MBP SR or Refurb MBP

[panzer06]

I am trying to decide whether to buy one of these refurbs:

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
15.4-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB memory
120GB hard drive
6x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128MB of GDDR3 memory
Built-in iSight camera
Original price: $1,999.00
Your price: $1,599.00

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
15.4-inch widescreen display
2GB memory
120GB hard drive
6x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB of GDDR3 memory
Built-in iSight camera
Original price: $2,499.00
Your price: $1,999.00

Or a new SR MBP @ $1799 or $2299 with student discount..?

I have two nagging issues.

1.) I enjoy games and would like to play Windows games; Company of Heroes, AOEIII, LOTR BFME II, C&C3 and need to know if wither MBP with 128MB of video RAM should/could be considered.

2.) Will I regret not getting the nvidia 8600M for $200-$300 more?

I’ve thought about waiting until SR refurbs are available, 90-120 days from now and have considered selling my PB G4 1.25 1GB ram 120GB HD and MB CD 2GB Ram 60GB HD to raise cash but hate to give up perfectly good Macs. Maybe I’ll just sell the PB.

Other than the games, the MB CD works fine with all my work apps, parallels with XP (a few works apps are windows only) but I am sick of having to use my big old Windows tower to play my games.

Should I sell and save to get the SR MBP or go with the lower cost 2.16 or 2.33 MBP?

Your thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

 

[CRAZYBUBBA]

I think based upon the games that are out that your graphics card won't make a difference. I'd go for the low end SR mbp personally.

 

[keithpetey]

x

 

[CalBoy]

Go with the SR mbp. The 2.33 for 1999 should be out of the question for you anyways, because it's essentially older technology for the same price as new technology. The SR mbp takes the cake because it is only $200 more than the refurb 2.16, and with it, you can get $200 off of a Nano and a new printer. These things put together mean that the refurb isn't the deal it's cracked up to be.

 

[w8ing4intelmacs]

These things put together mean that the refurb isn't the deal it's cracked up to be.

That is, until the SR MBP refurbs start showing up at $1599.


Admittedly, the back to school special is a great deal though.

 

[panzer06]

I bought the 128mb version because i didnt feel like plopping down another 500 bones just for speed boost and more vcard memory. a bit overpriced if you ask me.

the 2gb of ram is a huge difference too. the 8600m gt can use shared memory as well. mine uses up around 512 extra. you can just add in another 1gb stick into the refurbs(they use 2x512), you would have to buy 2x1gb to make it the same.

If the 128MB card can use shared RAM (at slower speed) to make up for the limited dedicated ram I am sold on the SR!!

Thank you everyone for the great advise.

Cheers,

 

[PkennethV]

the screen is amazing, imagine a laptop that you keep the backlight halfway up the majority of the time because it is too overpowering. literally "thee" best laptop screen i have ever seen(i test drive laptops as part of my job).

Just wondering, do you have the hi-def screen?

 

[GanleyBurger]

Just wondering, do you have the hi-def screen?

Am I in the dark? What is this "High Def" option I'm hearing about? I only see two choices... Glossy or Matte.

 

[PkennethV]

Am I in the dark? What is this "High Def" option I'm hearing about? I only see two choices... Glossy or Matte.

Oh my bad. I forgot we're talking about 15 inchers here. There's a high-def screen option for the 17" MBP

 

[synth3tik]

IMO the only thing cooler about the SR is the LED display.

 

[GanleyBurger]

Oh my bad. I forgot we're talking about 15 inchers here. There's a high-def screen option for the 17" MBP

What is the new 17" lacking over the 15"? Is there a post about it?

 

[mikehokie]

IMO the only thing cooler about the SR is the LED display.

So you don't like the fact you can dual channel with 4GB of RAM? The processor is faster with the FS bus of 800 Mhz and bumped up speeds to 2.2 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz respectively? And the video card is updated as well?

 

[panzer06]

What is the new 17" lacking over the 15"? Is there a post about it?

The only thing really lacking on the HD 17 inch is the LED display. If that was available I might save a bit longer and fo for that. (I'd have to sell all my stuff just to get close to having enough) However, I've read the 17 inch LED panels are a 2008 possibility and I can't wait that long.

Cheers,

 

[teflon]

I’ve thought about waiting until SR refurbs are available, 90-120 days from now and have considered selling my PB G4 1.25 1GB ram 120GB HD and MB CD 2GB Ram 60GB HD to raise cash but hate to give up perfectly good Macs. Maybe I’ll just sell the PB.

Other than the games, the MB CD works fine with all my work apps, parallels with XP (a few works apps are windows only) but I am sick of having to use my big old Windows tower to play my games.

Should I sell and save to get the SR MBP or go with the lower cost 2.16 or 2.33 MBP?

Your thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

I would sell the PB G4 and the MB CD even if you can afford the SR MBP. Why would you need 3 laptops? If you're not using them, sell them now as they will only lose value as time goes on. With the extra cash, you can get a monitor, external hds, ram and upgrade to the 2.4 SR MBP if you need more power.
Also the student deal will probably be better than the refurb, since you do get $250 worth of goods (ipod + printer) and 10% off. Plus it'd be a brand new machine w/ a prettier box .

 

[panzer06]

I would sell the PB G4 and the MB CD even if you can afford the SR MBP. Why would you need 3 laptops? If you're not using them, sell them now as they will only lose value as time goes on. With the extra cash, you can get a monitor, external hds, ram and upgrade to the 2.4 SR MBP if you need more power.
Also the student deal will probably be better than the refurb, since you do get $250 worth of goods (ipod + printer) and 10% off. Plus it'd be a brand new machine w/ a prettier box .

Good point!! The PB G4 has been sitting around for over almost 7 months. I keeping thinking at some point I wil convince my brilliant, highly intelligent wife to get rid of the Dell laptop and use one of these Macs. So far its a no go, so perhaps a quick laptop liquidation is in order.

Thanks for the suggestion (I'd forgotten about the printer/ipod deals)

Cheers,

 

[keithpetey]

x

 

[panzer06]

hey dont know if this will help you but heres a pic

Now, that is just the proof I was looking for. I searched nVidia's website and found a reference to the use of system memory by the 8600 series as a "last resort". Don't quite understand the "last resort" comment in the tech doc but assume the system ram is either slower or gaining access to it is somehow slower. (I'm sure some bright chap here will explain)

In either case, I assume you are very pleased as it looks like you are running Vista bootcamp and games with no issues. I almost have my credit card out...

Cheers,