MBP 2ghz yes or no?

[Cloudgazer]

My powerbook has died, and I need a new mac.

I've found a 2nd hand MBP (2ghz with 256VRAM) for less than half the cost of a new macbookpro.
Price of 2nd hand mbp is R10,000 (approx $1000)
New mbp is R25,000 (approx $2500)

Is it worth it?

Is the speed difference between 2ghz and 2.4 really that noticeable?

I like the fact its got a the 256 gfx and not the standard 128mb one.

My other option is to go for a new 20inch iMac (approx cost $1500)

What i really want to know is this model too old?
Advice please.

 

[SimD]

Depends what you do.

.4 GHz isn't that noticeable but the difference in bus speeds is somewhat. That being said, both are considerable upgrades to what you currently use and the 2.0 is an EXCELLENT machine. If I'm not mistaken it's also an ATI card, which is a win!

I'd say go for the 2.0 and put the rest of the money into something else!


Sim

p.s. I use a 2.2 SR, which will last me for a good 2-3 more years to come

 

[Cloudgazer]

Yes, its got the ATI card.


I do webmastering/design
so, even though i work with photoshop the file suzes aren't huge.

I do a bit of amateur video editing - iMovie kinda stuff.

I'm hoping i can play some Windows games.
Not the latest and greatest of course, probably games that are 2 or 3 years old.

 

[SimD]

By all means go for the 2.0 and invest in something else like FCP or a Wacom Tablet

 

[fleali88]

Well I've been keeping up with updates and speed bumps since the first 1.83 ghz mbp. but what you really need to know is that the 1.83ghz, 2.0ghz, and 2.16ghz all originally had a Core duo proccessor. that is until intel upgraded that line of proccessors to Core 2 duo. the core 2 duo is 35% faster and more efficient than the core duo.and in the mbp they went from 1.83 core duo, and 2.0 core duo, to the 2.16 core 2 duo and 2.33 core 2 duo. so if i were to get an old mbp i would at least go for the first Core 2 duo (2.16ghz core 2 duo with ati 128mb) and the core 2 duo's all came with draft N wifi. but it all depends on what you want to spend, i see 1.83ghz mbp on ebay selling for 750$ all day long. and i see 2.16ghz core 2 duo's go for 900-1000$. but if you look hard enough you can get a 2.33ghz core 2 duo with 256mb ati card for less than 1300. thats a good deal. also the 2.16 core 2, and 2.33 core 2 max out at 3gb of RAM, the 1.83 core duo, and 2.0 core duo max out at 2gb. so thats my 2 cents or 99, lol sorry for the rambling.

 

[Cloudgazer]

Wow,thanks fleali88.
That has been most informative.

Will now know what to look for.

I'm a bit reluctant to buy off ebay as I live in South Africa, and so shipping/importing is a bit of a mission.
Also, mac prices here are about 20% more expensive than in the US.

 

[PeterQC]

Yes, its got the ATI card.


I do webmastering/design
so, even though i work with photoshop the file suzes aren't huge.

I do a bit of amateur video editing - iMovie kinda stuff.

I'm hoping i can play some Windows games.
Not the latest and greatest of course, probably games that are 2 or 3 years old.

You should be fine. I have yet to see limitation with my 2.4GHz Macbook on the CPU side. I'm using Photoshop, illustrator and inDesign, sometimes all open at the same time, and not a single slow down. For the GPU, the 9400m is rather weak, and I know nothing about your card, but I guess you should be ok with this. Source games (HL2, CSS) should run smoothly with med to high settings. Personally, I'm playing CSS on high everywhere with my 9400m.

 

[Trip.Tucker]

Both.

 

[Cloudgazer]

It's got the Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600

 

[raymondu999]

Do note though, that that's a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo. No "2." Maybe, say... a 50% increase in performance from 2GHz Intel Core Duo to 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo?

 

[Cloudgazer]

Do note though, that that's a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo. No "2." Maybe, say... a 50% increase in performance from 2GHz Intel Core Duo to 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo?

The naming of these Intel chips is sodamn confusing.

I preferred the simplicity of the PPC chips

 

[raymondu999]

Lol. Core 2 Duo is an architecture change, and 64-bit. A same-clock Core Duo vs a same-clock Core 2 Duo would be around 30%-ish faster.

 

[fleali88]

Do note though, that that's a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo. No "2." Maybe, say... a 50% increase in performance from 2GHz Intel Core Duo to 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo?

True dat!