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Moved from 2015 MBP to 2017 (Cancelled 2018)

kylepro88

kylepro88

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 30, 2006
247
103
Nashville
I had a 2018 MBP on order (top spec minus storage) but cancelled it after some of the recent issues have been brought to light, which I'm very confident Mojave will fix (kernel panics, speakers, etc.). The throttling never bugged me a ton and the fix looked solid. Still, the overall cost of the machine was $$$ and I figured I would give the 2017 a shot to save about $1400. I'm bummed about giving up 32GB RAM though, which was my main reason to hang onto this 2015 for years. Maybe next year!

Still, the results are very encouraging. I had seen a lot of benchmarks online to compare the 2015/2017 models and the difference ranges from OK to Excellent depending on the kind of work you're doing. Below are some benchmarks for those who might have 2015 or older versions, do creative work, and are curious what sort of speed increases they could expect by making the jump to a newer model now that they're a few generations behind. The 2017 is still a big jump, with the 2018 being even better, it's just about $ pain tolerance. ;) The Adobe programs got a big boost in performance which is nice to see.

For those hanging onto an older model, the 2017's are available for much better prices than they were a month ago... so if you want a really nice speed boost without breaking the bank... and want to wait till the 2018 issues are sorted... it's a solid upgrade.

MODELS
2015 MacBook Pro 2.8 i7 16GB M370X
2017 Macbook Pro 3.1 i7 16GB 560

4K Prores footage exported to H264 “high bitrate match source” preset in Adobe Media Encoder
2017: 2:39 (58% faster)
2015: 6:20

4k Prores footage exported to 4k Prores with color board effect & grain added in FCPX
2017: 3:27 (29% faster)
2015: 4:52

NOTE: 2017 ran between 2.7-3.0ghz. 2015 ran between 2.5-2.7

5min 1080p Prores file with animated overlays exported to ProresHQ in After Effects
2017: 11:01 (8% faster)
2015: 12:05

4k footage exported to Apple 4k sharing preset (uses quick sync) in Compressor
2017: 2:57 (10% slower)
2015: 2:39

NOTE: 2017 ran approximately 400mhz slower throughout during the above test.

4k Prores footage exported to Facebook H264 720p preset in Compressor
2017: 2:59 (3.7% faster)
2015: 3:06

50 second 4K project with 4k, 5k, 6k, and 8k RED footage exported to Prores HQ in FCPX
2017: 5:00 (21% faster)
2015: 6:21

4K VFX Sequence exported to Uncompressed EXR Files in After Effects
2017: 22:00 (23% faster)
2015: 28:37
 
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maflynn said:
Agreed, this is why I'd get the 2018 over 2017. You're paying a premium for lady years tech and a keyboard that has a bad reputation
Click to expand...

Yea I considered this. The 2018 is faster, no doubt, so no arguments there. That's where the $1400 savings came in. I can't benefit from the 32GB RAM (faster RAM too) or the 6 cores vs. 4... but it's still a big leap from the 2015 in my typical day to day based on just this first week using it.

Keyboard wise... I agree the 2017 has a bad reputation, so I'll be keeping my eye on it, but the 2018 just came out so as far as I'm concerned the 2018 has "no" reputation yet. We'll see what happens in a few months as they get more use from people. The keyboard on my 2017 makes me the most nervous honestly, but the speakers, kernel/bridge errors, etc. on the 2018 are also nerve-wracking when you're spending nearly $4000 on a machine. I want to wait a little bit to see how all that evens out. I'm convinced that the i9 will perform even better than it does post-patch once Mojave is out. Don't let me down Apple!
 
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kylepro88 said:
I had a 2018 MBP on order (top spec minus storage) but cancelled it after some of the recent issues have been brought to light, which I'm very confident Mojave will fix (kernel panics, speakers, etc.). The throttling never bugged me a ton and the fix looked solid. Still, the overall cost of the machine was $$$ and I figured I would give the 2017 a shot to save about $1400. I'm bummed about giving up 32GB RAM though, which was my main reason to hang onto this 2015 for years. Maybe next year!

Still, the results are very encouraging. I had seen a lot of benchmarks online to compare the 2015/2017 models and the difference ranges from OK to Excellent depending on the kind of work you're doing. Below are some benchmarks for those who might have 2015 or older versions, do creative work, and are curious what sort of speed increases they could expect by making the jump to a newer model now that they're a few generations behind. The 2017 is still a big jump, with the 2018 being even better, it's just about $ pain tolerance. ;) The Adobe programs got a big boost in performance which is nice to see.

For those hanging onto an older model, the 2017's are available for much better prices than they were a month ago... so if you want a really nice speed boost without breaking the bank... and want to wait till the 2018 issues are sorted... it's a solid upgrade.

MODELS
2015 MacBook Pro 2.8 i7 16GB M370X
2017 Macbook Pro 3.1 i7 16GB 560

4K Prores footage exported to H264 “high bitrate match source” preset in Adobe Media Encoder
2017: 2:39 (58% faster)
2015: 6:20

4k Prores footage exported to 4k Prores with color board effect & grain added in FCPX
2017: 3:27 (29% faster)
2015: 4:52

NOTE: 2017 ran between 2.7-3.0ghz. 2015 ran between 2.5-2.7

5min 1080p Prores file with animated overlays exported to ProresHQ in After Effects
2017: 11:01 (8% faster)
2015: 12:05

4k footage exported to Apple 4k sharing preset (uses quick sync) in Compressor
2017: 2:57 (10% slower)
2015: 2:39

NOTE: 2017 ran approximately 400mhz slower throughout during the above test.

