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MacBook Pro Retina Now or Wait?

L

laurentir35

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 15, 2013
4
0
Hello! First post.

I've been reading the forums, especially similar questions, what are the improvements on the current MacBook Pro Retina over the soon to come MacBook Pro Retina?

Current Model:
15-inch: 2.7GHz
Retina display
2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz
16GB 1600MHz memory
512GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
Built-in battery (7 hours)2

Is the model that is coming out soon that much of an improvement? If it's not and it is coming out around October, should I really wait?
 
It may depend greatly on Apple's choice with the dedicated GPU.

If they have a current-generation NVidia GPU (750M+), its graphical performance will be significantly better.

If they choose to not included a dGPU, its battery performance may be higher (Probably not as much as the Air, but maybe 2-3 hours+).

Whether these are important enough to wait (either 1-3 months) and pay more for the new model is up to your needs/preferences.

Good luck on your decision :)
 
This question has been asked... a lot... on this forum.

Leaked benchmarks show that they may eliminate the dedicated GPU from the new 15" rMBP, which has certainly rustled a lot of jimmies around here.

Basically, Haswell is not going to do much for the 15" except increase battery life, and if they omit the dedicated GPU, then graphics performance will actually be worse than the current model. The 13" only has integrated graphics, so Haswell will be a bigger improvement on that model "both graphics and battery life). However, again there are leaked benchmarks on the 13" that show even it isn't a huge performance jump.

If you need the faster SSD, faster wifi and better battery life, then wait. If graphics performance is important, then still wait and see what they do with the 15". If they omit the dedicated GPU, then get a discounted Ivy Bridge 15".

Either way, you win.
 
jread said:
This question has been asked... a lot... on this forum.

Leaked benchmarks show that they may eliminate the dedicated GPU from the new 15" rMBP, which has certainly rustled a lot of jimmies around here.

Basically, Haswell is not going to do much for the 15" except increase battery life, and if they omit the dedicated GPU, then graphics performance will actually be worse than the current model. The 13" only has integrated graphics, so Haswell will be a bigger improvement on that model "both graphics and battery life). However, again there are leaked benchmarks on the 13" that show even it isn't a huge performance jump.

If you need the faster SSD, faster wifi and better battery life, then wait. If graphics performance is important, then still wait and see what they do with the 15". If they omit the dedicated GPU, then get a discounted Ivy Bridge 15".

Either way, you win.
Click to expand...

^^^^ This

If they do omit the dGPU then surely Apple are gonna have to reduced the price of a Haswell rMBP by a fair bit. Which will hopefully reduce the Ivy Bridge version in the refurb store
 
I have that same RMBP you speak of, and the only issue I find is screen burn when I have the brightness all the way up and leaving it on one screen for a while (hours on end).

It goes away though. Great machine for me.
 
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laurentir35 said:
So you leave it on and the screen burns? As in you have lost pixels?
Click to expand...

If I leave it on, at full brightness, it will give me a slight image of what I was previously looking at. Once I turn it down a few notches, it goes away. Doesn't seem to be a permanent thing. Just when I leave it up full blast. :)
 
Oh, good to know. I probably won't mess with the brightness though, my real eyes do something very similar with bright things :)
 
IC3D said:
If I leave it on, at full brightness, it will give me a slight image of what I was previously looking at. Once I turn it down a few notches, it goes away. Doesn't seem to be a permanent thing. Just when I leave it up full blast. :)
Click to expand...

Why would you leave it on full blast? to test your sunnies out? :cool:
 
If you need it now, go and buy it.

If there's no rush. Then wait. If the new rMBP fits your needs get it, else you still win by getting an older model from the refurbished store.

PS. Getting the latest generation of processors "most" times get you a better bang for your buck. I got the early 2011 MBP 13". The first with Ivy Bridge and more than 2 years later there isn't a significant improvement. My 2 years old MBP is still better than most average laptops in the market. Paired with a SSD and more RAM it flies.
 
I would say buy now. The current retina is amazing and if you buy it refurbished or 2nd hand it comes at great price too.

If you decided to think the upgrade is worth it, you can sell the current one and buy the new one. But i must say, the current is already amazing!
 
IC3D said:
If you want to wait thats on you, but this laptop is one of the best I've ever owned, besides the screen burn issue.
Click to expand...

I agree. I have the same specs but but mine is from June of 2012 and thankfully I've had no screen burn issues. It's the best laptop I've ever owned. You can wait but you won't go wrong in buying the current 15" rMBP.
 
mac00l said:
I got the early 2011 MBP 13". The first with Ivy Bridge and more than 2 years later there isn't a significant improvement. My 2 years old MBP is still better than most average laptops in the market. Paired with a SSD and more RAM it flies.
Click to expand...

I think the early 2011 is Sandy Bridge; I have the 15". Agree it is still super fast.
 
laurentir35 said:
Hello! First post.

I've been reading the forums, especially similar questions, what are the improvements on the current MacBook Pro Retina over the soon to come MacBook Pro Retina?

Current Model:
15-inch: 2.7GHz
Retina display
2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz
16GB 1600MHz memory
512GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
Built-in battery (7 hours)2

Is the model that is coming out soon that much of an improvement? If it's not and it is coming out around October, should I really wait?
Click to expand...

I have been saying all along to just get the current model, but die hards still tell you to wait. Yet now the benchmarks are becoming clear, there is little advantage to waiting, in fact it may be worse.

Either way you can enjoy the worlds best laptop right now and for many months for less (I saved 20%) or go without and get the update, if and when it arrives and see that it has not revolutionised the laptop and carry on the same anyway.

Just get one, IF you can get it cheap, if you can pay full price then wait.
 
I think, the new model and latest model (high version), will not "significant" performances. okay, maybe new generation will increase for 10% or 20%, but how to measure that this increase you will need? if you're not sure, please buy and get one now!! :rolleyes:
 
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