MBP 2018 i7 vs i7

[jacklivehere]

From apple.com

This MacBook Pro processor features Hyper-Threading, support for fast 2400MHz DDR4 memory and Intel UHD Graphics 630.
The standard eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor boasts six cores, a 9MB L3 performance cache, and a 2.6GHz clock frequency with a Turbo Boost speed of up to 4.3GHz, giving you the power to get through a demanding workflow fast.

Upgrading to the Intel Core i9 processor will take your speeds even higher. The i9 features Thermal Velocity Boost, which enables the CPU to opportunistically turbo up to 4.8GHz when workloads and system thermals allow. At 2.9GHz with a Turbo Boost speed of up to 4.8GHz, it’s designed to handle everything from compiling code to rendering CPU-intensive 3D graphics — all with substantially accelerated compute performance.

-Any idea what is thermal velocity boost?
-Extra cache fro i7 vs i9, does it help in long life?
-Base frequency of 2.9Ghz should give better performance in single thread apps correct?

Any one going for i9 processor? is it worth $300 bump?

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

It's a better processor, whether you need a better processor is up to you. The base CPU will be more than enough for the vast majority of people. If you make good money using the machine, then saving a few seconds or minutes on CPU time can make a difference and be worth $300. If you're using it for hobby purposes, get the base, always.

 

[jacklivehere]

It's a better processor, whether you need a better processor is up to you. The base CPU will be more than enough for the vast majority of people. If you make good money using the machine, then saving a few seconds or minutes on CPU time can make a difference and be worth $300. If you're using it for hobby purposes, get the base, always.

Hi Thanks for quick reply. while i really don't need super fast CPU, but checking to see if upgrading to i9 will help in future proofing the Macbook pro.

 

[Glmnet1]

Hi Thanks for quick reply. while i really don't need super fast CPU, but checking to see if upgrading to i9 will help in future proofing the Macbook pro.

No, if you don't do anything that requires a really powerful CPU then the MBP will probably break long before you need more power from it.

 

[magbarn]

Put it this way, the people who bought the lower spec 2013 rMBP 15 are going to be able to run the same software as the top CPU back then. RAM and GPU are going to be a bottleneck faster. Get the 32gb version before you upgrade the CPU. Nvidia is due to release the next gen GPU’s soon the 11XX series. Given that Pascal already blows away the 560x re-badged GPU the Volta version is going to be even better...

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Hi Thanks for quick reply. while i really don't need super fast CPU, but checking to see if upgrading to i9 will help in future proofing the Macbook pro.

You can't future proof a machine, the technology is more than just the CPU, or RAM, it's a combination of everything. You could only use 20% of the performance of that CPU, and in 5 years time be using 60% - at which point that CPU will be below a base spec.

That's why it's always the recommendation that you only go for CPU upgrades if you need it today. If you find you need a faster CPU down the road, then likely you'd need a new machine to fully utilize it.