2018 MacBook Pro Features 'Fastest SSD Ever' in a Laptop According to Benchmarks

[RumorConsumer]

Apple was one of th first to use SSD, also the first pcie based ones. The fact Apple is using pcie based ssd, the fastest around is an advantage. It is simply tastes, and it is the faster SSD in a notebook.
The only flawed test is dirt 3 since it use OpenGL and not Metal.

But the category is "Storage" re the SSD. Not "who wore it better" in terms of using the same exact storage technology. Nobody cares about the technology they care how fast is the damn thing.

 

[Appleaker]

APFS file cloning really doesn’t count in testing the performance.

It’s an embarrising amount of bias, that they would do that and then say “a win is a win”.

 

[jeremysteele]

Or the SSDs still wear fast enough when constantly reading and writing them, resulting to hardware failure sooner?

SSD wear is basically a non issue nowadays - you'd need to write well over 600 TBs to even begin to notice an issue (assuming the SSD is otherwise functioning properly). I have SSDs that have been used in high-use database servers for > 3-4 years that aren't anywhere near that. I'd say go for the larger SSD while you can!

 

[Glockworkorange]

I don't think this should surprise anyone. It seems Apple increases the SSD speeds with each generation.

I think the same thing was said about the 2017 model at the time. Does anyone notice the speed in really life? Sure, benchmarks are fun and all, but will a regular user notice the speed with daily use?

 

[Jerion]

OK...but those GPU specs are quite disappointing. My mac mini just chokes on Cities Skylines and was hoping to see something that can run it smoothly. Perhaps Vega cards in the upcoming mac mini then?

Wouldn't count on Vega in a Mini refresh, unless the new Mini seriously changes the model's priorities & price point (possible that it could happen with the hybrid Intel+Vega chip, but otherwise...)

At best, expect the Mini to have graphics options comparable to the 21" iMacs or base 15" MBP. Radeon Pro 555X or similar. Which would still be a ginormous upgrade over the weak-for-their-own-time integrated graphics that shipped in the 2014 Mini. If, of course, a refreshed Mini has a dGPU at all (might not).

 

[Glockworkorange]

Perhaps because AMD is more willing to support Apple’s Metal while nVidia cares more about DirectX and OpenGL. I can’t think of any other reason. AMD is also in the process of making a huge comeback with its CPUs and GPUs. nVidia is too arrogant to accept Apple’s demands.

I believe others have cited AMD's support of Metal. I don't think we're going to see NVidia chips again. When is the last time a Mac shipped with an NVidia card?

 

[OlliFlamme]

So many insane comments here.

You need the GPU for almost anything, most of the stuff somebody who buys an MBP will include heavy GPU intensive work.

And no, there will be no dedicated GPU in the 13 inch MBP. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. That computer, just like literally any other that is comparable in size (or even larger) does not have dedicated GPUs. Nor the thermal performance of these GPUs, nor their power consumptions are compatible with the size of a 13 inch ultrabook. This has been like that for years.

I would argue that a good eGPU case is a much better solution, as any dedicated mobile GPU will be soldered to the MB, will be a dumbed down version of a desktop one, eat the battery and will act as a personal lap radiator. Also, GPUs get obsolete at a lot faster rate than CPUs.

Thanks for uplifting the common sense in this thread!

Even with SSD being a commodity, as it being a non Apple specific part, the APFS file system, combined with the NVME interface and with the sequential tech inside the SSD, make for great R/W improvements.

The comparison of the new MB Pro is against other brands and laptops in the same category. Why the competition uses SATA, and has a file system that doesn’t optimally use the performance potential of SSD disks, is unknown to me.

What I do know is that you will soon see that yet again, Apple will have set a benchmark for the evaluation of laptop computers: soon we can observe how the rest of the market will jump on the bandwagon.

The GPU discussions in the laptop world are most probably strongly led by gamer folks, but Apple computers aim to be a tool for professionals.

Raw power versus sensible development are contrasts in tech just as in us people. One is not better than the other, they simply fit different styles of people. The immature fanboy here and fanboy there discussions can happily be held in other communities.

