Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Don't use Graphics card at all - 555x vs 560x

Alexx90

Alexx90

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 9, 2018
5
5
I'm trying to configure out the MBP 15" I'm about to order.

I am not really using any graphics tasks on my laptop so the GPU is really not much of a concern for me.

is there any other reason to go for this $100 GPU upgrade?

is the 560x more reliable then the 555x?

one reason I thought could be a concern is the future reseller value, as I would imagine many of this machine buyers would prefer to buy it with the best Graphics card so opting for the 555x might back fire one day when I will want to sell it?

will appreciate any input
 
Alexx90 said:
care to elaborate? :D
Click to expand...

haha well you did say:
Alexx90 said:
will appreciate any input
Click to expand...
:D

Basically you said it yourself: "I am not really using any graphics tasks on my laptop so the GPU is really not much of a concern for me.". There is your answer. I think buying for hypothetical future resale values is a losing game - you just don't know what will happen in that regard. As far as I know there is little difference between the performance of both cards in any case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: green86 and M.Rizk
wwooden said:
Spending $100 now for resale is a losing game. It will not sell for $100 more because of the better card, maybe like $20 more? So it's only worth it if you need it.
Click to expand...

it's not about selling it for $20 more , more about being able to sale it easily.
 
I honestly don't think most people will care when buying second hand. Both have 4gb, that's what they'll pay attention to the most IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: green86
You're buying the 2.2GHz system.

That's not the model folks needing "performance" tend to look for today -- and less so in three or four years.

IMHO the 560x upgrade, if *you* don't have any need for it, would just be wasted money.

As for "sell it easy" that's more a function of the SSD size first, then perhaps the CPU.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ActionableMango, Patcell and green86
I disagree. I think spending the extra $100 ( $80 I believe if bought with edu) is well worth it. Not only is it a more powerful card if you ever do decide to get into video or photo editing let alone gaming, but it will be something you can list as an upgrade for future sale to a potential buyer who may have been looking for one with the upgraded card. You appeal to those wanting it and those who don't really care what card it has therefore expanding your potential suitors.
 
  • Like
Reactions: green86
dannyar said:
Not only is it a more powerful card if you ever do decide to get into video or photo editing let alone gaming
Click to expand...
I disagree, I do some photo editing (nothing major) and the 555X is more then enough and I see no need to drop 100 dollars on a feature that I'll not really see any benefit. I'd rather keep the $$ in my pocket.


dannyar said:
for future sale to a potential buyer
Click to expand...
There's the rub, how many used laptop buyers are looking for a better GPU? I've found it can be harder to sell an upgraded laptop for more $$ because most used computer buyers are looking for a decent laptop for a low price. This is mostly felt in the top end tier that is harder to move, but to a degree the logic can fit on an 555x vs 560x discussion.

I don't buy a laptop to try to sell it for more down the road, but rather configure it to meet my needs, trying to make it an return on your investment is liking trying to nail jello to a tree.
 
Reliability wise? The 560x must run warmer than the 555x so it's less reliable.
Better keep the money in your pocket instead, it's a wiser decision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: entropi and bkends35
maflynn said:
how many used laptop buyers are looking for a better GPU? I've found it can be harder to sell an upgraded laptop for more $$ because most used computer buyers are looking for a decent laptop for a low price. This is mostly felt in the top end tier that is harder to move, but to a degree the logic can fit on an 555x vs 560x discussion.
Click to expand...

Agreed, as I alluded to and you stated more clearly:
  • Few buyers of 3+ year old laptops are performance focused, otherwise they wouldn't be buying old hardware.
  • GPU performance differences effectively becomes less and less meaningful as time goes on, so again on a three year old system I don't think the difference would matter, not like IG vs DG might.
So it's $100 spent today on something that might perhaps net $20-30 extra (if lucky) in 3-4 years, and might possibly attract the one-in-a-hundred value-buyer who wants that 10-20% gain in GPU performance.

Or keep the $100 and apply its full value to the next laptop purchase in however many years.

I know what I'd choose. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Alexx90, Patcell and maflynn
Id do the upgrade like I said earlier. If your nickel and diming over $100 on a machine thats gonna last you 3-4 years then you shouldn't be buying a $2400+ machine to begin with.
 
The answer is no for a very simple reason actually:

For photo/video editing, both are overkill. Hell, you can edit 4k in Adobe on the new 13"" MacBook with almost no lag!

For gaming, both are...underkill, I guess. Very mediocre performance with almost no difference. Unless you are playing non-graphic intensive games, which again makes the GPU power redundant.
 
I decided to stick with the 555x for my base machine for the following reasons:
  • Less power/heat is more important to me. The 555x will be better for that
  • My workflow is CPU intensive but not GPU intensive. I don't have a real need for any boost in that area
 
1050792 said:
Reliability wise? The 560x must run warmer than the 555x so it's less reliable.
Better keep the money in your pocket instead, it's a wiser decision.
Click to expand...

As long as the extra heat is within tolerances it shouldn't be any less reliable...

deeddawg said:
So it's $100 spent today on something that might perhaps net $20-30 extra (if lucky) in 3-4 years, and might possibly attract the one-in-a-hundred value-buyer who wants that 10-20% gain in GPU performance.

Or keep the $100 and apply its full value to the next laptop purchase in however many years.
Click to expand...

Exactly... Tomorrow's money is always worth more than today's money. So tying up $100 of today's money for a $20 gain is far more expensive than just the $100 sticker price. Since that $100 could have been put to use in a more effective way.

Technology is an area where you always want to be sure to "right size" your purchases. Meaning you purchase what meets your needs the best and only purchase when you need. Over the long tail you're better off buying upgrades when they make sense than trying to predict tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deeddawg and jeremiah256
1050792 said:
Are you getting a lot of heat with medium tasks while using the laptop in your lap?
Click to expand...
Not really but I am throttling it down via the Volta app and in all honesty that helps keep the temps below 80c. Most tasks seem to float in the 60 to 70c range.
 
maflynn said:
Not really but I am throttling it down via the Volta app and in all honesty that helps keep the temps below 80c. Most tasks seem to float in the 60 to 70c range.
Click to expand...

What have you set Volta to achieve this please?
 
Last edited:
Alexx90 said:
I'm trying to configure out the MBP 15" I'm about to order.

I am not really using any graphics tasks on my laptop so the GPU is really not much of a concern for me.

is there any other reason to go for this $100 GPU upgrade?

is the 560x more reliable then the 555x?

one reason I thought could be a concern is the future reseller value, as I would imagine many of this machine buyers would prefer to buy it with the best Graphics card so opting for the 555x might back fire one day when I will want to sell it?

will appreciate any input
Click to expand...
If you are not using any major graphically intensive tasks (video editing, or minor gaming), I'd say stick with the 555x. Honestly it will not add any extra value to the resale in 3-4 years over the 560x, and as you stated you really don't need for your uses. Also the 555x should be just as reliable as the 560x.

I'd stick with the lower end 555x and use that money for upgrading RAM or get a larger SSD, as those typically have more impact on resale values.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back