Next-Generation 15-Inch MacBook Pro Shows Up in Benchmarks

[selimnairb]

Upgrade questions

I'm planning an upgrade in a few weeks and would like some advice. Firstly, I'm timing my purchase to take advantage of a sales tax holiday in my state, so I won't be waiting for new machines. I have a mid-2010 MBP (hi-res non-glare) and am torn between the 2.6-GHz mid-2012 MBP (hi-res) and the early-2013 rMBP (2.4 or 2.6 GHz). My priorities for this upgrade are: 16 GB of memory, USB3, and 4-cores.

One option is to get the 2.6 GHz MBP, place my current 512 MB Crucial M4 in it, and upgrade the memory to 16 GB. This would be much cheaper than a rMBP as I already have the SSD, and third-party memory is cheaper than Apple's.

Question 1. It seems like the bump from the 2.4 GHz to the 2.6 GHz processor is worth it in the non-retina MBP as it comes with a doubling of the GPU memory, and costs only $120 (edu pricing). Is the 2.6 GHz processor worth the $100 (edu) in the rMBP?

Question 2. I'm not sold on the retina screen. I think I would use it in 1920x1200 mode most of the time, but I'm not such a fan of the glare/glass covering (though I understand the glare is decreased in the retina panels due to there being fewer layers of glass or something), and am wary of potential performance drawbacks. Have any rMBP users had any problems with the glare and/or decreased graphics performance?

 

[Lunfai]

interesting. This is likely the high-end stock rMBP with 16 gb of ram and the fastest processor available from Intel with Iris Pro. For reference, last gen's similar model scores 12046 on the same test. So, slightly faster.

This would also suggest that the next gen base model will be using the i7-HQ4850. This also means that dedicated graphics are very likely not going to happen, as the difference in price for the Iris Pro compared to a nvidia 750 chip and a regular intel processor are about equal. With it's inferior performance to nvidia's 650 chip, as shown by anandtech, this is a pretty bad move in my opinion.

There should be three configurations, thus 4750HQ is base. Unless they wait till after September and this model is mid, whilst the unreleased 4960HQ is ultimate. (September 1st release date).

 

[bluebird3]

I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!
who said they will be discontinuing and pushing the Retina and Air model ONLY???

so they are keeping the internal optical drive !!???

 

[magbarn]

If this is the high end model the CPU clock speed would be higher. This is not the high end MacBook Pro this is the low-end model.

Sorry, look up Intel's Haswell CPU list. This benchmarked chip is the fastest available Haswell Quad-core mobile chip with Iris Pro. You're looking at the $2799 model (unless Apple lowers their price targets like they did with the rMBP 13)

 

[blitzer09x87]

oh yeah, that's powerful!
i'm sure this would be the fastest selling macbook pro.

 

[tmiw]

Graphics switching is pretty much a pain on my 2010 MBP. Knowing that, I would be fine with a 15" rMBP that only has a decent integrated card. It would also mean better battery life with Boot Camp, which is always a plus.

 

[Ryth]

Sorry, look up Intel's Haswell CPU list. This benchmarked chip is the fastest available Haswell Quad-core mobile chip with Iris Pro. You're looking at the $2799 model (unless Apple lowers their price targets like they did with the rMBP 13)

Could be the model that doesn't offer the GPU and still offers the faster Haswell chip.

We'll know soon enough.

 

[TechZeke]

Honestly, for all of you complaining about graphics performance in Apple computers, Apple has really stepped it up in recent years.

My stock GT 650M with 512MB of RAM plays Battlefield 3, ARMA 3, and many other modern games at high to near max settings at 30-60 fps.

The top end 27in iMac with the GTX 680MX is by far the most powerful all-in-one you can buy. If I remember correctly, looking at other manufacturers, their $2000 AIO machines still only come with a GT 640M at best.

Especially with the latest Nvidia drivers, the GT 650M is no slouch.

 

[brandonx76]

I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!
who said they will be discontinuing and pushing the Retina and Air model ONLY???

so they are keeping the internal optical drive !!???

Huh? Sorry if I missed something obvious, but what evidence do we have of this?

 

[sw1tcher]

To be fair... the 13" MacBook Pro has never contained a dedicated GPU due to space/heat constraints.

Which is why I never considered the 13" MBP to be a Pro machine. It doesn't even have a quad core CPU like the 15" (and discontinued 17") MBP does.

 

[Quu]

No, CPUs have been getting clocked lower in exchange for efficiency, smaller transistors, more cores, etc. Also idle speed is lower with higher "Turbo Boost" speeds available for heavy demand. The other processors in the same family (quad core mobile processors with Iris Pro graphics) have clock speeds of 2.0 and 2.3 GHz. The max speeds are 3.2/3.5/3.6 GHz single core.

So in your own link the CPU Core i7-4900MQ doesn't exist? Base clock 2.8GHz.

They wont be including Iris Pro on the highest end MacBook Pro only on the low end model.

