Out with the MacBook Pro..

[Quad 2.5 G5 =)]

So..it's time for my dearly beloved 17" MacBook Pro to finally go. It's a great machine, but it's beginning to show its age, and even if the good old 8600M GT graphics are still working just fine with no replacement after 4 years of flawless service...I'm looking for a new 17" MacBook Pro.

1. How much is a reasonable price to pay for this model (2.4 Santa Rosa C2D, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB, 7200RPM hard drive)? How much could I realistically sell it for?

2. What should I be looking for to replace it? I can't afford much more than 1400..(meaning I'm sticking with eBay) Should I get a 2.66-3.06Ghz 17" C2D, or go for a Core i5/i7 model, if I happen to find one cheap enough? My requisites are that it at least has to be a unibody 17", and that's about it.

 

[Naimfan]

I'd say selling yours should get you something like $600-700 or so - depends on if you have the box, discs, condition, etc.

I'd also suggest you hold out for an i5/i7 model - they are substantially faster than the Core 2 Duo models, and you're bound to see one in your price range before too long.

Good luck!

 

[Hrududu]

Definitely go for an i5 or i7 as there aren't many Core 2 Duo chips that are going to feel much faster than the one you've already got. Now since yours is a 17" you might be able to get more than $700 for it if the thing is still in great shape and you have some of the original materials that came with it. Maybe more in the $900 range. Also, how do you like the X1900 in your G5?

 

[Vantage Point]

iX CPU's are significantly better than the C2D CPU's, even the first generation, 2010 versions. For example, mine is a i5 2.4Ghz from 2010 and it performs significantly faster than a 2009 3.06 Ghz C2D that it replaced. Of course the 2011's even better.

Since you keep your computers a long time it is a much better idea to stay away from C2D's. At the moment Apple has a 17" refurb for $1,719 with plenty of power - your $1,400 plus the $600 you might get for your old one might do the trick. - later one you can add RAM and a faster 7200 rpm hard drive (prices are currently inflated on hard drives due to factory flooding) and have a nie performance upgrade. Of course upgrading RAM to 8Gb will only cost about $40 these days.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/17