I'm still going to 'gamble' and get the BTO model without trying it out. I trust that I will be able to get used to everything just fine. I guess I just trust Apple's judgement.
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Core M 1.3 Ghz BTO
- Thread starter g.j.g
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I'm still going to 'gamble' and get the BTO model without trying it out. I trust that I will be able to get used to everything just fine. I guess I just trust Apple's judgement.
Buy & try is very viable, and you can return a BTO machine as long as you buy it direct from Apple. You can even return it in a local store if that's more convenient.
Buy & try is very viable, and you can return a BTO machine as long as you buy it direct from Apple. You can even return it in a local store if that's more convenient.
That's good to know. Thanks!
The return period is 14 days from the date you receive the item, according to the FAQ on the Apple Store web site. You used to have to return mail order items by mail, but I'm pretty sure that's no longer required. The caution on returns of CTO items earlier was for CTO computers purchased through B&H, which Apple won't take back (can't return third party vendor items direct to Apple, not a surprise) and which B&H apparently only accepts for return if defective.
I returned an 11" MBA that I thought might plug the hole that I think I want the rMB for earlier this week. No problems or hitches. I paid cash, so the only little speed bump was that they mailed me a check. I returned it last Sunday and had the check on Friday, so that's really good service.
I returned an 11" MBA that I thought might plug the hole that I think I want the rMB for earlier this week. No problems or hitches. I paid cash, so the only little speed bump was that they mailed me a check. I returned it last Sunday and had the check on Friday, so that's really good service.
I was just looking through B&H's return policy and unless I'm misreading something no computer is returnable if the packaging has been opened, regardless of whether it's a stock manufacturer's configuration or a B&H CTO. I have been dealing with B&H for many years and have never had anything but the best experiences, but this return policy is worth being aware of - I didn't realize it applied to all computers.
The 1.3 GHz is the Core M 5Y71 where Apple configured the Base frequency to 1.3 from default 1.2 and the tdp from 4.5 to 5 W. Apple can even go to 6 W TDP and 1.4 GHz base frequency like on the ASUS 300 2-in-1 laptop but they didn't go max configuration due to lack of fan I presume.
I'm just trying to see which is better to get. All I care about is having a smooth experience using it and I don't really do much on my laptop so I'm wondering which one to get.
I think the level of heat are essentially the same. It's just that you can be in Turbo mode longer due to increased TDP and base frequency. Maybe the ones Apple cherry picked to be configured to 1.3 GHz has lower voltage per GHz and this will result to more sustained turbo clocks while giving off the same amount of heat as the lower clocked / higher voltage per GHz core-m variants.
100 MHz is meaningless, it may really only show on some benchmarks, but real-world usage is pretty much the same. Remember, it's the same chip just overclocked - not a better model that brings other features than just that 100 MHz increment.
If Apple plans on selling that 1.3 GHz option for $100-200, then to me it's just a dummy trap.
In fairness, that doesn't mean it's a good buy. I say that as someone who's very interested in the 1.3gHz option.
The math is actually pretty bad. You can get 10% off the regular 1.1gHz version at Best Buy, so the price would be $1170. Guessing the 1.3gHz adds $200 to the base price of the 1.1gHz version, that means the upgrade will cost $330.
In fairness, that doesn't mean it's a good buy. I say that as someone who's very interested in the 1.3gHz option.
The math is actually pretty bad. You can get 10% off the regular 1.1gHz version at Best Buy, so the price would be $1170. Guessing the 1.3gHz adds $200 to the base price of the 1.1gHz version, that means the upgrade will cost $330.
20% is something that will be noticable for me in my quick simulations in Matlab. At least I hope so!
It's confirmed that it's the 5Y51 that only goes up to 2.6 GHz per Apple's website. The 1.1 Ghz is the 5Y31 that only goes up to 2.4 GHz. Like what Apple did to the 5Y71, 5Y31 can be configured to 1.1 GHz and 5 W TDP (from its base 0.9 GHz and 4.5 W TDP) and 5Y51 can also be configured to 1.2 GHz and 5 W TDP from its base 1.1 GHz and 4.5 W TDP.
20% is something that will be noticable for me in my quick simulations in Matlab. At least I hope so!
Yeah, I hope so too...won't really know until people run benchmarks, and even then the benchmarks won't really represent what could happen in your own use. I am wondering if the Core M might actually perform better in real life than in benchmarks, since it seems to be engineered for "sprints" from a low idle to a much greater extent than the mobile processors currently used in the MBA and rMBP.
I agree. I think this type of chip (running sprints) may almost need a new type of benchmark. What is does for my specific use case is really what matters.