 

[G4er?]

I would have bought rMBP back in December when I upgraded, but I decided the convenience of an integrated DVD player (and to a lesser degree the price) outweighed the retina display.

Going to visit my daughter this weekend. She plans to go MBP shopping.

She is 21, downloads tons of things but still wants and uses the DVD. So she will also say no thanks to the retina display in order to get the convenience and usefulness that she wants and needs.

 

[WhiteIphone5]

Release date anyone? Looking to buy a new laptop now but I'd rather hold on for this if it's coming soon.

October maybe?
for the event i say iPhone 5S, Refreshed 13 and 15" rMBP
Mac Pro's price announced
and iMac 2012 refresh?
and possibly iPad Mini 2

 

[mavere]

i think the difference between 750M and Iris Pro is like the difference between 650M and Hd4000

Unfortunately no. The 750M has almost the exact same specs as the 650M, and because they're both on the same node with the same architecture, the TDP will also be almost exactly the same. It's really just a sad truth of modern GPU advancements: you cannot materially improve performance/watt without advancing a node or massive reworking of an architecture.

So this leaves Apple with few options.

• (Very) slightly bump GPU performance at same or perhaps even lower battery life.
• Same GPU perf with Nvidia GPU and slight to moderate battery boost (35W-47W Haswell doesn't have as many power-efficiency features as Haswell ULT)
• Somewhat same GPU performance (win/lose/equal depending on test) with Iris Pro and HUGE increase in battery life (~90W CPU+GPU TDP lowered to ~50W and more chassis room for battery and improved chassis temps + noise profile)

Honestly, we're currently on an Apple enthusiast forum. If you guys can't tell which sole option would stand out as the 'Golden Path' for Apple, I don't even know why you're here...

 

[Eidorian]

I'd really like to pick one of these updated notebooks sooner than later. Otherwise I might just turn to a refurbished 13.3" Macbook Air once they hit the store.

One would hope the 15" model retains the dGPU.

 

[Freyqq]

I hope they do 16gb standard for the 15." The current rev has 1 gb of vram + 8 gb of ddr3. This next rev has no dedicated vram, so the Iris Pro takes 1 gb of vram from the 8-16 gb of DDR3.

So, not only are we not getting as fast of a GPU as last gen, but we also have 1gb less of usable ram.

----------

There should be three configurations, thus 4750HQ is base. Unless they wait till after September and this model is mid, whilst the unreleased 4960HQ is ultimate. (September 1st release date).

sounds fine to me if they:

1) make the low-end one cost as much as a cmbp
2) make the config with the 4850 and 4950 have 16gb of ram standard

 

[Jawo26rski]

Things I'm sure we expect are PCIe Flash and possibly 3-4 hours more juice.

 

[bbapps]

I'm thinking Apple intentionally "leaks" these benchmarks in order to keep the rumor mill on a positive track. Just a-bit of a tease!!!!!!!

 

[BlackbookGuy]

I'm thinking Apple intentionally "leaks" these benchmarks in order to keep the rumor mill on a positive track. Just a-bit of a tease!!!!!!!

Yes, I think so too. I would. Also, just to control expectations (i.e. minimal improvements in some areas etc.)

 

[Mums]

I need a 17" MacBook Pro!

 

[Mackan]

Wonder how they will promote the Iris Pro. It's clearly worse performing than a GT 650 GDDR5, and even more so compared to a GT 750. If they have an event they might handpick artificial benchmarks to show that the Iris Pro is equal. If no event, they might not even bother to explain anything.

 

[Stella]

deleted.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

I'd really like to pick one of these updated notebooks sooner than later. Otherwise I might just turn to a refurbished 13.3" Macbook Air once they hit the store.

One would hope the 15" model retains the dGPU.

I was actually thinking something similar, though maybe a speced out 13" rMBP would be nice.

Though a 16GB BTO 13" rMBP would be a nice addition.

 

[Eidorian]

I was actually thinking something similar, though maybe a speced out 13" rMBP would be nice.

Though a 16GB BTO 13" rMBP would be a nice addition.

It just terrifies me being stuck on 8 GB of RAM on the MacBook Air for the next "6 years" like my MacBook that has 4 GB from 2007. 4 GB of RAM was not even expensive. Apple pushed it out with just 1 GB.

 

[jxie0755]

Honestly, for all of you complaining about graphics performance in Apple computers, Apple has really stepped it up in recent years.

My stock GT 650M with 512MB of RAM plays Battlefield 3, ARMA 3, and many other modern games at high to near max settings at 30-60 fps.

The top end 27in iMac with the GTX 680MX is by far the most powerful all-in-one you can buy. If I remember correctly, looking at other manufacturers, their $2000 AIO machines still only come with a GT 640M at best.

Especially with the latest Nvidia drivers, the GT 650M is no slouch.

Correct.
Especially considering that the rmbp or even the whole macbook product line is not designed for gaming at all.