need help choosing mcbk pro 15 2.66 or 2.8

[frenchamp]

im 15 and looking forward to getting my first mac. i have to keep it for 4 to 5 years. i would mainly use it to do graphic manipulations. i use my pc very often so speed is inportant. please help. i was thinking of a macbook pro 15 inch 2.66 ghz or 2.8

 

[scienide09]

It would help if we knew why you can't decide between those two. Also, what programs are you planning to run, what processor-intensive tasks you will be doing, if you play graphics-heavy games, etc.

Without knowing you nor your current and future needs, how can we help?

 

[JCP21]

WHat do you want to use it for?

 

[frenchamp]

re post

i would use it for photo editing surfing and email. 2.66 or 2.8 because i need to keep it for about 5 years

 

[Pak^Man]

2.66 has 3MB L2 Cache..... 2.8 has 6MB.

That can make a LOT more difference than just the MHz bump. So I'd say if you really plan to kkep it 4-5 years, go for 2.8.

However, an alternative is just to buy the cheaper one, so you can upgrade in 3 years

 

[thomanjones]

The faster proc will help with Photo editing, but won't be noticable with email. If you are planning on keeping a machine for 5 years though, get the best you can afford, imo. The faster proc will help resale value as well. (personally though, I recommend grabbing a high-end refurbished machine, applecare, and then selling it 2.5 years. That way you can sell it w/ 6 months of applecare left and put the money towards a new machine, rinse & repeat).

 

[Pak^Man]

The faster proc will help with Photo editing, but won't be noticable with email. If you are planning on keeping a machine for 5 years though, get the best you can afford, imo. The faster proc will help resale value as well.

Not sure if I can agree with that. If the OP keeps the MBP for 4 years as he plans, would somebody at that point really pay an extra $200-300 for a extra 0.14Mhz of processing power? Probably not.... imho.

Let's look back to a Powerbook from 2005. Would anyone really pay anything more than an extra $50 or so for a Powerbook with a 1.67 G4 over a 1.5 G4.... and that is a 11% increase in Mhz versus a mere 5% bump for the 2.8 intel over 2.66 intel.

So if the OP wants to keep this MBP for 3-5 years, this difference in resale between these models will hardly matter..... performance, while he owns it, should be a bigger consideration.

I don't want to discount your opinion, but just lay out an argument for the OP.


I do agree with the rest of your analysis.

Peace out!!

 

[MacKiddyWiddy]

2.66 will be fine although, for the length of time you want it, you'll be safer with 2.8

 

[frenchamp]

rere post

is it better to go 2.8 and keep it for 5 y or 2.6 and keep it for 3or4y

 

[Pak^Man]

is it better to go 2.8 and keep it for 5 y or 2.6 and keep it for 3or4y

If that is your choice, the 2.66 for 3-4 years would probably be better..... I'd go that route if I was given the choice. My personal opnion is that 3 years are pretty long for a portable computer.... Macs tend to fare better.... but at 5 years, even the most cutting edge equipment OLD....

So I'd say, get the 2.66 and upgrade in 3 years or at most 4. If you must keep for 5 years (or if you can afford, even for 3), go 2.8 as it has double the cache, and that makes a lot of difference for Core 2 Duo.

You could always start a separate thread and ask a more specific question about the 3MB cache in 2.66 vs. 6 MB in 2.8.... Other people can give you a lot of good information on performance differences between the two.