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Buyer's remorse: 15" GPUs?

Prodo123

Prodo123

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Nov 18, 2010
2,326
10
I got the low end 15", with the HD 6490M. Now I'm having worries that it's not future-proof enough. Should I return the current one for the high-end HD 6750M?
Also, I could care less about the CPU bump (Miniscule) and the HDD bump (I have my own HDD). All I want to know is, should I have gotten the high-end GPU instead of the low-end? Is a GPU bump for $400 worth it?

I do some light gaming, like Portal 2 and Halo 2 and stuff. Nothing heavy like Starcraft 2.
I however, do Photoshop work and occasional casual video editing via iMovie.
 
If you don't have an interest in playing lots of demanding games on high graphics settings, or doing GPGPU stuff, the low end GPU is fine. Photoshop and iMovie are unlikely to use the GPU for much any time soon, certainly not for anything that would push a modern discrete graphics chip, even a low end one like the 6490M.
 
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Dude, get the 2.2. The base is a joke for the coin. Easily worth the cash for the GPU and CPU upgrade.
 
Maven1975 said:
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Dude, get the 2.2. The base is a joke for the coin. Easily worth the cash for the GPU and CPU upgrade.
Click to expand...

seconded
 
I could only afford the i7 13" or base 15" so I went with the 15". The GPU is fine for large 3D autocad files and medium res games. Even some older games like half life 2 work great on high res.

I have a console, so gaming is no real issue. But for work, there is no lack in graphics performance whatsoever. I'm glad I upgraded, but the 1gb graphics model was way out of my budget anyway. No remorse here! :D
 
Get the most machine you can afford. A 2.2 will set you ahead in terms of processing power, and future upgrades. If you don't do any gaming, then the GPU should be fine, but if you get a better machine, you can consider the GPU a bonus. You can't upgrade a CPU/GPU, when in doubt, go faster :D

A 2.2 will give you the option of using the machine for a longer period - if you foresee only surfing, light duty work on your laptop, then a 2.0 would be fine. My vote is to go 2.2. I wrestled with all this, and ended up with a 2.3.

Good luck with your MBP ;)
 
Maven1975 said:
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Dude, get the 2.2. The base is a joke for the coin. Easily worth the cash for the GPU and CPU upgrade.
Click to expand...

Thirded...Yes, it most definitely worth it for the GPU and CPU increase.
 
Hmm, I'm not sure it's worth it.

If you already have a good hard drive and don't care about the CPU upgrade then you would be paying almost £400 for a GPU upgrade to even then not a great mobile GPU.

If you are a gamer then you could probably buy a pretty decent gaming desktop for £400 or just over - that would surely be a better option and would offer much much better performance graphically then the MBP 15.

And if you are not a gamer then your current model is still a beast for general performance!!!

So in summary, unless you are really rich and want to spend some cash don't do it.
 
since you play games I would go for the high end model, in a few years the high end gpu wont be as powerful for new games
 
I would think if one wasw to spend $2000 or more for a notebook to PLAY GAMES that maybe a notebook from another manufacturer would get you better GAMING specs.

My son has a 15" MBP for work, and an ASUS to play games on.
 
I've got the base model 15" and have been running 1080p bluray rips as background tasks connected to a Samsung HDTV while multitasking numerous moderately graphics intensive programs in different spaces.

It might be a joke for the coin, but it's got a pretty wicked punchline
 
So, the majority of people think a $400 GPU bump for light gaming is worth it?
OK, thanks!
 
No, but most GAMER think it is OK. For light gaming or Foto, Video, CAD use a 400$ is way out of proportion in my eyes.

400$ you can use for AC or save it for the next update or a thunderbolt HD or just for bad times.
 
That's subjective.

How much is speed really worth?

What is the price of speed?

What would you pay for speed?
 
Bobby Corwen said:
That's subjective.

How much is speed really worth?

What is the price of speed?

What would you pay for speed?
Click to expand...

he said he wasn't concerned over the speed... he wants to know about the gpu's.

Prodo123 said:
Also, I could care less about the CPU bump (Miniscule) and the HDD bump (I have my own HDD). All I want to know is, should I have gotten the high-end GPU instead of the low-end? Is a GPU bump for $400 worth it?
Click to expand...

reading > you :rolleyes::p
 
As far as i know iMovie it is CPU intensive - not GPU or am I mistaken?

But if he does not care about the CPU 400$ for just the better GPU is a hefty 20% extra for just "light gaming".
 
iPhysicist said:
As far as i know iMovie it is CPU intensive - not GPU or am I mistaken?

But if he does not care about the CPU 400$ for just the better GPU is a hefty 20% extra for just "light gaming".
Click to expand...

You are correct.. but nobody is doing such intense edits with iMovie that they would really need the extra 200mhz. It IS iMovie after all lol. Plus iMovie runs just fine on a C2D... a 2.0 quad core i7 is plenty to do iMovie edits.
 
David-fr said:
Not worth it for who?

Have you even use the machine at it's full potential!?

I'd say go for the high end, if you'll spend that much money you better be happy with your purchase.
Click to expand...

He asked what we thought. I said what I thought. I decided to save the money on what the upgraded model costs and buy a 120GB Intel 320 SSD, an optibay, and 8GB of Crucial RAM. For my uses, that was more valuable to me than the better GPU and CPU.

Have I used it at it's full potential? Uh, I suppose that depends on how you define it. I don't play any games on it. Does that I mean I don't use it at its full potential?

Do you use it at its full potential? To me ,that question makes it feel like you're trying to turn this into a pee-pee measuring contest...
 
Last edited:
Sorry for bumping this old post, but thanks guys!
Decided NOT TO bump up. $400 is not worth it, even in the name of future-proofing.
What I will do, however, is get 8GB of RAM and a good mouse, namely the Performance MX.
Again, thanks!
 
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