When they compared 2.0 to 2.4 in tests over at MacWorld and such they found that overall the difference was much less then 20%, for games and most apps the difference was under 10%. Only some CPU intensive things like creating RAR's, video encoding and such gave 20% gain in CPU power.
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Aluminum Macbook 2.0GHz vs. 2.4GHz. Worth the upgrade?
- Thread starter wellsws
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When they compared 2.0 to 2.4 in tests over at MacWorld and such they found that overall the difference was much less then 20%, for games and most apps the difference was under 10%. Only some CPU intensive things like creating RAR's, video encoding and such gave 20% gain in CPU power.
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I'm wondering if, since the architecture is so similar, someone will eventually figure out a way to install the led system responsible for the backlit keyboard in the 2.0 model. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard. In the meantime, I bought a USB LED light for $4.00 at Frys.
I'm wondering if, since the architecture is so similar, someone will eventually figure out a way to install the led system responsible for the backlit keyboard in the 2.0 model. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard. In the meantime, I bought a USB LED light for $4.00 at Frys.
After reading this thread, I decided that I would always be jealous of those with the lit up keyboard, so I decided it was worth the extra £170 to get it. I also wanted a bigger hard-drive, so this thread gave me the push I wanted/needed.
So the lit up keyboard is cool, however I was watching a movie last night in bed and turned off the lights on the keyboard so as not to distract from the screen, so then when I wanted to pause it or anything, I then had to search in the dark for the light button so that I could see the pause button! Essentially I could just have looked for the pause button, but I wanted to use my new lights! so in that situation, it really was a useless application.
However when the evening reaches that stage where it is not yet dark enough to turn on lights, the keyboard is very handy... or if you were to travel on buses evening times...
Otherwise I would say that it is a cool factor that may wear off after first two weeks, so is it really worth spending an extra 200 for two weeks of novelty?
I would say only go for the 2.4 only if you have other reasons such as speed, harddrive etc. and if you are not always in good lighting conditions. Also I tend not to look at keyboard while typing, and found it to be quite a distraction making me nearly second guess myself!
So the lit up keyboard is cool, however I was watching a movie last night in bed and turned off the lights on the keyboard so as not to distract from the screen, so then when I wanted to pause it or anything, I then had to search in the dark for the light button so that I could see the pause button! Essentially I could just have looked for the pause button, but I wanted to use my new lights! so in that situation, it really was a useless application.
However when the evening reaches that stage where it is not yet dark enough to turn on lights, the keyboard is very handy... or if you were to travel on buses evening times...
Otherwise I would say that it is a cool factor that may wear off after first two weeks, so is it really worth spending an extra 200 for two weeks of novelty?
I would say only go for the 2.4 only if you have other reasons such as speed, harddrive etc. and if you are not always in good lighting conditions. Also I tend not to look at keyboard while typing, and found it to be quite a distraction making me nearly second guess myself!
Battery run time on 2.0 versus 2.4
The one thing that no one brought up was the battery run time.
Would the 2.0 be able to squeeze a bit more life out of the Macbook since it's running at a lower clock. I don't know if it would be anything noticeable, but it would be nice to see a benchmark.
The one thing that no one brought up was the battery run time.
Would the 2.0 be able to squeeze a bit more life out of the Macbook since it's running at a lower clock. I don't know if it would be anything noticeable, but it would be nice to see a benchmark.
In theory, the 2.0 should have a better battery life due to a slower processor. However, the Intel P8600 in the 2.4 might be more energy efficient then the P7350 (I think) in the 2.0 MacBook.
Anyone know?
I vote go home. 400 mhz these days isn't too noticeable. I think it's all psychological really... Get the 2.0 ghz one and upgrade to 4gb of memory and a 7200 rpm drive. (or even an SSD.) That will give you far better performance than a 400 mgz processor boost. (That's what I plan on doing.)
Edit: Why is everyone so nuts about the backlit keyboard? You have an LED screen right above the keyboard that gives off plenty of light.
Edit: Why is everyone so nuts about the backlit keyboard? You have an LED screen right above the keyboard that gives off plenty of light.
Both have same watt consumption. The difference between both CPUs is the merely faster clock in the P8600
i totally agree. however you cannot compare just the processor speeds by themselves. with the 2.4 you also get the backlit keys and HD space.
the HD can be upgraded later but the keys cannot
I use my MBP in dark rooms and the backlit keyboard is great. I don't always want to be blinded by the display at full brightness just to see the characters on the keys. Even in a moderately lit room just having the keys lit really increases character recognition on the black keys.
Having the key-backlighting on uses far less battery than putting the screen at the full brightness so you can easily see the characters on the keys.
For future reference, the space bar is also a play/pause button. If you have trouble navigating that, may Steve help your soul.
I've had backlit keyboards for the past four years and I have yet to have that cool factor wear off.
I also find it hard believe that you won't notice an almost half gigahertz difference in speed.
as i use nas for storage and can touch type i went for 2.0, reason for this is i thought with the extra £200 I would get a SSD and that would be more beneficial that the .4ghz cpu and then once i had an extra £50 upgrade to 4gb of memory, plus my macbook only really cost me £20 because i put £20 in the roulette at the bookies and won £960 quid!!!!!!!! 
I'm also debating whether to buy a 2.0 or 2.4 alum. MB. I currently have a 2.4 MB Pro (Early 08), 4GB RAM, 200GB HD 7200RPM, and APP. Is it ridiculous for me to sell it for a 2.4 alum. MB? I'm just looking for similiar specs, just with a smaller screen. I was trying to sell it for about $1700, so I can get the new MB.
Any suggestions? Keep my MB Pro? Sell it?
Any suggestions? Keep my MB Pro? Sell it?
I just went from a 2.16 ghz mbp to the 2.4 amb and like it. Yes you are not getting as great of a screen, you lose firewire, and you don't get quite the graphics power but you get great portability, which was what I want. I bought an 20" imac at the same time so I have my firewire for video and editing. Anyways, I am about a week into owning the macbook and I really like it. At first I was waivering and thinking about returning it for a new mbp but the more I use it I think I am going to stay with the mb.
