Going from 2015 13" Air to 2012 15" rMBP. Opinions?

[AlexxRyzhkov]

So I have a base model 2015 Macbook Air 13" which I bought new in June for around $830. I used to love it, but now I realize that having only 4gb of ram and 128gb of storage is really not working out for me.

I am starting to get back into gaming, and I have bootcamp on my Air, but honestly the intel HD 6000 just isn't cutting it. Fallout 4 only gets 15ish fps on lowest settings, and GTA 5 is barely playable with around 20-25 fps.

Well, I had a friend offer me to do a trade. He has a base model 2012 rMBP which he really only uses as a facebook machine, and he offered to trade it for my macbook plus $200 cash out of my pocket.

Comparing the specs, I'm basically getting roughly 2 times the CPU power, twice as much ram and storage, and a much better GPU (GT 650M 1GB). I'm also getting a much better screen, and more screen real estate.

The only thing is, I really like how light and thin my macbook is, and I'm worried that I won't get used to the rMBP. I held it and used it for a bit, and it seems alright, but idk.

Has anyone here switched from an Air to a 15" rMBP? And is this a good idea or not?

 

[lowendlinux]

Spend a few hundred dollars and build a gaming PC it'll perform better and be quieter while doing it.

 

[AlexxRyzhkov]

Spend a few hundred dollars and build a gaming PC it'll perform better and be quieter while doing it.

oh I need to clarify this better...
I have a pretty decent gaming PC (i5 + GTX 970) which I use at home, but I travel a lot and use my computer on the go, and I like to game sometimes. The main point of doing this trade isn't for gaming, it's to gain a much better screen and twice the storage/ram. Just not sure if it's worth losing the portability and battery life.

Also any owners who have a Mid 2012 or Early 2013 rMBP, how's the battery life?

 

[leman]

If you are expecting the 650M to be much better at gaming, I must disappoint you.

 

[maflynn]

Also any owners who have a Mid 2012 or Early 2013 rMBP, how's the battery life?

I have a 2012 rMBP and the battery life is decent, though the battery is getting long in the tooth and I expect to replace it in a year (if I can help it and I'm lucky in 2017). Depending on what I do, I can get about 5 - 6 hours out of it. If my kids use the laptop, and they push it harder its down to 3 1/2 to 4 hours (flash based games).

 

[AlexxRyzhkov]

If you are expecting the 650M to be much better at gaming, I must disappoint you.

Well obviously it's not going to be very good for gaming, but it should be miles ahead of the Intel HD 6000, at least according to benchmarks.

I'm just hoping to be able to run modern games at least at Low Settings @ 30 fps

 

[T5BRICK]

Honestly, I'd keep the MacBook air.

 

[makrom]

The only thing is, I really like how light and thin my macbook is, and I'm worried that I won't get used to the rMBP. I held it and used it for a bit, and it seems alright, but idk.

You pretty much got the facts, there's not much more anyone can tell you. It's basically weight vs. power. Depending on what you want, one or the other is better.
But the rMBP, while better, isn't exactly a gaming power house either and won't become any better in the future. Depending on the kind of traveling you do a PS4 might be a good option. I'm out Mon-Fri more than 40 weeks per year, I got a PS4 and a 13" MBP. I usually stay at the same location and don't have to take the PS4 back with me every weekend though, otherwise it might be too much of a hassle. But other than that, the PS4 has a very good ratio of gaming performance to weight and size.

 

[andreyush]

Macbooks are not the best machines for gaming... Even in bootcamp these two models won't handle so well games as Fallout 4 or GTA V... If you want to play games buy a PC or a "gaming laptop" xD.
I have rMBP mid 2012 and i gotta tell you Starcraft II is running decently at 45 FPS with HIGH- MEDIUM settings.
I would keep the MBA and buy a console xD
Cheers !

 

[Max(IT)]

Macbooks are not the best machines for gaming... Even in bootcamp these two models won't handle so well games as Fallout 4 or GTA V... If you want to play games buy a PC or a "gaming laptop" xD.
I have rMBP mid 2012 and i gotta tell you Starcraft II is running decently at 45 FPS with HIGH- MEDIUM settings.
I would keep the MBA and buy a console xD
Cheers !

He said he need to play on-the-go....

 

[andreyush]

Ow ok ! Buy the rMBP ..You won't regret it!

 

[whiteRAD]

Wouldnt do that.
Buy a Aikitio Thunder 2 with GPU instead.

 

[AlexxRyzhkov]

I ended up trading the Macbook Air plus $140 for the Macbook Pro, my friend's shipping it to me in a couple days since he lives in a different state.

The main reason I decided to do the trade is more because of storage and having a much better screen. 128gb really isn't cutting it for me anymore, and I'm starting to really like the retina screen. Having a better GPU is just another perk.

I might actually buy a used Surface Pro for my lightweight needs, since I'm pretty fine with windows.

 

[Acronyc]

Well, I guess this is late but I went from a 11" 2010 Air to a 15" 2012 rMBP back in 2012. The apple care runs out in two weeks. I switched because I wasn't traveling as much and wanted one machine for everything. It has worked fantastic for my purposes for the past three years and have no regrets about moving up to it.

I also recommend not letting anyone talk you out of gaming on this Mac. I was in a similar situation and wanted something to game on while traveling and it always surprised me with its capability. Brand new, 3D intensive AAA titles won't run perfect (like the Witcher 3), but almost anything from the past few years will run well. I'm not sure how future proof the GPU is at this point, but you'll e able to run lots and lots of games, newer 3D ones included, just fine.

As for weight, it really depends on how much you are moving. If you're carrying it around every day all day, the extra weight will be noticeable.

Recently I'm traveling much more and the weight was getting to me, so
I added a rMB as my mobile machine and my 15" is my desktop at home and the setup is working great.

 

[maxsix]

Spend a few hundred dollars and build a gaming PC it'll perform better and be quieter while doing it.

I've created a rig via this method. I celebrate its performance and deliberately keep it isolated from my splendidly smooth reliable Apple ecosystem.