month I'll just hold out and save for a refurbished model.
I could pay 50 for the bigger VRAM, 50 for the bigger HD, and 150 for the faster CPU. That makes it 250 dollars worth upgrades. Apple charges double, so I for one will not be buying.
Ooh, made a good call then for the church MBP and CS3 (since it now wants 3D acceleration). We almost settled for just a MB with integrated graphics.
VRAM = Good!
I have an old Thinkpad X series with a measly ATI Radeon Mobile with 16 Megs VRAM and it seems to work better than a lot of these laptops with integrated video... (iTunes shows for example - seems to play them more smoothly than a Compaq laptop I have with Intel GMA900).
Get the better VRAM, you can't go wrong...
Um I do think that the argument you were responding to said that the current MBP is faster than the previous (non santa-rosa) MBP. As to "is the midrange so much faster that it's worth paying 500 bucks for?".... Well, that is the thing I'm asking in this thread
In CPU's, it's not that big, but it's there. In GPU's, it huge.
I don't think it's worth $500 for the 256 MB but if you want it like I do, get it.Um I do think that the argument you were responding to said that the current MBP is faster than the previous (non santa-rosa) MBP. As to "is the midrange so much faster that it's worth paying 500 bucks for?".... Well, that is the thing I'm asking in this thread
well, you do get other things for the money as well... And I want bigger HD, and if I spec the low-end machine with 160gb HD, the price-difference shrinks to 400 bucks
It's a nice perk to get more drive space but $400 still isn't worth it either.
http://barefeats.com/santarosa.html
Great link! I'm looking forward to see the CS3 results. I'm budgeting for some video editing computers for church for this fall. The question is a MB or MBP - do I want to buy for just FCE, or do I want to future proof in case we go to FCS?
$400 may be a bit pricey... maybe wait for refurbs?
I am using a 1.66 CD Mini at home for basic editing - good enough for iMovie... but if you have the money, it now pays to "futureproof".
I wish they compared 128MB vs. 256MB. The only comparison I can draw is the 2.4GHz model vs. the 2.33GHz model, but the chips aren't the same.
Speculative until we see the numbers. It's clearly much faster than its predecessor. Whether $500 is "worth it" is subjective.
Maybe they need a few e-mails to persuade them to do it.
Perhaps. I noticed that they added Prey to the benchmarks just a little while ago.
Edit: they just added Halo and UT 2004.
Thank you, I did. However, I didn't see any 2.2GHz results there, which would seem necessary to do a more objective comparison between the speeds of the two 15" models. The $500 question is a matter of opinion only.
So you are saying 128MB is trivial yet you complain about having to upgrade? If it is so trivial don't get the upgrade, and since the CPU isn't "terribly" faster and you don't "trust" a laptop to have a big hard drive you would be happy with the base model, no?
the things to do
The thing to do is look up strictly the graphics board. That's what I did when I had this question. Works for any GPU too. The only drawback is the tests will probably be done on a PC but as any good scientist knows that will just be a constant anyway.
The thing to do is look up strictly the graphics board. That's what I did when I had this question. Works for any GPU too. The only drawback is the tests will probably be done on a PC but as any good scientist knows that will just be a constant anyway.
You can't ignore the other things you get along with that. I understand you would like a BTO, but you are at the same time minimalizing the other upgrades with that model, so if they are worth so little whose to say the BTO wouldn't be 300?
Apple has always charged more for upgrades, unfortunetly with a laptop you don't have many options as far as doing 3rd party upgrades, so you are SOL really.
It's not worth $500 to you, that is fine. Some people are never happy and they have to complain, I think I am used to that here.
I'd prefer to use the 500 i saved getting 128MB now against buying the new low end model in 1-2 years time.
Basically by buying the 2000 dollar model you can sell it on for 1500 next year (or two years depending on resale value) and use the 500 you saved to buy the new 2000 model which will have a much better graphics card, will probably have 256 MB as standard and will be NEW.
I'd prefer to use the 500 i saved getting 128MB now against buying the new low end model in 1-2 years time.
Basically by buying the 2000 dollar model you can sell it on for 1500 next year (or two years depending on resale value) and use the 500 you saved to buy the new 2000 model which will have a much better graphics card, will probably have 256 MB as standard and will be NEW.
That's not a bad strategy (yay Mac-resale value). I have to deal with the fact that I promised my wife no new machine for 3 years while I go back and get my masters. Which means I'm loading 'er up (4GB, external LCD, ...) so that I can make it stretch!