4k Prores footage exported to Facebook H264 720p preset in Compressor
2017: 2:59 (3.7% faster)
2015: 3:06

50 second 4K project with 4k, 5k, 6k, and 8k RED footage exported to Prores HQ in FCPX
2017: 5:00 (21% faster)
2015: 6:21

4K VFX Sequence exported to Uncompressed EXR Files in After Effects
2017: 22:00 (23% faster)
2015: 28:37
Click to expand...

Good for you. The 2017 MBP is a solid machine, regardless of what people say about the keyboard - which by the way, is protected for four years. Take the money you saved and put it someplace where it will actually grow -- like your retirement account. Or even Apple stock.
 
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haruhiko said:
That being said, $1,400 is a great saving!
Click to expand...

Yea I was able to snag one for $2400 on Ebay. Cycle count: 7. This exact model was $2800-3000 a month or two ago. I almost pulled the trigger back then when nothing came out of WWDC. Glad I waited!!!
 
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dukebound85 said:
interesting, i think the exact opposite for the time being
Click to expand...

Yea the ports on the 2015 were the best balance.

I grabbed two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GGKYXVE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One of these hubs:
https://www.amazon.com/Insignia-Mul...534009100&sr=1-6&keywords=insignia+usb+type+c

All set. Minimal costs for dongles at the moment. My ethernet adapter is plugged into the hub and has 3 USB outlets of it's own. Tested it and everything seems to be running at the proper speed. No complaints about "dongle life" so far.
 
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I don't know if this was a smart move. Not only do you get a better keyboard with the new machines a long with extra cores, but there is a ~10% battery life increase, TrueTone display and the latest WiFi/Bluetooth 5.0 module. The keyboard issue alone is worth buying the 2018 over 2017, but if money was that much of an issue I would have just stuck with the 2015 rater than jump on to a 2017 personally.
 
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kylepro88 said:
Keyboard wise... I agree the 2017 has a bad reputation, so I'll be keeping my eye on it, but the 2018 just came out so as far as I'm concerned the 2018 has "no" reputation yet. We'll see what happens in a few months as they get more use from people. The keyboard on my 2017 makes me the most nervous honestly, but the speakers, kernel/bridge errors, etc. on the 2018 are also nerve-wracking when you're spending nearly $4000 on a machine. I want to wait a little bit to see how all that evens out. I'm convinced that the i9 will perform even better than it does post-patch once Mojave is out. Don't let me down Apple!
Click to expand...
There is also the advantage that the 2017 keyboard has a four-year warranty on it, the 2018 does not... maybe the 2018 will get it, but if it does, that wouldn't be good either...
[doublepost=1534016818][/doublepost]
Ma2k5 said:
but there is a ~10% battery life increase
Click to expand...
Except the battery increase is supposedly to counter the fact the RAM in the 2018 is not low-power, like it is in the 2017, so that might negate that advantage.
 
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Anyone here with firsthand experience with 2016/2017 + 2018 models? Are the keyboards on the 2018's a significant improvement, in terms of quietness? The keyboard on my Macbook is driving me nuts!
 
Last edited:
kylepro88 said:
Used. Cycle count of 7 means near mint condition though. My 2015 MBP has almost 800 I think.
Click to expand...

Cycle count doesn't necessary mean it's in mint condition. It could be the owner always had it plugged in or that the keyboard was replaced under warranty. I prefer to look at AppleCare date.
 
buran-energia said:
Cycle count doesn't necessary mean it's in mint condition. It could be the owner always had it plugged in or that the keyboard was replaced under warranty. I prefer to look at AppleCare date.
Click to expand...

Manufacturing date is May 2018 so it's about 90 days old. No Apple Care but standard 1 Year expires May 2019.
 
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using the 207 for a year and using the 2018 version i can see a pretty big difference in the speed, massive! even fortnite before on 2017 it stuttered on the 2018 on low settings quite fast
and the temp overall smaller

speakers good

each to their own if your happy who the hell cares
 
IMO, spending $2400 on a used year old machine is a bad move. Not only are you buying year old outdated tech in comparison to the 2018, but when you are already spending $2400 on a machine what does saving $1400 matter? Honestly, yes $1400 is a pretty penny, but you are comparing the savings vs a top specd 2018. If you were to match it spec for spec with the 2017 model you purchased im sure the price difference is less significant. You also get the advantage of like everyone has said, the better keyboard, vastly superior processor, and the ability to upgrade to 32gb if you so choose. You would of been better off sticking with what you had till next year and then buy a year old 2018 at a significant discount.
 
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kylepro88 said:
Yea I was able to snag one for $2400 on Ebay. Cycle count: 7. This exact model was $2800-3000 a month or two ago. I almost pulled the trigger back then when nothing came out of WWDC. Glad I waited!!!
Click to expand...

Just curious, what did you do to confirm there was no issues with the machine? I’m also in the market for a new MacBook Pro, and as I was looking through eBay I found a ton of great deals. But I’m just worried that there’s issues with them
 
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