MBPr 15'' 2015 vs 2014

[gyurho]

Hi guys,

I am aware of the key differences between 2015 and 2014 MBPr.

I know that 2015 MBPr has twice faster flash drive than 2014 one, but I don't know if I can actually feel the difference and it affects the tasks that I will do (running mathematica and matlab, or some gaming like starcraft 2 or dota 2).

I am thinking of buying 2014 with dedicated graphic card or 2015 without dedicated graphic card. Please share me your thought and advice

thanks

 

[placidity44]

They have the same processor architecture because Broadwell wasn't released in a quad core config so processing power will be very very similar, faster PCIe flash storage (I use a 2012 decked out rMBP and the flash is super fast that I don't notice) will be beneficial to some people but I doubt most people will notice it, and force touch. Thought force touch was really cool and I think a couple years down the road it will be even better but not a must have for me. You'd get a better machine with a 2014 refurb model with a dedicated graphics card than the integrated iris pro. Either way you can't go wrong you'll get a great machine.

 

[felarof99]

I'm planning to buy MBP15 and currently stuck with the same question.

I feel that going with 2014 model is a better option; it has a bumped up processor clocked at 2.5GHz, gives 512GB storage and nVIDIA graphics card (which I believe is a better option than AMD).

 

[yjchua95]

I'm planning to buy MBP15 and currently stuck with the same question.

I feel that going with 2014 model is a better option; it has a bumped up processor clocked at 2.5GHz, gives 512GB storage and nVIDIA graphics card (which I believe is a better option than AMD).

Actually if you look at gaming performance, the M370X still beats the GT 750M.

And the M370X completely smokes the GT 750M in OpenCL.

The M370X can also output 5120x2880. The 750M can't.

 

[Quu]

I had a 2013 rMBP and now I have a 2015 rMBP. I don't game on my laptops so I can't comment really on the graphics performance of the 750m vs M370X from my own usage but based on other peoples reports the M370X is up to 20% faster in modern games.

The one I had before was maxed out fully, 1TB SSD, 750m, Highest CPU option, 16GB RAM etc

New one is the 512GB SSD, M370X mid-CPU option. So it's not fully maxed out on the SSD or the CPU.

And I can't tell a difference. They both perform the same to me. The new one has an SSD that's almost twice as fast in benchmarks, I do not notice a difference, the old SSD (1TB Model) was already at 1GB/s the new one (512GB) at 2GB/s and I don't find the difference noticeable.

My advice, if you need the 5K output that the M370X offers, or you want the force trackpad, or you do a lot of Final Cut Pro video editing where the M370X sings, then get the 2015 model 100%, however if you don't need any of those things and can get the 2013 or 2014 model cheaper then get either of those, there's really no discernible difference, only numbers in benchmarks that I can see apart from the video editing performance due to the M370X's increased OpenCL chops over the 750m

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I'm planning to buy MBP15 and currently stuck with the same question.

I feel that going with 2014 model is a better option; it has a bumped up processor clocked at 2.5GHz, gives 512GB storage and nVIDIA graphics card (which I believe is a better option than AMD).

The AMD is a faster card and better in open CL applications. Unless you are using CUDA a lot the AMD will give you better results for everything according to the benchmarks.

 

[Hypnosizz]

I have the same question too. I am considering about my first rMBP 15".

In my country, since 2015 model arrived, the 2014 (not refurbished) model is only 140 USD cheaper than the 2015 one (w/dGPU).

Which model should I buy?
Is the 140 USD worth for upgrade to the 2015 model?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I have the same question too. I am considering about my first rMBP 15".

In my country, since 2015 model arrived, the 2014 (not refurbished) model is only 140 USD cheaper than the 2015 one (w/dGPU).

Which model should I buy?
Is the 140 USD worth for upgrade to the 2015 model?

It depends what you use you computer for, Gaming and video editing etc or anything that leverages the power of the dGPU it's worth it, if you don't do these things then it isn't. Unless of course you just must have that force trackpad...

 

[Quu]

I have the same question too. I am considering about my first rMBP 15".

In my country, since 2015 model arrived, the 2014 (not refurbished) model is only 140 USD cheaper than the 2015 one (w/dGPU).

Which model should I buy?
Is the 140 USD worth for upgrade to the 2015 model?

140 USD for 2x SSD speed, 5K External Display Support, Faster OpenCL and the new Trackpad is worth it to me. You need to judge it yourself though for what you use yours for.

 

[Hypnosizz]

Many thanks for suggestions.
I am interesting in the 2015 model more than 2014 one, and I will go to try out both on weekend.

