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Surprising to see that the new fast DDR3 RAM doesn't provide even a small boost in performance.

It's even more odd that gizmodo's review showed a nice little performance boost in the ram benchmarks but that these benchmarks don't see it.

I hope when MacWorld releases their review that they will do a fairly exhaustive set of testing.
 
After a cursory look at the numbers, it would appear that the biggest gains to be had are between the early 2.1 Macbook and the current 2.0 Macbook. It will be interesting to see the graphical benches when they emerge, but it's probably safe to say that the nVidia Macbooks will trounce the Intel X3100's.



p.s. no firewire + displayport = epic fail ;)
 
I didn't expect them to test out the 2.8 ghz MBP, but I was wondering if anyone found any benchmarks for that machine, as that is what I'm looking to buy.
 
Did I miss something? The article mentions the graphics improvements on the new models but I don't see any graphics test anywhere on that site. How can you contrast/compare the CPU and Memory speeds versus GPU speeds if they don't include any GPU tests?
 
It looks like these new machines are gaming and graphics monsters and that is WITHOUT Snow Leopard.

Rocketman
 

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Umm....

Don't forget, they also gave Macbook owners the new option of buying a version with a backlit keyboard, and they have mini displayport video output now, instead of an outdated, dying video connector standard, and the latest trackpad technology. Everyone I've heard reviewing and comparing them to the previous (black and white plastic case) Macbooks claims the display looks much better than before too.

When you consider all of that in a better quality (and IMHO better looking) aluminum case that prevents the "flex" you used to get when pressing down hard on keyboard keys, etc. - and GeForce 9400M video that's easily 2x to 5x faster than what they had before with the integrated Intel video?

I think the new Macbook looks QUITE attractive as an upgrade over the previous models. (I'd even say if you're REALLY just holding out on buying one because you want that firewire port for some external drive enclosure so badly, you'd be wise to get over it and just transplant that drive to a USB 2.0 enclosure, and be done with it! Quite possibly the same deal if you own a DV camcorder that needs firewire! I'd bet it's like mine... 4+ year old camcorder that you could resell for a quick $100-200 and put it towards a new one with a built-in hard drive, eliminating the hassle and cost of blank DV tapes. No more rewinding, etc. etc.)


No, they also increased the price.
 
Yep I reckon the new MBs would definitely be compelling for old MB owners. The benchmarks from Gizmodo as well - well their pretty graphs - made them look a lot more compelling, in the place where they should be as against the pros. I -really- like how things line up now; very much looking to downgrade the Feb '08 MBP!
 
Cloning large drives with either F400 or USB 2.0 is painful so it really doesn't make much difference. F800 is what is nice to have.

Most people with sense bought enclosures that have more than one interface. F800, F400, USB 2.0...
 
Yep I reckon the new MBs would definitely be compelling for old MB owners. The benchmarks from Gizmodo as well - well their pretty graphs - made them look a lot more compelling, in the place where they should be as against the pros. I -really- like how things line up now; very much looking to downgrade the Feb '08 MBP!

do you not realise that the $1299 model used to have a 2.4GHz processor which is still better then the new 2.0GHz (according to the benchmarks), so you may get a better GPU but seriously if your processor isn't that fast whats the point unless you just want to play games.
 
How long are we going to beat this to death on forum that Apple doesn't care about?

Also, learn how to use the signature function. It's in the CP.

Actually, the fact that SJ responded to an e-mail regarding the lack of FW400 on the MB suggests that perhaps he IS irked by the attention that this is getting, so to the contrary, I suggest people continue to e-mail Apple concerning the removal of this popular port. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
 
Does anyone know the watts of the new CPU and the heat issues?

I have to know this before I can buy a unit!

Help.
TIA

According to Primatelabs the late 2008 MBP comes with either the Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.40GHz (25W) or the Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 @ 2.53GHz (35W).

