Help! 2.4GHz dual-core i5 vs 2.8 dual-core i7? SSD?

[hmj226]

I am about to buy my first macbook pro and I know very little about computers in general. I am buying a 13" macbook pro. I know I want an SSD. It will be 4GB RAM. I am not a big gamer, but I do play The Sims. I keep a decent amount of music and pictures on my computer, but I don't do a lot of editing. I will mostly be using my computer for email and work. However, I do plan to download music and watch some movies, and play The Sims occasionally. What I am trying to decide is this:

1. Should I get the 2.4GHz dual-core i5 or the 2.8-core i7 ($200 difference)?

2. Should I get the 128GB or the 256GB SSD Hard Drive ($400 difference)?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Mackilroy]

For your purposes I'd go with the i5 and the 256GB SSD.

 

[iamthedudeman]

I would wait two weeks if you can. The new ones should be out by then. You will most likely get the SSD for free. Save a few hundred dollars and get a better machine.

 

[Stetrain]

Just in case you aren't aware there are several corroborating rumors that new Macbook Pros are coming out June 11 at the WWDC event:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...thinner-mac-laptops-sporting-intel-chips.html

http://9to5mac.com/2012/05/14/apple...lay-ultra-thin-design-and-super-fast-usb-3-3/

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/14/3020483/new-macbook-pros-confirmed-to-have-nvidia-graphics

If you wait then you might get a more powerful and up-to-date laptop for the same money, or you could get a nice discount on one of the 2011 models.

 

[strausd]

I agree with what other people have said. The better option for you would be the i5 and a larger SSD. And a better option would be to wait for the new ones because SSDs will most likely come standard.

However, if you need to buy it now or are planning on buying a 2011 model when the prices drop from new ones being released, I would buy the base 13" and do the SSD upgrade myself if I were in your position.

Upgrading the hard drive by yourself is not at all hard. It is probably one of the easiest things to do to a MacBook Pro besides upgrading the RAM. There are multiple things online that will tell you exactly how to do it, or people on this forum will be happy to tell you how if you want to find out.

Just looking on Apple's site, I saw that the upgrade to a 256GB SSD is $600(!). You can easily do that upgrade for less than half the cost and have a better SSD. Also, you can tun the 500GB drive it comes with into a portable external drive for only an additional like $5 if you buy an enclosure from Amazon.

But anyways, if you want a 2011 model with an SSD, you are best off doing that yourself. I personally recommend either a Crucial M4 or a Samsung 830, both of which are great SSDs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148443

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147164