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Best model/year to buy? 2009-2011

E

ElliottG

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 19, 2013
54
0
Hey guys

I'm just looking for some opinions on the most reliable models/proc/ram combinations for the aluminium unibody Macbook Pro's (13" model) for the years they were made. [LIMITED TO THE CORE 2 DUO MODELS, I5 A BIT TOO EXPENSIVE]

I see there are various clock speeds for the Core 2 Duo's, etc.

Which ones had the most problems (if any), screen issues, DVD drive problems, fan problems, etc?

Thanks guys,
Elliott
 
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ElliottG said:
Hey guys

I'm just looking for some opinions on the most reliable models/proc/ram combinations for the aluminium unibody Macbook Pro's (13" model) for the years they were made.

I see there are various clock speeds for the Core 2 Duo's, etc.

Which ones had the most problems (if any), screen issues, DVD drive problems, fan problems, etc?

Thanks guys,
Elliott
Click to expand...

My 2009 model has been in and out of backpacks for four years, so it has some problems with hard drive cables failing (the drives have had some corruption, but they've never failed) and a problem where it sometimes won't respond when you tell it to wake up from sleep. My friend with the 15" model has had some screen issues I think, but I never have. My original t-shaped MagSafe had some connection issues because I didn't wrap it correctly. The fan can sometimes spin pretty fast, but it's not common. I've never had issues with the disk drive.

Remember that the 2009 was the first 13" unibody pro. The 2008 version was just MacBook. So there were kinks to work out.

My parents have a 17" 2010 model. It mostly sits on a desk, so the only issue was a supposedly stuck key. It made this really strange chirping sound.

I don't know about the 2011 models, but you can find most major issues somewhere around here.
 
All 2011 macbook pros are i5/i7 based. The refurb i5's shouldn't be that expensive. Core 2 Duo is ancient architecture.

2009/2010 13" MBP are more or less the same, 2010 has slightly better integrated graphics and a slight CPU speed bump.

Just FYI, the 2011 15" and 17" MBPs were one of the biggest leaps in power between successive model years. They introduced quad core CPUs with hyperthreading, they had the latent ability to take 16GB of RAM, they had thunderbolt, they were the start of a new generation of notebook power.
 
get a 2010 13"..

They're not to badly priced anymore and the 320m is better than the 9400M it replaced.
 
Also one more thing! Which of the 13" MacBook pros run on 64 bit? Is it better? I've seen a bunch of people that get much higher scores on GeekBench when using 64 bit.

Thanks,
Elliott
 
ElliottG said:
Also one more thing! Which of the 13" MacBook pros run on 64 bit? Is it better? I've seen a bunch of people that get much higher scores on GeekBench when using 64 bit.

Thanks,
Elliott
Click to expand...

Hey, your not interested in the current 2012 macBook pro with the 650m? :D
 
I have owned 1 2009 and two 2011's

Definitely go with the 2011. I had a 2009 Core 2 Duo a year ago. It was very slow, could not keep up with many of the task I wanted it to do. Yes it can run safari and mail, but unless you plan on updating every few months it not smart to buy the Core 2 Duo. Its definitely worth it to get the i5.
 
MattMJB0188 said:
Hey, your not interested in the current 2012 macBook pro with the 650m? :D
Click to expand...

Hahah...$$$.

KeegM480 said:
Definitely go with the 2011. I had a 2009 Core 2 Duo a year ago. It was very slow, could not keep up with many of the task I wanted it to do. Yes it can run safari and mail, but unless you plan on updating every few months it not smart to buy the Core 2 Duo. Its definitely worth it to get the i5.
Click to expand...

Great that's what I'll do; thanks.
 
Newer is always better. The C2D's came with a bad SATA controller if you plan on using SSD's, and the 2012's introduced USB 3.0 which is a must-have if you use lots of external storage that isn't firewire 800.
 
I'd avoid the 2011 MBP 15, too many issues with the ATI GPU. At the very least I'd look for one with a warranty. The 2011 MBP 13 has been very reliable. My biggest gripe with it is the lack of USB 3.0. What's infuriating is that Apple makes a $30 thunderbolt-firewire cable, but refuses to make an affordable TB-USB 3.0 adapter for the poor 2011 owners. They're stuck with crazy expensive options like Belkin.
 
robvas said:
Newer is always better. The C2D's came with a bad SATA controller if you plan on using SSD's, and the 2012's introduced USB 3.0 which is a must-have if you use lots of external storage that isn't firewire 800.
Click to expand...

