I recently replaced my mid-2015 15" 256GB/16GB/2.2GHz i7/Intel Iris Pro (6100) MacBook Pro with a late-2016 15" 256GB/16GB/2.6GHz i7 MBP. I initially did this because I was looking to get a smaller machine without sacrificing performance.
Since the new 15" is technically about 20% smaller than the 2015 15", I thought I'd be content with the size decrease. However, in real world usage I've found the new 15" to be just as cumbersome as the old 15". I've had some limited use with the 13" and I really think I prefer that smaller size over the 15".
Here's where the conundrum begins. I would like to exchange for the smaller 13" without sacrificing performance for my usage. Admittedly, I don't do ANY video or picture editing. However, I tend to run a lot of apps simultaneously and rely on some serious multi-tasking with 3-4 workspaces going at a time. My mid-2015 15" with 16GB RAM and quad-core i7 handled all of the below tasks simultaneously without issue. So my goal is to match this performance in the 13" form factor.
Usage:
- Very large Excel files with millions of data points and often 10+ tabs
- Safari (with 8+ tabs)
- Chrome (with 8+ tabs)
- Parallels with Windows 10 running 2-3 apps at a time
- Adwords Editor
- Bing Ads Editor
- Google Play Music Desktop Player
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft OneNote
- Spark Email for additional email accounts
All of the above is utilized daily and spread across 3 or 4 workspaces. I know this shouldn't be an issue as far as the GPU is concerned. Especially because whenever I look, my new 15" is using the integrated Intel HD 530 GPU significantly more often than the dedicated Radeon Pro 450. And if my research was done correctly, the Iris 550 in the 13" is effectively 56% faster than the HD 530 in the 15". So in terms of GPU usage, the 15" is actually a downgrade over the 13" in my case. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding this.
http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compar...s-Intel-HD-530-Mobile-Skylake/m129148vsm34955
I should also mention that most of the time the computer is plugged into a Dell 34" curved display with 3440x1440 resolution. Im curious to hear if this should be considered when deciding between the 15" and 13" GPUs as well.
However, my main concern is dropping from a quad core i7 down to a dual core i5 (or dual core i7). Quite frankly, I'm not "in the know" enough to be certain whether or not I'm even benefiting from a quad core i7 with my usage, to begin with. I'm very open to thoughts and suggestions here.
I've specked out the 13" I think would be the best option for me:
3.1GHz i5 (or 3.3GHz dual core i7?)
16GB RAM
256GB SSD
Intel Iris 550
I've still got roughly 100GB remaining on the 256GB SSD in my mid-2015 and I have a 1TB network drive I store most of my large files on. So I don't feel the need to jump to a 512GB SSD. But I'm trying to figure out if, with my usage outlined above, I will see any added benefit in jumping from the 2.9GHz i5 to the 3.1GHz i5, or even up to the 3.3GHz i7. Or will I still see a noticeable downgrade in performance/smoothness by switching from the quad-core i7 to a dual-core i5/i7, no matter which one I choose?
Quite frankly, while I would love to get into a smaller computer I am not willing to take a hit in performance. Especially since the 13" I've configured is only marginally cheaper than my current 15".
Thanks for any help/feedback on the matter. 🙂
TL;DR - Need help specking out a 13" MBP that will handle the above usage (separated by dashes) just as smoothly as my 15" 2.6GHz i7 MBP. Keep in mind that it will also be connected to a 34" external display with 3440x1440 resolution.
Since the new 15" is technically about 20% smaller than the 2015 15", I thought I'd be content with the size decrease. However, in real world usage I've found the new 15" to be just as cumbersome as the old 15". I've had some limited use with the 13" and I really think I prefer that smaller size over the 15".
Here's where the conundrum begins. I would like to exchange for the smaller 13" without sacrificing performance for my usage. Admittedly, I don't do ANY video or picture editing. However, I tend to run a lot of apps simultaneously and rely on some serious multi-tasking with 3-4 workspaces going at a time. My mid-2015 15" with 16GB RAM and quad-core i7 handled all of the below tasks simultaneously without issue. So my goal is to match this performance in the 13" form factor.
Usage:
- Very large Excel files with millions of data points and often 10+ tabs
- Safari (with 8+ tabs)
- Chrome (with 8+ tabs)
- Parallels with Windows 10 running 2-3 apps at a time
- Adwords Editor
- Bing Ads Editor
- Google Play Music Desktop Player
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft OneNote
- Spark Email for additional email accounts
All of the above is utilized daily and spread across 3 or 4 workspaces. I know this shouldn't be an issue as far as the GPU is concerned. Especially because whenever I look, my new 15" is using the integrated Intel HD 530 GPU significantly more often than the dedicated Radeon Pro 450. And if my research was done correctly, the Iris 550 in the 13" is effectively 56% faster than the HD 530 in the 15". So in terms of GPU usage, the 15" is actually a downgrade over the 13" in my case. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding this.
http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compar...s-Intel-HD-530-Mobile-Skylake/m129148vsm34955
I should also mention that most of the time the computer is plugged into a Dell 34" curved display with 3440x1440 resolution. Im curious to hear if this should be considered when deciding between the 15" and 13" GPUs as well.
However, my main concern is dropping from a quad core i7 down to a dual core i5 (or dual core i7). Quite frankly, I'm not "in the know" enough to be certain whether or not I'm even benefiting from a quad core i7 with my usage, to begin with. I'm very open to thoughts and suggestions here.
I've specked out the 13" I think would be the best option for me:
3.1GHz i5 (or 3.3GHz dual core i7?)
16GB RAM
256GB SSD
Intel Iris 550
I've still got roughly 100GB remaining on the 256GB SSD in my mid-2015 and I have a 1TB network drive I store most of my large files on. So I don't feel the need to jump to a 512GB SSD. But I'm trying to figure out if, with my usage outlined above, I will see any added benefit in jumping from the 2.9GHz i5 to the 3.1GHz i5, or even up to the 3.3GHz i7. Or will I still see a noticeable downgrade in performance/smoothness by switching from the quad-core i7 to a dual-core i5/i7, no matter which one I choose?
Quite frankly, while I would love to get into a smaller computer I am not willing to take a hit in performance. Especially since the 13" I've configured is only marginally cheaper than my current 15".
Thanks for any help/feedback on the matter. 🙂
TL;DR - Need help specking out a 13" MBP that will handle the above usage (separated by dashes) just as smoothly as my 15" 2.6GHz i7 MBP. Keep in mind that it will also be connected to a 34" external display with 3440x1440 resolution.