 

[cult hero]

Since 2010 I have wanted two things in a 13" MacBook Pro:

1. A quad core processor.
2. A dedicated GPU.

#1 is here and #2 is no longer an issue because an eGPU is actually far better for my needs. My laptop is a mobile workstation, but what I need/care about on the road is not the same as at the office. (Fact is, I don't even really care about a strong GPU for anything but non-work-related activities. Although with the BlackMagic unit, it looks like I can add another 5K to my 13" which is pretty wicked.)

Now if we could just get TB3 on the 12" MacBooks...

 

[pl1984]

I don't think this should surprise anyone. It seems Apple increases the SSD speeds with each generation.

I think the same thing was said about the 2017 model at the time. Does anyone notice the speed in really life? Sure, benchmarks are fun and all, but will a regular user notice the speed with daily use?

The concern I have is not that the SSD in the new MBP is faster but rather the degree to which it is faster. Can anyone really believe that PC laptops are limited to 399 MB/s and Apple has achieved 2519 MB/s? A 5.31 times speed increase?

 

[citysnaps]

You should compare it to other computers before making comments like this, you come across less than well-informed. A brief look at the Dell XPS 13 referenced in the article yields a machine with a much lower quality screen( HD only), much lower speed RAM (only 1866, really?), as the article points out, way slower SSD. Oh, and no Graphics card. True its a little cheaper, but not even in the same class, so that would go without saying.

Wonder if the Dell has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, each port capable of 40 Gbit/sec transfer rates. And with each port being able able to be used for charging, in both directions.

How about a display that supports the DCI-P3 color gamut?

 

[cmaier]

Hahaha ok. The SSD is faster. Now it is worth the 50% price increase over a pc with the same or better specs!

A 1799 computer without a dedicated GPU is ridiculous. But hey it’s got a faster SSD so that should make it up for the GPU.

How does the PC have “the same or better specs” when it has an ssd that is 1/10th the speed?

 

[pl1984]

The comparison is against other brands and laptops in the same category. If the competition uses SATA, and has a dile system that doesn’t optimally use the performance potential of SSD disks, is unknown to me.

Are they the same category? Without knowing the specifications of the reference systems we cannot say they are. Take the Surface Book 2 as an example. It's 2016 technology. While one can argue it's in the same category I don't believe anyone would be surprised to discover a just released product outperforms two year old product.

 

[jeremysteele]

The concern I have is not that the SSD in the new MBP is faster but rather the degree to which it is faster. Can anyone really believe that PC laptops are limited to 399 MB/s and Apple has achieved 2519 MB/s? A 5.31 times speed increase?

And that is why this benchmark is misleading. They are comparing cheaper PC laptops that come with SATA-based SSD's by default. NVMEs are available on nearly all of the models they posted. My now several-year-old lenovo I use for work has one and can easily top out at 2,400 MB/s (read, write is around 1500).

NVME is the primary reason why macbook pro ssd's are faster than the other models listed.. it isn't some magic sauce... Apple didn't invent the interface - they just use it standard.

In the case of the HP spectre - the current model comes with NVME by default, but I will bet they are using a previous year model that still use SATA.

 

[McG2k1]

The concern I have is not that the SSD in the new MBP is faster but rather the degree to which it is faster. Can anyone really believe that PC laptops are limited to 399 MB/s and Apple has achieved 2519 MB/s? A 5.31 times speed increase?

Yes, but apple hasn't achieved it, its the drive maker. Samsung has m.2 drives that will hit 3500+. IF they're using these drives all apple has done is pay someone to install them. and MAYBE they opened up some more PCI lanes. This is best case scenario. more likely its just a mid range drive with RAPID mode enabled. or whatever they call it.

 

[Michael Goff]

How does the PC have “the same or better specs” when it has an ssd that is 1/10th the speed?

Any laptop with nVME SSD get around the same speeds that the newest MacBook Pro does.
[doublepost=1531525814][/doublepost]

Wonder if the Dell has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, each port capable of 40 Gbit/sec transfer rates. And with each port being able able to be used for charging, in both directions.

How about a display that supports the DCI-P3 color gamut?

Do you use four TB3 ports or is this just the numbers game that I'm told isn't important?

 

[pl1984]

And that is why this benchmark is misleading. They are comparing cheaper PC laptops that come with SATA-based SSD's by default. NVMEs are available on nearly all of the models they posted. My now several-year-old lenovo I use for work comes with one and can easily top out at 2,400 MB/s.

