i5 or i7 for Logic Pro

[jerrydpi]

Guys,

LAST question!!

I've decided that either computer I have will be adequate for my needs.

Now the business side of me is kicking in!

I have now purchased both computers and am going to sell one of them.

My question is, which one can I sell for the most money:
1) The i5 with 8GB/500GB/eleven months remaining on the one year Apple Warranty and two years after that with Apple Care.
2) The i7 with 16GB/750GB/three months left on the one year Apple Warranty, no Apple Care.

Thanks!

i5 retail is around 1500 USD (1200 + 60 for 8 GB RAM + 250 for AppleCare)
i7 retail would be around: 1500 USD + about 60 more (for 8 more GB RAM). That would mean the i7 would theoretically do a little bit better in resale, but for some, AppleCare is a must and they want any used computer to come with AppleCare so they do not have to pay for it themselves. Also, the 16 GB feature is a spec the vast majority of buyers do not need and don't want to pay extra for.

So the fact that the i7 is a faster/more powerful computer doesn't enter into the equation?

 

[B...]

So the fact that the i7 is a faster/more powerful computer doesn't enter into the equation?

It does if the buyer if a person who can use the power of an i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM and needs the extra 250 GB of HDD.

 

[jerrydpi]

It does if the buyer if a person who can use the power of an i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM and needs the extra 250 GB of HDD.

B...,

Two question to my man (who's always SO helpful to me!!):

1) If I can find this person who can use the power of the i7 processor and the 16GB RAM and needs the extra 250GB of HDD, how much more would it be worth to that person over my i5.
2) Depending how much more I can get by selling one over the other, at what dollar point (same selling price/$50 more/$100 more/$150 more/etc) would you keep one over the other, and which one would YOU keep?

Thanks

 

[B...]

B...,

Two question to my man (who's always SO helpful to me!!):

1) If I can find this person who can use the power of the i7 processor and the 16GB RAM and needs the extra 250GB of HDD, how much more would it be worth to that person over my i5.
2) Depending how much more I can get by selling one over the other, at what dollar point (same selling price/$50 more/$100 more/$150 more/etc) would you keep one over the other, and which one would YOU keep?

Thanks

250 GB HDDs go for around $35, 8 GB more RAM goes for $60, and the difference in retail between the i7 and i5 is around $120 on the Intel website (for the same clock speeds and cache). That is around $210 more retail, but rarely people put a dollar sign on the processor with retail value. Also, it does not come with a warranty. I say you could get MAYBE 150-200 more for someone who completely does not care about getting a warantee, because it does have a better processor, double the RAM and more HDD. Keep in mind that a buyer may switch out the HDD for an SSD, which is quite expensive, especially for higher capacity ones. They might factor that in to their heads in their offering price.

----------

I would keep the i5 if I could get substantial amounts more for the i7. I would call substantial around $200. I would personally keep the i5, because I do not need the i7 or 16 GB of RAM or 250 more GB HDD (I much prefer SSDS).

 

[jerrydpi]

I would keep the i5 if I could get substantial amounts more for the i7. I would call substantial around $200. I would personally keep the i5, because I do not need the i7 or 16 GB of RAM or 250 more GB HDD (I much prefer SSDS).

So if I can only get $100 to $175 more for the i7, then at that point you'd just keep the i7 and sell the i5??

 

[jamesbarns]

In your case, I would definitely go for the more RAM. The i7 won't make a deal-breaking difference between the i5, but the 8GB over the 4GB will increase your laptop's perfomance by almost double. Then again, if you have the money, you could get the i7 model and upgrade the RAM later since it is cheap ATM. Wouldn't recommend that unless you have a lot of cash to spend. Good luck!

 

[B...]

So if I can only get $100 to $175 more for the i7, then at that point you'd just keep the i7 and sell the i5??

Right. I think the warranty will actually make a consumer more willing to spend more, because it is a $250 upgrade. But if you think that you need the extra speed, your productivity are more important than the price you think you can get for the other one. If you really need an i7 and 16 GB of RAM, then you should definitely keep the i7.

 

[jerrydpi]

In your case, I would definitely go for the more RAM. The i7 won't make a deal-breaking difference between the i5, but the 8GB over the 4GB will increase your laptop's perfomance by almost double. Then again, if you have the money, you could get the i7 model and upgrade the RAM later since it is cheap ATM. Wouldn't recommend that unless you have a lot of cash to spend. Good luck!

Jamesbarns,

But the i5 has 8GB in it, not 4GB.

If I previously ever said it had 4GB, that was my mistake