Anybody still using a Unibody pre-Retina MBP?

[retta283]

View attachment 871299

I'd be interested in seeing what model panel you have. To find this out:
System Preferences - Displays - Color - Color LCD - Open Profile

Scroll down to row - 'mmod'

The last four numbers of the model are what you're looking for, in my case it's 9c8c.

Of course it could be a preference as to what kind of color you like in your displays, but when sat next to my 2008 20" and 2010 21.5" iMacs, the color is terrible on the MacBook. Viewing angle is also extremely limited, which is the main killer for me.

 

[avz]

I'd be interested in seeing what model panel you have. To find this out:
System Preferences - Displays - Color - Color LCD - Open Profile

Scroll down to row - 'mmod'

The last four numbers of the model are what you're looking for, in my case it's 9c8c.

Of course it could be a preference as to what kind of color you like in your displays, but when sat next to my 2008 20" and 2010 21.5" iMacs, the color is terrible on the MacBook. Viewing angle is also extremely limited, which is the main killer for me.

Looks like I do have a display that is different from yours.

 

[th0masp]

Still using a 2011 Late 15 inch model for media, web and office duty. Equipped with 16 GB of RAM and a largish SSD it's still plenty fast for what it does. Over the years I've backed away from the laptop-as-desktop-replacement line of thinking though so I'm not actually expecting my laptop to be a workhorse.
I enjoy having actually useful USB ports, built-in ethernet and a SD-card reader.

Had the battery swapped, the thermal paste redone and the fans replaced, also the GPU had to be repaired twice and it's been solid now for years. I also enforce the use of the iGPU whenever possible, for one to keep the dGPU in good shape but it has the added benefit that the machine is dead silent and runs cool to the touch. For web and media playback I have not come across any performance issues. No stability issues either (OS Sierra).

Much better than when it was brand new and set to switch GPUs depending on application.

 

[avz]

I'm looking for a cheap laptop to replace my poor 2008 MacBook, and I'm looking at getting a pre-Retina 15 inch. While spec wise it may not be a huge upgrade, that's not what I'm after as with more RAM and an SSD, my 2008 runs fine for me. Problems come down to repairs that need to be done, and the desire for a better display. I'll end up maxing out the RAM and putting in an SSD, so I imagine it should run fine, I won't be taxing this thing too hard (I need Mac apps, so Windows or others are off the table for now)

So for anyone still running these, what year/specs are you running? I probably will not go for a 2011 due to GPU failures, either 2010 or 2012 most likely.

I have to say that I am really impressed with the idle running CPU diode temperature of the MacBookPro7,1(thermal paste never been replaced):

I would expect my MacBook5,1 to run cooler since it is only 2GHz Core 2 Duo and the aluminum unibody is identical to MacBookPro7,1 but the best I can get is 47-50 with the fan around 3400rpm. 20 degrees C difference is a game changer no matter how you look at it.
What gives? Not all Core 2 Duo's are the same? Not all 13 inch aluminum unibody's are the same?

 

[retta283]

I have to say that I am really impressed with the idle running CPU diode temperature of the MacBookPro7,1(thermal paste never been replaced):
View attachment 872647
I would expect my MacBook5,1 to run cooler since it is only 2GHz Core 2 Duo and the aluminum unibody is identical to MacBookPro7,1 but the best I can get is 47-50 with the fan around 3400rpm. 20 degrees C difference is a game changer no matter how you look at it.
What gives? Not all Core 2 Duo's are the same? Not all 13 inch aluminum unibody's are the same?

There could be better thermal management in the 7,1. They changed up the internal design between the 2008 MB and 13 inch MBPs. Could also be dust built up. Or the processor is just cooler.

 

[avz]

There could be better thermal management in the 7,1. They changed up the internal design between the 2008 MB and 13 inch MBPs. Could also be dust built up. Or the processor is just cooler.

Yes, there is definitely seem to be a design flaw in a MacBook5,1. I decided to remove the optibay and keep that extra space inside the MacBook unoccupied in an attempt to improve the airflow and hopefully the cooling situation.

 

[blatantblue]

F*uck yeah! I'm rocking two 2012 cMBP, a 13" and a 15" both i7 models and mint condition! They are maxed out at 16GB RAM and have SSDs installed. I've basically owned every unibody model. I even owned the 2012 rMBP but sold it after I found out it had video card issues.

These are solid models because the battery, ram and SSD, even the optical drive can be swapped. I think I'll use these until they can't be used any longer.

I should also add, the 15" cMBP had an option for a high resolution (1680x1050) screen in matte and glossy. I have the matte model. I've never seen a glossy high res model. Might be like a unicorn. 🦄

You totally still spelled out **** with an asterisk in between. 😂