Better ram or processor?

[heisenberg123]

Trying to decide between the top 3 but not sure what is the better to have the better processor or the better ram I'm not a developer just a casual pc user that's had enough of the windows life

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/15

Thanks for any input

 

[alexbates]

You can upgrade the RAM relatively cheap on your own in the future, focus on the processor when you shop for Macs.

Edit- now I see what you mean, 1333MHz vs 1066MHz. I'd still choose the 2.66GHz i7 MBP. Having 8GB of 1066MHz RAM (after upgrade) would be better than 4GB of 1333MHz.

 

[ct2k7]

With notebooks, you cannot upgrade the core hardware. You can upgrade the RAM at any time.

That said, do you really need to upgrade the processor? The only reason I will have a high spec 15" MacBook Pro is because I perform several flight simulations, on a daily basis. What exactly do you intend on using your MacBook Pro for?

PS, you might find that you require Windows for a few things, many people do.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

Get the 2.0 quad i7 2011 model. You can upgrade RAM to 8GB for less than $50 afterwards.

 

[alust2013]

If you're a casual user, I'd get whichever is less expensive, If they're the same price, get CPU, as RAM is upgradeable.

 

[englishman]

Nice to have the quad
Nice to have the newer model
Nice to have the better graphics

ie the middle one

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FC721LL/A

 

[heisenberg123]

Get the 2.0 quad i7 2011 model. You can upgrade RAM to 8GB for less than $50 afterwards.

Nice to have the quad
Nice to have the newer model
Nice to have the better graphics

ie the middle one

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FC721LL/A

Thanks for the feedback so quad core makes a difference over where it says intel core?

so i think i have it down to the two i7's but what does that older model have that makes it the same price as the newer? is the 2.66 intel core better in theory but the 2.0 quad is a newer model making them equal value?

 

[yusukeaoki]

cant upgrade processors on laptops so focus on them.
RAM is extremely cheap so no worries!

----------

Thanks for the feedback so quad core makes a difference over where it says intel core?

so i think i have it down to the two i7's but what does that older model have that makes it the same price as the newer? is the 2.66 intel core better in theory but the 2.0 quad is a newer model making them equal value?

No 2010 MBP may have been 2.66GHz but that is only dual core.
This year it is QUAD core. Now theres 4 cores instead of 2.
But if your getting the 2.0GHz, remember you cant upgrade RAM over 8GB while the 2.2GHz can up to 16GB.

And again, Apple prices all their stuff equal every year.

 

[heisenberg123]

cant upgrade processors on laptops so focus on them.
RAM is extremely cheap so no worries!

So is a 2.66 Intel Core better than a 2.0 quad core both are i7s?

 

[Liquinn]

I'd go for the better processor than upgrade the RAM to 8/16GB post-purchase.

Cheers,

 

[yusukeaoki]

So is a 2.66 Intel Core better than a 2.0 quad core both are i7s?

No! 2.66GHz Dual i7 is weaker than the 2.0GHz!
2011 model is extremely faster than the previous model for sure

 

[heisenberg123]

No! 2.66GHz Dual i7 is weaker than the 2.0GHz!
2011 model is extremely faster than the previous model for sure

Thanks for your input not to be a pain but what does that 2010 model have that's better than the 2011 model making them the same price

 

[yusukeaoki]

Thanks for your input not to be a pain but what does that 2010 model have that's better than the 2011 model making them the same price

No problem! Apple prices everything same every year so thats how it is.

This is how it is:
Anything above 4 cores > 4 (quad) cores > 2 (dual) cores > 1 (single) core

2010 2.66Ghz model is the 2 cores model.
The 2011 is the 4 cores model.

For your future reference mate

 

[psykick5]

Thanks for your input not to be a pain but what does that 2010 model have that's better than the 2011 model making them the same price

In 2010 the 2.66 i7 was the high end 15 inch. The 2.0 i7 of early 2011 is the low end.


2011 one is still faster, by the way.

 

[McGiord]

4 years ago I paid almost 3K for the late 2008 15" MBP 2.8Ghz....

The i7 for $1,600 is a great deal!

 

[heisenberg123]

In 2010 the 2.66 i7 was the high end 15 inch. The 2.0 i7 of early 2011 is the low end.


2011 one is still faster, by the way.

Ah I see apple is just strategically pricing them the same to make the buy think the high end 2010 was as good the low end 2011

The only thing that was iffy to me is the 2010 for wireless say airport extreme and the 2011 just say wifi

 

[gorskiegangsta]

Thanks for the feedback so quad core makes a difference over where it says intel core?

so i think i have it down to the two i7's but what does that older model have that makes it the same price as the newer? is the 2.66 intel core better in theory but the 2.0 quad is a newer model making them equal value?

The 2.66 is dual-core processor. It is much weaker than the 2.0 quad-core processor. To put it in perspective, the 2.66GHz dual-core 2010 model gets 5500 points on Geekbench while 2.0 quad-core 2011 model gets 8800 points. Get the 2.0 quad-core 2011 model; is is better than the 2.66 2010 model in pretty much every respect.

 

[vitzr]

The only thing that was iffy to me is the 2010 for wireless say airport extreme and the 2011 just say wifi

Airport is Apples old nomenclature for WiFi. They've stopped using that name and fallen in line with the accepted industry standard. Now they call it by it's correct name: WiFi.

 

[ct2k7]

Sandy Bridge!

 

[Ole'schooliBook]

Sandy Bridge!

Definitely second this....Sandy Bridge is such an improvement over the previous generation. Quad-Core and great graphics (if you go for the Radeon 6750) make this laptop run like a dream! Just add an SSD when the prices come down and your machine will be unbelievable!

 

[heisenberg123]

thanks for everyones input, i ordered the i7 2.0 quad core today