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MacBook Pro with or without TB

B

Balichi

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 18, 2016
3
0
Hello,
I'm going to college and considering to buy a new laptop.
I'm thinking about MBP, but I don't know which one should I buy.
  • MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar (3,1 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB hard drive) - 2638$
  • MacBook Pro 13" Escape (2,3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB hard drive) - 2240$
I need laptop to - I think, because this will be my first year in college - programming in C++/C#/Swift, virtualization (Windows) and normal usage (Internet, Netflix/HBO, Office, etc.) and I don't know if 2,3 GHz dual core processor will be ok, to run Visual Studia via Parallels/VirtualBox?
Of course I will buy Apple Care, but not now, because this cost 278$ :(
 
The price includes 23% VAT and that's why it's so high.

OP, you can run VS on much weaker CPU. Running VS in VM or Parallels will be painful experience regardless of whichever you choose. Go for BootCamp or feel the pain.

I'd go for the one WITHOUT TB (larger battery) or even better for 2015 model with reliable keyboard. Besides that, you'll appreciate physical function keys working with Visual Studio.

Just a tip from fresh Software Engineering graduate who worked on late 2013 13" rMBP.
 
Then you're saying that MacBook without TB will have enough processor power for running Windows via bootcamp (Visual Studio only I think)?
 
Absolutely, it's much better than my 2013 rMBP which did the same stuff. Besides that, you should really compare boost clocks which are actually in favor of non-TB MacBook Pro (3,5GHz vs 3,6GHz).

TB rMBP has marginally better GPU (10-20%).
 
Merode said:
Besides that, you should really compare boost clocks which are actually in favor of non-TB MacBook Pro (3,5GHz vs 3,6GHz).
Click to expand...

Be careful when oversimplifying like that - the weak cooling systems in MBPs will lead to throttling when the CPU/GPU are under continuous heavy load (as has always been the case).

Base clock speeds are equally as important as these more accurately represent the 'sustainable performance' of the laptop.
 
JesterAZ said:
Wait, what? If the cooling systems are so weak, why couldn't Notebook Check get the lower TDP non touch bar to throttle, ever, at all? They looped the test system SEVERAL times, and never got it to.
Click to expand...

when the CPU/GPU are under continuous heavy load
Click to expand...

Answer in my OP. I suppose the slash should be 'and' for clarity.

Edit: If you'd like a source for this fact...

https://arstechnica.com/video/2016/11/the-2016-13-and-15-inch-touch-bar-macbook-pros-reviewed/3/
 
Last edited:
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