NVME is the primary reason why macbook pro ssd's are faster than the other models listed.. it isn't some magic sauce... Apple didn't invent the interface - they just use it standard.

In the case of the HP spectre - the current model comes with NVME by default, but I will bet they are using a previous year model that still use SATA.

This is the problem I have with this comparison: We don't know what they're using for reference systems. Without that information it's essentially useless.

I like the new MBP's and I have no problem giving Apple credit when credit is due. But this comparison reeks of fanboyism from Laptop Magazine.

 

[anthorumor]

Steve Jobs would have insisted in dedicated graphics as default.

 

[Michael Goff]

This is the problem I have with this comparison: We don't know what they're using for reference systems. Without that information it's essentially useless.

I like the new MBP's and I have no problem giving Apple credit when credit is due. But this comparison reeks of fanboyism from Laptop Magazine.

The worst part is that I can't even figure out if the XPS 13 is SATA or nVME using Dell's own website. Their website is garbage.

 

[pl1984]

The worst part is that I can't even figure out if the XPS 13 is SATA or nVME using Dell's own website. Their website is garbage.

Did you attempt to do the same for the MBP?

EDIT: Seems like it's readily available on their web site. From the website the different configurations are listed as:

128GB Solid State Drive (I assume SATA)
256GB PCIe Solid State Drive

 

[citysnaps]

Any laptop with nVME SSD get around the same speeds that the newest MacBook Pro does.
[doublepost=1531525814][/doublepost]

Do you use four TB3 ports or is this just the numbers game that I'm told isn't important?

I use two regularly.

And while I don't use the z, q, ^, and ` keys very often, I'm glad they are there.

 

[mrzz]

These are the type of things Apple haters / Windows PC fanboys overlook when determining the true value of an Apple device.

95%+ of the users won't notice ANY difference comparing to the previous generation as it was very fast even in the previous gen. I'm convinced that 90%+ (or more) of the users would exchange a faster SSD with Magsafe, one USB-A, SD card reader, HDR screen with smaller bezels (I still can't believe that didn't improve the screen in such regard .. in 2018!), a real "pro" device without touch bar, a better type of keyboard and Nvidia dGPU instead of crippled expensive laptop introducing dongle hell (80%+ of accessories are still not USB-C ready so 4xUSB-C only is total BS for majority of users even in 2018). Then I would not hesitate a sec to pay ~USD4500!! (in EU store) for a "regular" 15" 2.6GHz 16GB 1TB laptop. I still can't believe what they've managed to do to a great laptop that ended in 2015. Is this the true value device?? Maybe for 5%. Unfortunately I prefer MacOS over Win10, otherwise I would not even think about the current MPB lineup. This is not a value laptop for most. I love MPB, but this is over the top what I can accept. And ask ~USD10K for maxed out version even with 4T SSD?? Are they serious? I would call it an exponential rip off as in this case there is no linear price increase at all. They try every single time what people can still accept. Honestly they don't care about users at all - users are just an instrument to get more and more $. What should people be happy about? Just grab this "amazing" piece and be happy. Majority of others have to wait again and just hope that it will get better next time.. What a sad picture of the current MBP lineup.

 

[jeremysteele]

The worst part is that I can't even figure out if the XPS 13 is SATA or nVME using Dell's own website. Their website is garbage.

Their specs table will say PCIe, otherwise it is regular ol SATA. The base model is SATA.

Yeah, their website is pretty terrible.

 

[Guy Clark]

There comes a time when SSD speed becomes unnoticeable the same as upgrading from a certain amount of RAM.
There is no denying the advantage of SSD that being said they are not the be and end all. Both Hybrid Drives and High End Performance Mechanical Drives have much to offer such as the Western Digital Black HDD
https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/solutions/solid-state-hybrid/
https://www.wdc.com/products/internal-storage/wd-black-desktop.html

SSD remains the most expensive storage option and what happens when that MacBook Pro fails how do you go about getting your data off that soldered in SSD basically you are stuffed as Louis Rossmann sets it all out in front of you in plain language. Only Apple will sort it for an extortionate price

 

[boast]

Awesome to read. Can't wait for mine to arrive

 

[MacnewWorld]

T2 is a raid and 2 nvme samsoung with speed 1800 join to 1 and gave this speeds..... If broken the chain lost any data... if has firmware a T2 in the future upgraded the speed easyly