What about stability between R9 m370x and GT750m?
I heard someone say the AMD card has more issue than the Nvidia one, is that true?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Many thanks for suggestions.
I am interesting in the 2015 model more than 2014 one, and I will go to try out both on weekend.

What about stability between R9 m370x and GT750m?
I heard someone say the AMD card has more issue than the Nvidia one, is that true?

No one knows, the 750M has proved pretty stable so far but it's not even 3 years old in macs yet.

The AMD is brand new out and only in the rMBP so no one knows how it will be with time.

 

[Sully]

140 USD for 2x SSD speed, 5K External Display Support, Faster OpenCL and the new Trackpad is worth it to me. You need to judge it yourself though for what you use yours for.

I agree with this. The problem with the refurbs for me is that they're priced too high relative to the cost of a new model.

 

[ssls6]

For me the mid-2104 was a great value at $1800 bucks for a 2.5 i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB DDR3, 750M. All the processing power of a 2015 and I don't play games on it. Drives my thunderbolt display swimmingly. In a few years the resale on a mid-2014 vs mid-2015 won't differ by what you can save today.

 

[TechZeke]

I'm planning to buy MBP15 and currently stuck with the same question.

I feel that going with 2014 model is a better option; it has a bumped up processor clocked at 2.5GHz, gives 512GB storage and nVIDIA graphics card (which I believe is a better option than AMD).

If this post doesn't prove the NVidia fanboyism on these forums, I don't know what will.

 

[prospervic]

140 USD for 2x SSD speed, 5K External Display Support, Faster OpenCL and the new Trackpad is worth it to me. You need to judge it yourself though for what you use yours for.

Totally agree here. I love the Force touch trackpad. After using it for a month, my fingers have adjusted to the lighter touch. Last night I was updating my wife's 2012 MacBook Air, and the old mechanical track pad felt like going from a 10-speed racer to one of those old, heavy paper route bikes.

I suspect all those bloggers who poo-poo the trackpad mainly do writing on their MBPs, and very little graphics and media creation. In Pixelmator, pressing harder on the trackpad to increase the thickness of a line -- as I drew it -- hooked me for good!

For $140 it's a no-brainer. 6 months to a year from now, when there are lots of apps utilizing Force touch (Garageband just added it), you'll appreciate having it at your disposal. Plus, with the graphics improvements via Metal coming this fall in El Capitan (which the AMD chip will take huge advantage of), the extra hour of battery life, not to mention the way this machine just FLIES thanks to the super-fast SSD, you'll be thanking yourself for spending that relatively small amount of cash for this more advanced model.

(Those fuming about Broadwell -- remember: the processor is not the WHOLE computer! Apple designs it's products for the user experience, not for spec wars.)

 

[LegacyUser12]

For me the mid-2104 was a great value at $1800 bucks for a 2.5 i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB DDR3, 750M. All the processing power of a 2015 and I don't play games on it. Drives my thunderbolt display swimmingly. In a few years the resale on a mid-2014 vs mid-2015 won't differ by what you can save today.

Old thread reviver here: would you still vote the mid-2014 > 2015 as of Jan 2019? For someone coming from the dark ages of 2008?

 

[jerryk]

Old thread reviver here: would you still vote the mid-2014 > 2015 as of Jan 2019? For someone coming from the dark ages of 2008?

2015 since you get the faster drive and slight processor upgrade.

 

[mcpix]

I have both a 2014 and a 2015 MBP. I would agree that the 2015 is the way to go. The only reason you might want a 2014 is because it will run Mavericks (10.9). I still use iMovie 6 HD and FCP 7 for some projects and they both run on OS 10.9.

 

[09872738]

Plus: you could if required update to standard m.2 nvse SSDs - using an adapter - that just works. Pre-2015 got an issue with sleep-wake errors in hibernation mode

 

[robvas]

I like the force touch trackpad

 

[turbineseaplane]

Plus: you could if required update to standard m.2 nvse SSDs - using an adapter - that just works. Pre-2015 got an issue with sleep-wake errors in hibernation mode

I can vouch for this.
I have a 2TB EVO 970 NVMe drive in my 2015 and it screams...

 

[emily_frank]

Depends on your use case. If you would like to use it for everyday tasks 2015 will be the right choice considering it's latest.

 

[ssls6]

Old thread reviver here: would you still vote the mid-2014 > 2015 as of Jan 2019? For someone coming from the dark ages of 2008?

Back in 2015 the $700 savings made sense. i don't think the used price today differs by $700.