How is MBP Mid 2010 compared with Surface Pro 4?

[hajime]

Hello, I am interested in the Surface Pro 4 and at the same time I am waiting for a new Mac laptop. Right now, I only have an old MBP 17" 2010 (i7 2.66GHz, 8GB, Toshiba 500GB HD, Intel HD Graphics and Nvidia GeForce GT 330M with 512MB). In terms of overall performance and 3D graphics performance, how is the i5/i7 SP4 compared with the MBP 17" mid 2010 if the latter has a HD or SSD?

I know that it is good to upgrade the HD of my MBP 17" to SSD. If I do, I will buy the 1TB version. Given the cost, I wonder if I should just buy a SP4 instead.

I am less interested in the Surface Book even it has a GPU because: 1. It is heavier than the SP4. 2. When the screen is separated, the battery life is about an hour.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Your computer benchmarks at 4767 on geek bench.

The surface pro 4 benches around 6300, so it's significantly better performing and the graphics are far superior.

Anything with an SSD will feel a lot faster for opening apps moving files etc and having faster ports wifi etc also make a massive difference.

 

[hajime]

Your computer benchmarks at 4767 on geek bench.

The surface pro 4 benches around 6300, so it's significantly better performing and the graphics are far superior.

Anything with an SSD will feel a lot faster for opening apps moving files etc and having faster ports wifi etc also make a massive difference.

Thanks. Is that SP4 with i7 and 16GB RAM configurations?

How about 3D graphics performance? The MBP 2010 has a Nvidia GeForce GT330M with 512MB VRAM.

 

[merkinmuffley]

Your computer is heavier, bigger and slower than the SP4. I wouldn't put money into a machine that old, either wait for the new Macbook (I'm waiting too and IMHO it's taking far too long) or pick up a SP4.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Your computer is heavier, bigger and slower than the SP4. I wouldn't put money into a machine that old, either wait for the new Macbook (I'm waiting too and IMHO it's taking far too long) or pick up a SP4.

Apple are waiting for Intel release the relevant chips, can't blame apple for only wanting to use the best....

 

[maflynn]

I know that it is good to upgrade the HD of my MBP 17" to SSD. If I do, I will buy the 1TB version. Given the cost, I wonder if I should just buy a SP4 instead.

Personally, I'd not put more money in a computer that is probably near the end of its useful life span.

To put it another way, how much longer (with the upgrade) would you keep the laptop?

I have an SP3, and love it, though you may find it a bit of an adjustment going from a 17" display to a 12"

 

[RedCroissant]

Hello, I am interested in the Surface Pro 4 and at the same time I am waiting for a new Mac laptop. Right now, I only have an old MBP 17" 2010 (i7 2.66GHz, 8GB, Toshiba 500GB HD, Intel HD Graphics and Nvidia GeForce GT 330M with 512MB). In terms of overall performance and 3D graphics performance, how is the i5/i7 SP4 compared with the MBP 17" mid 2010 if the latter has a HD or SSD?

I know that it is good to upgrade the HD of my MBP 17" to SSD. If I do, I will buy the 1TB version. Given the cost, I wonder if I should just buy a SP4 instead.

I am less interested in the Surface Book even it has a GPU because: 1. It is heavier than the SP4. 2. When the screen is separated, the battery life is about an hour.

Here's my opinion about your situation...

You have a 17" dual core i7 awesome machine with a 500GB HDD in it. How often do you use the superdrive? If you're considering moving to a surface Pro, then why not spend money on your current machine to make it even more awesome? Many people will say that you're reaching the end of its useful life span,but that's crazy talk.

My wife's late 2009 iMac (with a 3.06 Core 2 Duo) runs El Capitan just fine with 8GB RAM and I don't see why her computer won't continue to be very useful for AT LEAST another 3-4 years. If you look at my signature, my newest AND primary computer is a 2005 PowerMac G5 that your current MBP would run circles around. I am capable of running dual HDDs, running iTunes 10.6.3, syncing with iOS devices running iOS 6 or older, streaming to Apple TV, using Handbrake..etc. It's a great machine and still very useful even given the fact that it is not supported at all with hardware/software and it's not even an Intel-based CPU.

All your computer needs is an upgrade to make it competitive again; and that's easy to do:

The first thing you should do is get a SSD and replace your existing HDD to max out the SATA 2 Bus and then you'll be reading and writing at 300MB/sec. If you replace the Superdrive with another SSD and RAID them together, you'll be getting SATA 3 speeds which is equal to the surface pro 4. This way you will have spent considerably less money by upgrading than to replace your current working machine. You also have more options of I/O ports/expandability compared

Sure, the resolution is higher on the SP4 but that doesn't always equate to more usability; just more clarity. You get one USB port and a mini display port. Not awesome.

