I have noticed a lot of posters have been ordering MBP with the 2.5GB processor. Is there no benefit or not worth the cost to jump up to the 2.6? I was looking to get the 2.6GB MBP and wondering why people are not spending the extra cash to top it off? Thanks
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MBP Processor Speed
- Thread starter winty03
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The base model 2.4GHz Penryn has a 3MB cache which is smaller than the 4MB cache on the previous processor. However, both the 2.5 and 2.6GHz Penryn processors have 6MB caches.
it wont be worth it
if you have to money to spend, why not
but its not really necessary
I have heard...that the PREVIOUS-gen 2.6GHz (non-Penryn) MacBook Pros are actually a tad faster in benchmarks than the brand new ones. This is due to more power consumption and cache specifics.
Well you can get the 2.6GHz MBP from Apple Store Certified Refurbished, they threw some new models on there last night...I am sure they will be gone...
(I just checked) - they sold out of the 15.4" ones but they still have the 17" 2.6GHz listed... for $2349!!
...compare with the $2799 they are asking for the 2.5Ghz, and the $3049 if you opt for the 2.6GHz one new. Easy way to save $700
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...e.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=44BD9AA1&nclm=CertifiedMac
grab it while you can.
-Ward
I would seriously check out these preliminary benchmarks from Primate Labs, pitting the new-gen 2.5GHz and 2.4GHz Penryn 'books against the 2007 2.6GHz and 2,4GHz Merom models:
http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/02/macbook-pro-performance-february-2008/
Their Conclusions? ...
"At first glance the results seems counter-intuitive; shouldnt the new MacBook Pro @ 2.4GHz be faster than the old MacBook Pro @ 2.4GHz? Isnt the Penryn better than the Merom? It turns out the answer is, not necessarily.
The processor in the new MacBook Pro @ 2.4GHz (T8300) has less L2 cache than processor in the old MacBook Pro @ 2.4GHz (T7700) which explains the slight drop in performance.
However, when you consider the new MacBook Pro 2.4GHz is the base model, while the old MacBook Pro 2.4GHz was the mid-range model, the small drop in performance comes with a significant reduction in price. Plus, the new Penryn processor uses less energy than the old Merom processor, which means a cooler laptop with increased battery life."
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Again, for a steal-of-a-deal while it's available:
2.2GHz MacBook Pro 15.4" - $1449.00
2.6GHz 17" and 2.4GHz 17" Hi-Res MBP - $2349.00
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...e.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=44BD9AA1&nclm=CertifiedMac
If you read the latest review of the new MBP's at macworld.com,
its tests show the new models, even the base 2.4, as 10%+ faster
than the comparable old models even with the 3MB L2 cache.
its tests show the new models, even the base 2.4, as 10%+ faster
than the comparable old models even with the 3MB L2 cache.