The 8th GPU core is an extra $50. Given that the existing Intel MacBook Air had fairly mediocre integrated graphics, are you tempted to save the $50 and get the 7-core GPU? (FYI, you do that by starting with the $999 model and configuring with the RAM and SSD of your choice. The $1199 model has the 8-core GPU).
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Is the 8th GPU Core worth $50 to You?
- Thread starter KPOM
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Depends on what performance gains that eighth GPU core brings...?
$50 to upgrade something that you'll never ever be able to upgrade yourself? Yes.
No. I always the 8/7 MBA and the price difference in the UK was £250.
Or £999 vs £1249.
So, not worth it, at all.
Or £999 vs £1249.
So, not worth it, at all.
Yes, always. That's an extra core you can't snap in like modular RAM. Rule of thumb is always get the highest spec you can afford.
Nah. I always buy the lowest spec. It would cost £250 to upgrade. I'd rather by 5 new lower spec machines for my reserach group than only 4 upgraded machines.
And I find that upgrade dubious at best.
There are a lot of people asking a lot of ridiculous questions today, since Apple didn't see fit to provide any real world comparison data on performance, other than charts that show "Better....much, much better"
Similarly, I'd rather upgrade more frequently – which brings massive bumps in performance – than stretch an old high-spec machine for a long time.
Active vs. passive cooling. The Air only has 9-10 watts of power available to the SoC, the MacBook Pro will have 15W or more.
My own guesses based on the way too much time I spend researching this stuff
Basic reasoning: Air is passively cooled and has around 5W or more less power available to it's SoC. That is enough to have slightly higher burst frequencies for the CPU, and more then enough to significantly increase the sustained performance.I believe the question was "What does the extra GPU get you?" - the Air can be upgraded to double the storage and the 8-core GPU for $250. The OP concluded that the storage was worth $200 and the GPU was with $50. So the question is ... is the extra GPU worth $50
This question makes no sense since the difference is bigger than one extra GPU core.
The specifications are pretty terse, so the impact of this "upgrade" is unclear. If it is just a bit of GPU power, it is probably useless, but maybe this corresponds to more difference than this. For instance, is the clock frequency the same ?
The best solution is to wait for benchmarks...
The best solution is to wait for benchmarks...
wow, that's an interesting explanation, said with British accent and teeth missing/bent.
I think I’m the idiot here actually. I only now realized that you guys are talking about the MBA upgrade only. Sorry. Too tired 😭
Fair enough. Now that the Air has the P3 screen it is a no-brainer for me over the Pro, no Touch Bar is a feature.