Bad SATA controller? Might that explain why my mid-2009 MBP keeps burning through SATA cables? If so, is that a bad logic board?

Sorry to get off topic, but this is a major issue I've been dealing with for two years, and I'm trying to get my apple store to stop just replacing the cable and look for the real problem.
 
KUguardgrl13 said:
Bad SATA controller? Might that explain why my mid-2009 MBP keeps burning through SATA cables? If so, is that a bad logic board?

Sorry to get off topic, but this is a major issue I've been dealing with for two years, and I'm trying to get my apple store to stop just replacing the cable and look for the real problem.
Click to expand...

Mostly just issues with certain SSD's but it does have other issues like the cable that you mentioned. the SATA controller was made by NVIDIA and the 2011+ controllers by Intel is much, much better.
 
The OP says he can't afford a newer computer..

C2D is more than fine for 99% of the tasks people run give him/her a break and recommend things in the C2D price range. I'm thinking he/she would probably like to be at ~$600 not ~$1500
 
I had issues with the screen on my 2009 Flickering, every now and then the screen would flicker (go to a static screen and then back) I was told it was due to GPU issues specific to the 2009 Model with the nVidia card. I haven't owned a 2010, my 2011 didnt have any issues I just recently sold it. My 2009 was a mess though. If you want your computer to last for a long time, I suggest a 2010-2012, 2.3GHz+ i5 2.66GHz+ Core 2 Duo, 320+ HD, 8GB of RAM.
 
MyMac1976 said:
The OP says he can't afford a newer computer..

C2D is more than fine for 99% of the tasks people run give him/her a break and recommend things in the C2D price range. I'm thinking he/she would probably like to be at ~$600 not ~$1500
Click to expand...

Thanks for understanding.

KeegM480 said:
I had issues with the screen on my 2009 Flickering, every now and then the screen would flicker (go to a static screen and then back) I was told it was due to GPU issues specific to the 2009 Model with the nVidia card. I haven't owned a 2010, my 2011 didnt have any issues I just recently sold it. My 2009 was a mess though. If you want your computer to last for a long time, I suggest a 2010-2012, 2.3GHz+ i5 2.66GHz+ Core 2 Duo, 320+ HD, 8GB of RAM.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks.

Badrottie said:
I don't know if future OS X update will run on the 2011? If you don't care about future OSX update then I think 2011 MBP is a good one. :apple:
Click to expand...

Great!

Anyway guys, I just bought a 2011 i5 in really good shape for $660, so hopefully it should last a good while...now to look for decently priced cases & pouches/sleeves...although that is a completely different topic.

I should be getting the MBP in around 2 weeks. Thanks for all your support/information! :eek:

Just to clarify something: the 2011's can't take 16Gb of RAM, correct? Only the 2012's?
 
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ElliottG said:
Thanks for understanding.



Great, thanks.



Great!

Anyway guys, I just bought a 2011 i5 in really good shape for $660, so hopefully it should last a good while...now to look for decently priced cases & pouches/sleeves...although that is a completely different topic.

I should be getting the MBP in around 2 weeks. Thanks for all your support/information! :eek:

Just to clarify something: the 2011's can't take 16Gb of RAM, correct? Only the 2012's?
Click to expand...

Hello, the 2011's CAN take 16GB of memory. Can I ask where you bought it? $660 for a 2011 sounds like a great buy!
 
Cool. Thanks.

Everywhere I've looked up specs they say 8Gb max but I'm guessing they're saying 8Gb max PER DIMM slot.

I got it on eBay. Only a small little ding on the side but I don't care.

Here it is

Some people might complain about buying them on eBay...but I have zero problems with doing it and I'm sure it'll be nice. Comes with the original box, chargers, and all CD's, etc!

Do you guys know of any good guides for newbs to Macs? I'm going to browse the forums now to look...anything that explains the special gestures and key combinations you can do?...

Thanks again guys
 
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