MacBook whites and video card

[aratio]

Hi,

I do not have a lot of money to spend in a laptop, but I want to buy a MacBook white....

I am a software developer and the software I do is not highly demanding on video, so, do you think I should buy the new MacBook white (including the nVida video card) or should I buy a refurbished MacBook white with 2.4 GHz? The processor performance is more important to me than the video card, but I do not know how the new macbook white processor performs.

Thanks in advance.

 

[waiwai]

well... u mentioned that u are on a budget...

i'd go with the refurb 2.4 white macbook.

 

[Igantius]

How much is the price difference?

 

[waiwai]

in canada the difference is about 300... for an onboard gpu... 300 is ridiculously overpriced.

 

[Igantius]

in canada the difference is about 300... for an onboard gpu... 300 is ridiculously overpriced.

Given that the OP is concerned with the CPU, even allowing for the slower bus, the refurbished model's 2.4GHz would be the clincher for me - but I was kind of interested in the discount just out of curiousity.

 

[Demosthenes X]

I'm not sure if benchmarks are out for the new white, but remember that the processor in the NVIDIA MacBook is newer. Old 2.4 is not necessarily better than new 2.0. Check out Barefeats and see if they've compared the two.

 

[Igantius]

Pretty sure Barefeats didn't (it mainly focussed on the MBPs), but MacWorld did some tests which pitted the old white 2.4Ghz MB against the alu ones ones and the new (for then) 2.1GHz - http://www.macworld.com/article/136214/2008/10/macbookbenchmarks.html

Am I right in thinking that the 2.0GHz alu specs are the same as the current white model?

 

[Demosthenes X]

Am I right in thinking that the 2.0GHz alu specs are the same as the current white model?

Same processor. The RAM in the white is slightly slower than in the unibody MB, though. Not by much, by slightly.

 

[rupnok]

Hi Aratio,

Hope all is well. I love my MacBook 2.4ghz White (upgraded to 250gb HD, and 4GB RAM). I am happy to run benchmarks for you. From what I've seen, the 2.4ghz performs favorably to the new 2.0ghz when it comes to CPU intensive tasks, but lags on video department.

From MacWorld's review: http://www.macworld.com/article/138752/2009/02/2ghz_macbook_9400m.html and http://www.macworld.com/product/hardware/141/detail.html

Test (New 2.0ghz White - NVidia / 2.4ghz Early 2008)
Speedmark (186/196) 5%
Cinema 4D (1:03/:54) 14%
iMovie HD 6 58/:51) 12%
iTunes 7.5 (1:13/1:04) 12%
Compressor (2:08/1:52) 13%
Photoshop (1:14/1:16) -2%
Unreal (60fps/27.6fps) -54%

So basically, the old 2.4ghz is about 12-13% faster on processor related tasks (rather than 20% if it was simple scaling).

I am actually selling my 2.4ghz (with 2 yrs Applecare left) if you're interested. I've sent you a PM.

Best,
rupnok

 

[neiltc13]

The new processors that are currently in the MacBooks are significantly cooler in operation than the old ones.

 

[Igantius]

Same processor. The RAM in the white is slightly slower than in the unibody MB, though. Not by much, by slightly.

Thanks! And there I was thinking I had made a mistake about not pointing about faster RAM in my earlier posts *laughs*