2011 13" MBP 2.3ghz vs 2010 15" MBP 2.4 ghz

[Luc13n]

Hello there !

I'm shopping for a new laptop and here is my dilemma :

2011 13" MBP 2.3GHZ ($1249 CAN) VS 2010 15" MBP i5 2.4 GHZ ($1319 CAN refurbished)

I'll use my laptop for internet browsing, photo/image editing, itune (75% of the time).
The last 25% I would like to play some games.. Like civilization V, anno 1404 and probably anno 2070.

I know that the 2011 15" will be the best for that, but I don't have the $1800++ CAN.

Size and weight doesn't really matter, this laptop will travel mainly from a room to another,but I guess that the 15" will be more confortable to use.

I would like to keep it 4 years minimum, then maybe the 2011 sandybrige i5 + thunderbolt will be more "futureproof".

Finally for my budget (around $1300 CAN) and my needs (gaming) it may be better for me to stay in the PC world ... but the MBP is such a beauty!

The more I think about it the more I'm lost lol

What do you think?

Thanks

Luc13n

PS: Sorry for my english, french speaking guy

 

[cdubb80]

i had the old 13" MBP (2010) which I just sold and am planning on buying the 2011 version.

I would recommend getting the 13" 2011 over the 15" 2010 since (1) it's cheaper (2) has similar or better geekbench scores (3) more portable.

If you need a bigger screen just hook it up to a 20+ inch monitor at home.

 

[Luc13n]

Ok I found the benchmark :

Geekbench

* 13" 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 2010: 3351
* 13" 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo 2010: 3645
* 13" 2.3 GHz dual i5 2011: 5900
* 13" 2.7 GHz dual i7 2011, 6796
* 15" 2.4 GHz dual i5 2010: 4866

Speedmark 6.5

* 13" 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 2010: 106 - 33 fps
* 13" 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo 2010: 137 - 34 fps
* 13" 2.3 GHz dual i5 2011: 140 - 26 fps
* 13" 2.7 GHz dual i7 2011, 155 - 27 fps
* 15" 2.4 GHz dual i5 2010: 132 - 63 fps

Source :http://lowendmac.com/musings/11mm/macbook-pro-benchmarks.html

The i5 sandybridge CPU is clearly more powerfull.. But for the GPU the GT 330M seems to be better (26fps vs 63fps)