This was helpful to me to rule out the 2.53GHz since the Apple Store rep.s told me it was impossible to know what processors are used "because Apple has a special relationship with Intel" and "they make special processors and hardware for Apple." What the guy was really saying was "I don't know" or "I'm not going to tell you."
 
overcast

true so many of the posts on forums come from people who really know their stuff about computers and at least i for one respect that and somehow hope i am gradually understanding what this percentage is talking about and yes there are also complainers etc. for example when the VCR first came out and then it ran and finally the CD/DVD comes out and at some places overnight VCR's and accessories disappeared, maybe its a similar thing about SJ eliminating this fire port and seem to be continuing to stay with USB--but then why aren't they adding more USB ports 3 not 2. at some point such decisions don't make any sense when there is a large number of various firewire product....hell is Apple actually thinking "we'll do this so that when it disappears then next year we will come out with some 'angular object' that will accomodate the Apple version and solution to firewire"? i am not in the professional percent that want all the options and power and graphics nor am i in the college student/gamer class...i just want a good computer all around and i have no hesitation to say Apple Mac are the best!
 
I suggest people continue to e-mail Apple concerning the removal of this popular port. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

What, like the second revision of the Macbook Air got an additional USB port because of the initial outcry that there was only one?

I really don’t see it happening. It was a judgement call based on the future of ‘consumer’ technology and the new Macbook is a ‘consumer’ product. I have a new HD camcorder and it is only USB2. I have a new Western Digital portable hard-drive and it has both firewire and USB2. The firewire only item I have is a 3G ipod which is very old.

Plus, it might seem simple to add a firewire again, but to have to change the whole template design of the portside which basically means the whole laptop shell, the manufacturing process, electronics, etc. Sorry, it is a very, very long shot me thinks.
 
do you not realise that the $1299 model used to have a 2.4GHz processor which is still better then the new 2.0GHz (according to the benchmarks), so you may get a better GPU but seriously if your processor isn't that fast whats the point unless you just want to play games.

Yes. But I would have bought an MB in March if they had done the aluminium and nVidia switch then. In most ways going from Feb '08 MBP to Oct '08 MB will be a downgrade.

However, I would rather have the smaller form factor; I would rather have all the ports on the left; I would rather have the chiclet keyboard; I would love to lose the plastic lip and flimsy feel of the old form factor; the glassed over screen should be much nicer for cleaning; I'll be happy without keyboard backlighting and happier with the subsequent F-key layout; and so far, I'm really liking the look of the new form factor!

Basically, I'm thankful for the change in consumer/pro separation from technologies and materials (aluminium vs. plastic, LED vs. crap screen, proper graphics vs. very bad), to a smaller graphics gap, a smaller screen quality gap, and Firewire. It would have been nice if it had come back in Feb though :).
 
Well since I had just recently bought a firewire camcorder, I went with a closeout model early 2008 MBP for close to the price of a new MB (the $1299 one)

But I seem to kinda agree with Steve Jobs answer...firewire is dieing out..usb seems to have won. consumers can get HD based camcorders with usb & professionals who need firewire to connect their equipment will get the MBP...which is what Steve Jobs said " pros will buy MBPs"

in terms of graphics...the new MB is a great improvement. Just go to nvidia website & they have a optimizer software that compares benchmarks for processor + gpu. A decent GPU + pentium dual core beats a X3100 with a quad core 2. For a consumer, the most intensive processing they would ever do is through a GPU...I mean who sits & computes pi digits whole day long. so a better GPu + a slower CPU is still better than X3100
 
Hey everyone, I've got the 2.8ghz T9600 and ran XBench 1.3 and 32-bit Geekbench (64-bit costs money). Here's the raw data, I hope that someone can somehow make use of it.

Geekbench 32bit:
(http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/82235) submitted to PL as well
3589
Version Geekbench 2.0.19
Platform Mac OS X x86 (32-bit)
Operating System Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F2114)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9600 @ 2.80GHz
Model MacBookPro5,1
Memory 4.00 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
Integer Score 3193

