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MBA 2012 vs MBA 2013 (graphics work)

K

KimHansenDK

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 29, 2011
366
40
I'm considering selling my maxed out 13" MacBook Air 2012 and buying the new maxed out MacBook Air 13". I use my machine for web and app design in photoshop, illustrator, indesign and a bit of after effects (simple animations). I don't play games, render 3D compositions (ray trace etc).

The question is: will there be a noticeable performance boost in the before mentioned programs if moving to the new MacBook Air (maxed out) or the 13" rMBP (2.4GHz/8GB). Will there even be a noticeable boost if I moved to the 15" rMBP using those programs?

Thanks...
 
Differences between 2012 and 2013 MBA is pretty much the iGPU, 5000 is a nice boost over 4000.

You'll see much bigger boost if you go with 15" rMBP than any other options.
 
If you do graphics work, and you really need more power, maybe keep the MBA for portability and get a refurbished iMac with a gtx 680mx. The 680mx is over 10x more powerful than the HD 5000, based on 3DMark11-720p benchmarks. It is insanely more powerful than any integrated graphics card. The 680mx is still the most powerful graphics card you can get in an iMac, tying with the gtx 780m. If you really need mobile power, getting a rMBP with 650m/750m will be your best bet.

Best,
Matt
 
Meister said:
Why do you even consideri selling your 2012mba?
What does it lack?
Click to expand...

Well it doesn't really lack anything with the work that I do. I was just wondering if things would be even more smooth or faster if I moved to the new MacBook Air or rMBP. Or do I need to do 3D, rendering, heavy video editing and play games to notice a boost at all?
 
KimHansenDK said:
Well it doesn't really lack anything with the work that I do. I was just wondering if things would be even more smooth or faster if I moved to the new MacBook Air or rMBP. Or do I need to do 3D, rendering, heavy video editing and play games to notice a boost at all?
Click to expand...

Things will be smooth(er) and fast(er) in the new model year machine. However, the key question is whether that is worth enough to offset the cost difference involved with the swap. In my opinion; not yet. If I were you, I would wait it out until Broadwell at least before jumping back in. But, if money is burning a hole in your pocket; swap it out and amortize the difference to having used the 2012 MBA.
 
Then I might as well just wait a year at least before swapping my MacBook Air out with new model. Or I could just buy the new 15-inch rMBP, but I not sure whether I need that extra power at all...and I really like the portability of the Air.

I plan on pairing the MacBook Air with a Thunderbolt display - will the 2012 model (maxed out) be able to handle that smooth enough?
 
Last edited:
I don't know that you will see much difference in performance with the 2013 MBA, but you will get better battery life and much faster wireless networking. I went from a 2011 to 2013 MBA and that was a more significant upgrade.
 
Will the 2012 MacBook Air (maxed out) be able to drive the Thunderbolt display smoothly with several programs open at once? Or Will the 2013 model be better at that?
 
KimHansenDK said:
Will the 2012 MacBook Air (maxed out) be able to drive the Thunderbolt display smoothly with several programs open at once? Or Will the 2013 model be better at that?
Click to expand...

Should be able to handle it fine if you're not doing anything graphically heavy.
 
How do you define graphically heavy? I usually run Photoshop (large file), Illustrator, Spotify and a handful of tabs in the browser.
 
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