With your machine you get the benefit of 3 USB ports/FW800/audio in and out/mini display port/ AND the Express 34 slot that gives you the possibility of awesomeness and expansion. If you're tired of USB 2.0 speeds, then put an expansion card in there for eSATA, or get a media card reader, get something that will connect to a cel network and use your phone's mobile hotspot feature when there's no WiFi available.

I just think that your machine is nowhere near the end of its useful life! Have fun and spend less money!

 

[andiwm2003]

I have the same MBP as the OP. I think the MBP is stll very usable. However these machines are prone to the GPU failing due to the faulty soldering. My machine has now random shutdown because of this. So investing into this machine has some risk. However I still consider to replace the logic board because I expect this MBP to be useful for two more years.

 

[joepunk]

My 2010 MBP is currently having the GPU failing problem. Haven't decided on what to get as a replacement yet but it won't be anything from 2010 or 2011 that's for sure.

If you've had your 2010 MBP for awhile now and have not experienced the GPU problems then I would like to say congrats and I feel that you won't be seeing any problems for at least another year.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Here's my opinion about your situation...

You have a 17" dual core i7 awesome machine with a 500GB HDD in it. How often do you use the superdrive? If you're considering moving to a surface Pro, then why not spend money on your current machine to make it even more awesome? Many people will say that you're reaching the end of its useful life span,but that's crazy talk.

My wife's late 2009 iMac (with a 3.06 Core 2 Duo) runs El Capitan just fine with 8GB RAM and I don't see why her computer won't continue to be very useful for AT LEAST another 3-4 years. If you look at my signature, my newest AND primary computer is a 2005 PowerMac G5 that your current MBP would run circles around. I am capable of running dual HDDs, running iTunes 10.6.3, syncing with iOS devices running iOS 6 or older, streaming to Apple TV, using Handbrake..etc. It's a great machine and still very useful even given the fact that it is not supported at all with hardware/software and it's not even an Intel-based CPU.

All your computer needs is an upgrade to make it competitive again; and that's easy to do:

The first thing you should do is get a SSD and replace your existing HDD to max out the SATA 2 Bus and then you'll be reading and writing at 300MB/sec. If you replace the Superdrive with another SSD and RAID them together, you'll be getting SATA 3 speeds which is equal to the surface pro 4. This way you will have spent considerably less money by upgrading than to replace your current working machine. You also have more options of I/O ports/expandability compared

Sure, the resolution is higher on the SP4 but that doesn't always equate to more usability; just more clarity. You get one USB port and a mini display port. Not awesome.

With your machine you get the benefit of 3 USB ports/FW800/audio in and out/mini display port/ AND the Express 34 slot that gives you the possibility of awesomeness and expansion. If you're tired of USB 2.0 speeds, then put an expansion card in there for eSATA, or get a media card reader, get something that will connect to a cel network and use your phone's mobile hotspot feature when there's no WiFi available.

I just think that your machine is nowhere near the end of its useful life! Have fun and spend less money!

Once past 3 years of age all computers begin to fail more and more after 5 years it's even more likely especially with a portable which gets far more abuse and has tight thermal limits.

Basically those of us that don't recommend upgrading old laptops are taking this into account, why put money into something that may well die catastrophically in a few months, has no apple support anymore and is very difficult and expensive to fix yourself. It's rarely a good decision.

 

[Designer Dale]

I dropped an SSD in my late '08 17 inch MBP and added a 7500rpm HDD in the optical bay and it turned into a new machine. very quick and usable until the graphic card burned out recently. Got an extra two years out of it.

Dale

 

[hajime]

The first thing you should do is get a SSD and replace your existing HDD to max out the SATA 2 Bus and then you'll be reading and writing at 300MB/sec. If you replace the Superdrive with another SSD and RAID them together, you'll be getting SATA 3 speeds which is equal to the surface pro 4. This way you will have spent considerably less money by upgrading than to replace your current working machine. You also have more options of I/O ports/expandability compared

I have just replaced the HDD with a SSD of 1T. If I want to RAID two SSD in a MBP, do the two SSDs have to be of the same size? Any advantages of having them of the same size? After rating, will the differences be very noticeable?

 

[maflynn]

I believe if one drive is larger then the other, it will only use the storage the equals the other drive. That is if you have a 256 and 512GB drive, then the RAID setup will only use half of the 512GB drive leaving the other half inaccessible if memory serves me.