Blowfish
single-threaded scalar 2289
100.6 MB/sec

Blowfish
multi-threaded scalar 4553
186.6 MB/sec

Text Compress
single-threaded scalar 2140
6.84 MB/sec

Text Compress
multi-threaded scalar 3657
12.0 MB/sec

Text Decompress
single-threaded scalar 1926
7.92 MB/sec

Text Decompress
multi-threaded scalar 3743
14.9 MB/sec

Image Compress
single-threaded scalar 1982
16.4 Mpixels/sec

Image Compress
multi-threaded scalar 3679
31.0 Mpixels/sec

Image Decompress
single-threaded scalar 1649
27.7 Mpixels/sec

Image Decompress
multi-threaded scalar 3190
52.0 Mpixels/sec

Crafty Chess
single-threaded scalar 2441
1.23 Mnodes/sec

Crafty Chess
multi-threaded scalar 4269
2.07 Mnodes/sec

Lua
single-threaded scalar 3173
1.22 Mnodes/sec

Lua
multi-threaded scalar 6013
2.31 Mnodes/sec

Floating Point Score 5036

Mandelbrot
single-threaded scalar 2073
1.38 Gflops

Mandelbrot
multi-threaded scalar 4019
2.63 Gflops

Dot Product
single-threaded scalar 2735
1.32 Gflops

Dot Product
multi-threaded scalar 6422
2.93 Gflops

Dot Product
single-threaded vector 2140
2.56 Gflops

Dot Product
multi-threaded vector 4526
4.71 Gflops

LU Decomposition
single-threaded scalar 801
712.9 Mflops

LU Decomposition
multi-threaded scalar 1625
1.42 Gflops

Primality Test
single-threaded scalar 3971
593.1 Mflops

Primality Test
multi-threaded scalar 5717
1.06 Gflops

Sharpen Image
single-threaded scalar 5558
13.0 Mpixels/sec

Sharpen Image
multi-threaded scalar 10289
23.7 Mpixels/sec

Blur Image
single-threaded scalar 7199
5.70 Mpixels/sec

Blur Image
multi-threaded scalar 13439
10.6 Mpixels/sec

Memory Score 2668

Read Sequential
single-threaded scalar 3433
4.20 GB/sec

Write Sequential
single-threaded scalar 2710
1.85 GB/sec

Stdlib Allocate
single-threaded scalar 2316
8.65 Mallocs/sec

Stdlib Write
single-threaded scalar 2468
5.11 GB/sec

Stdlib Copy
single-threaded scalar 2417
2.49 GB/sec

Stream Score 1756

Stream Copy
single-threaded scalar 1825
2.50 GB/sec

Stream Copy
single-threaded vector 1872
2.43 GB/sec

Stream Scale
single-threaded scalar 1749
2.27 GB/sec

Stream Scale
single-threaded vector 1739
2.35 GB/sec

Stream Add
single-threaded scalar 1646
2.49 GB/sec

Stream Add
single-threaded vector 1982
2.76 GB/sec

Stream Triad
single-threaded scalar 1789
2.47 GB/sec

Stream Triad
single-threaded vector 1449
2.71 GB/sec

System Information
Platform Mac OS X x86 (32-bit)
Compiler GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Inc. build 5484)
Operating System Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F2114)
Model MacBookPro5,1
Motherboard Apple Inc. Mac-F42D86C8 Proto
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9600 @ 2.80GHz
Processor ID GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 6
Logical Processors 2
Physical Processors 1
Processor Frequency 2.80 GHz
L1 Instruction Cache 32.0 KB
L1 Data Cache 32.0 KB
L2 Cache 6.00 MB
L3 Cache 0.00 B
Bus Frequency 1.06 GHz
Memory 4.00 GB
Memory Type 1067 MHz DDR3
SIMD 1
BIOS Apple Inc. MBP51.88Z.0073.B02.0810061244
Processor Model Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9600 @ 2.80GHz


Xbench:
Results 218.89
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.5 (9F2114)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro5,1
Drive Type Hitachi HTS723225L9SA62
CPU Test 188.08
GCD Loop 325.04 17.13 Mops/sec
Floating Point Basic 155.48 3.69 Gflop/sec
vecLib FFT 133.62 4.41 Gflop/sec
Floating Point Library 233.93 40.73 Mops/sec
Thread Test 324.34
Computation 425.56 8.62 Mops/sec, 4 threads
Lock Contention 262.02 11.27 Mlocks/sec, 4 threads
Memory Test 188.48
System 231.84
Allocate 340.95 1.25 Malloc/sec
Fill 184.99 8994.61 MB/sec
Copy 217.34 4489.07 MB/sec
Stream 158.79
Copy 148.05 3057.84 MB/sec
Scale 155.25 3207.42 MB/sec
Add 166.10 3538.25 MB/sec
Triad 167.37 3580.48 MB/sec
Quartz Graphics Test 227.23
Line 210.53 14.02 Klines/sec [50% alpha]
Rectangle 275.21 82.16 Krects/sec [50% alpha]
Circle 223.74 18.24 Kcircles/sec [50% alpha]
Bezier 219.55 5.54 Kbeziers/sec [50% alpha]
Text 217.56 13.61 Kchars/sec
OpenGL Graphics Test 189.38
Spinning Squares 189.38 240.24 frames/sec
User Interface Test 381.82
Elements 381.82 1.75 Krefresh/sec
Disk Test 42.30
Sequential 96.18
Uncached Write 117.27 72.00 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 101.81 57.60 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 64.69 18.93 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 128.51 64.59 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 27.11
Uncached Write 8.56 0.91 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 89.03 28.50 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 86.52 0.61 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 126.25 23.43 MB/sec [256K blocks]
 
