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2.4 vs. 2.5 Penryn

N

nickarate

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 19, 2008
176
0
Hi guys! I'm heading off to college in the coming months and I am looking for a new computer to last me the 4 years. I am just coming off one of the worst computers I have ever used, my Sony Vaio (severe hardware problems made it just stop working)... and I just decided I was sick of Windows, so I'm going to buy my first mac!

I plan on using the computer for school work and some lite gaming. From my understanding, the 2.4 mbp has slightly lower L2 cache (I have no idea what this means) and less video ram in addition to .1 ghz slower processor as compared to the 2.5 mbp. I think I can come up with the money for the more expensive model, but was wondeing whether you guys think I will actually feel the difference between the 2.4 and the 2.5 and whether it will last the 4 years without becoming too obsolete?

I've been reading these posts for a while and have seen just how helpful of a community mac users can me, so I want to thank you in advance for your help.
 
I don't think you would notice the difference for what you are doing at all. I personally went for the low end model and I love it. Save $500 and buy something else. Welcome to the Mac world!!
 
Go for the 2.4Ghz (better value in my opinion). Then you can use the money saved to max out the ram.
 
2.4 should do you fine. Now that they've upgraded the VRAM on the lower model to 256, you'll face no limitations with that video card.
 
Thanks guys! You've reinforced what I was thinking. After I finish this post, I think I'm gonna sign off my sister's 7 year old windows (that I've been using in place of my dead vaio) and head over to pick one up.
 
L2 cache is a memory located on the processor die rather than the external DRAM. It stores data commonly used from the DRAM in a redundant manner to lower the time it takes to get to that data should it be needed again.
 
I'm in the exact same boat as you. I'm holding off until it gets closer to when I'm actually starting college in hopes for a new redesign. Who knows, maybe the low end MBP will be 2.5 while the higher end will be 2.6-2.8???



I have no clue, but I'm still waiting just in case.
 
In reference to that Macworld article, I don't understand why Unreal Tournament 2004 is testing 7fps slower on the 17" than the 15" when they are exactly the same and Macworld claims they ran all the UT2004 tests at 1024x768. Weird...
 
Long time reader, first time poster. :D

I'm on the fence right now between the 2.4 and the 2.5 MBP as well.

I believe my computer demands are a little more demanding than the first poster. I do graphic/web design on the side. I mainly use Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

I could swing the 2.5 $ wise, but I wondering if I would be better off getting the 7200 hard drive in the 2.4 and saving the money.

Thank you in advance for your responses...

Rick
 
rkdiddy said:
Long time reader, first time poster. :D

I'm on the fence right now between the 2.4 and the 2.5 MBP as well.

I believe my computer demands are a little more demanding than the first poster. I do graphic/web design on the side. I mainly use Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

I could swing the 2.5 $ wise, but I wondering if I would be better off getting the 7200 hard drive in the 2.4 and saving the money.

Thank you in advance for your responses...

Rick
Click to expand...

I have the 2.4 7200 HD and love it... i dont know really performance wise how well it is but i like it
 
Anyone else with some thoughts on this matter?

After reading through a bunch of the threads, I'm convinced I should go with the 7200 HD.

But, I'm not sure which processor to go with 2.4 or 2.5.

Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver and Illustrator are the programs I use...


Thanks.:cool:
 
If you're going new, go with the baseline model. The performance difference isn't worth the price hike.
 
nickarate said:
I think I can come up with the money for the more expensive model, but was wondeing whether you guys think I will actually feel the difference between the 2.4 and the 2.5 and whether it will last the 4 years without becoming too obsolete?
Click to expand...

If you have the money for the 2.5 then go for it, itll just be a little extra power to handle more intensive programs that come out in the future. Whatever you buy will be obsolete in terms of what else is out there, but it doesnt mean that its going to run slower than the day you bought it. The 8 Core MacPro thats out today will look like a kids machine compared to the MacPro thats out in 4 years, thats just how technology works.
 
I say always get the best you can afford... even if its not good value to get the extra .1 Ghz if you can afford it, its still .1 Ghz better :)

Same goes for hard disk.
 
I had the same problem
Also student...

I am going to order my mbp tomorrow 15" 2.4
the extra .1Ghz is noghting the current base line model with the 7200 rpm is better then the top of the line mbp of last revision. basicaly it means that in half a year the .1 ghz wont matter at all
 
Some good info here - thank you.

Does anyone know if the 2.4 w/ 7200 HD is stocked at the Apple stores?

I would most likely be going to the one in Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza in So Cal.

Thanks!
 
rkdiddy said:
Some good info here - thank you.

Does anyone know if the 2.4 w/ 7200 HD is stocked at the Apple stores?

I would most likely be going to the one in Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza in So Cal.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

No. They only stock the base configurations on the website at the store. They also stock the all out configured option.
 
thegoldenmackid said:
This is not something that you can always rely on, certain stores will have the maxed out options, but scarcely compared to other models and these models are not reordered as quickly as others.
Click to expand...

Well I would call in advance to check first.
 
Having the same question

Right now im planning to get a penryn based Macbook pro, but i just dont know wich one to choose, so you guys recommend the 2.4 right?

Im planning to use it to:
Edit Video and Audio?

so any suggestion?


or i can go for the 2.4 with 7,200 hdd and with the extra 500 get a 1TB time capsule.
 
I personally think the 2.4 is adequate for most purposes. I'd get the 2.4 if it was available for the 17"

As with the Time Capsule... I'm pretty iffy about it; didn't like it too much; and the back up is so slowwwwww. zzzzz
 
Go for the 2.4 if you're a sensible guy. It's bang for the buck and yeah the extra 500 is worth getting a time capsule, a nice sleeve to protect your MBP and definitely 4 GB RAM. I have the 2.4 and bumped it to 4 GB RAM and it is smokin' now. I would describe the 2.4 as a Porsche 911, the 2.5 as a Carrera and the 17" as a lambo.

If you have the tendency to always want the best..then get the 2.6 but be aware that it won't be the best for long. However I can say performance wise..the 2.4 has not let me down and I am happy in the fact that I have an extra 500 left for more Apple goodies like time capsule :p

I':rolleyes:
 
zer0tails said:
Go for the 2.4 if you're a sensible guy. It's bang for the buck and yeah the extra 500 is worth getting a time capsule, a nice sleeve to protect your MBP and definitely 4 GB RAM. I have the 2.4 and bumped it to 4 GB RAM and it is smokin' now. I would describe the 2.4 as a Porsche 911, the 2.5 as a Carrera and the 17" as a lambo.

If you have the tendency to always want the best..then get the 2.6 but be aware that it won't be the best for long. However I can say performance wise..the 2.4 has not let me down and I am happy in the fact that I have an extra 500 left for more Apple goodies like time capsule :p

I':rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Hey thanks dude i'll consider that :D

and how much did you pay for the extra 2 ram did you get 2x2gb sodimms? you install those by yourself right, and its reading the 4gb?

because a friend told me that he upgrade to 4 but only detects 3.
 
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