I ordered a macbook pro on tuesday via apple.com
After going into the store today to actually look at the macbook pros, (and the macbooks) I have now cancelled my order. The Glossy screens are atrocious. WAY too much glare. Nice case design don't get me wrong but dropping over 2K for a laptop with a screen that will bug the **** out of me is too much.
I am hoping there will be some matte update in the next coming months otherwise I will be looking into previous models and / or refurbs.

edit : Just ordered the previous gen Macbook pro, since it has a matte screen for $500 less :) through amazon.
 
Well we don't need an improvement as much. Graphics is what I care about and I just want to go play CoD now! Macs are the gas sippers of the computing world: they require fewer specs to run than any other OS. That will probably change with Snow Leopard with 64 bit. I hope they make a 32 bit upgrade for Snow Leopard also!:D
 
Backlit?

Forgive my ignorance, but is the previous gen's matte screen backlit as well?

I ordered a macbook pro on tuesday via apple.com
After going into the store today to actually look at the macbook pros, (and the macbooks) I have now cancelled my order. The Glossy screens are atrocious. WAY too much glare. Nice case design don't get me wrong but dropping over 2K for a laptop with a screen that will bug the **** out of me is too much.
I am hoping there will be some matte update in the next coming months otherwise I will be looking into previous models and / or refurbs.

edit : Just ordered the previous gen Macbook pro, since it has a matte screen for $500 less :) through amazon.
 
I have a Powerbook from mid 2005, 1.67GHZ, 1GB ram...I'm thinking about getting a new machine this winter, but I can't decide between a MB and an MBP. I realy want a smaller machine, and price is kind of an issue, but I also want to be able to play Spore and Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3...do you think just getting the higher end MB would be an improvement from my old powerbook? From what I'm reading on this thread, my gut says yes...
 
Forgive my ignorance, but is the previous gen's matte screen backlit as well?

MBP and MBA yes. MB no.

I have a Powerbook from mid 2005, 1.67GHZ, 1GB ram...I'm thinking about getting a new machine this winter, but I can't decide between a MB and an MBP. I realy want a smaller machine, and price is kind of an issue, but I also want to be able to play Spore and Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3...do you think just getting the higher end MB would be an improvement from my old powerbook? From what I'm reading on this thread, my gut says yes...

I'm sure it would be an improvement on the MB, but if you are really into games then you might as well go for the MBP. You could get an even better deal on a refurb for the prior generation MBP. The MB would be fine for now but who knows a couple years down the line. That way you are future proofing it a bit with a MBP. They are still light machines only a pound more than the new MB.
 
What, like the second revision of the Macbook Air got an additional USB port because of the initial outcry that there was only one?

I really don’t see it happening. It was a judgement call based on the future of ‘consumer’ technology and the new Macbook is a ‘consumer’ product. I have a new HD camcorder and it is only USB2. I have a new Western Digital portable hard-drive and it has both firewire and USB2. The firewire only item I have is a 3G ipod which is very old.

Plus, it might seem simple to add a firewire again, but to have to change the whole template design of the portside which basically means the whole laptop shell, the manufacturing process, electronics, etc. Sorry, it is a very, very long shot me thinks.

The difference is that the MBA is a low volume niche computer, whereas the MB is their best selling laptop. And it was a very bad judgement call.
 
I wonder why the Air didn't get the glass trackpad update along with the rest of the macbooks? it seems pretty logical to simplify the supply chain by standardizing on one trackpad
 
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