Purchase advice: MacBook Pro 15"

[loeschg]

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook-pro

I know these sort of threads are really subjective but what the heck. It helps me determine if there's anything glaring that I'm missing.

I'm leaning toward the 2nd-tier "15 because of the video card upgrade plus 512gb storage. I'm primarily wondering if anyone could share info on how valuable that video card bump would be in practical terms, and also what you think about shelling out an extra $200 for the processor upgrade (2.5 to 2.8ghz). I was also looking at potentially getting a Feb 2013 certified refurb.

A little about my typical computer use:

• I do primarily dev work
• Android Studio
• IntelliJ
• VirtualBox emulator
• Spotify
• Browser (w/ a gajillion tabs )
• Misc other tools

I'm a hobbyist photographer

• Photoshop
• Aperture

And I would be more into gaming on my computer if I had one that could handle the heat (my current "13 Macbook Air can't)

 

[Freyqq]

Nvidia GPU beats the Intel GPU in 3 things:

1. CUDA rendering (only nvidia supports it)
2. gaming
3. connecting multiple high-resolution monitors (can run an extra external monitor and has a ton of vRAM)

Do any of those programs use CUDA for rendering?

 

[loeschg]

Nvidia GPU beats the Intel GPU in 3 things:

1. CUDA rendering (only nvidia supports it)
2. gaming
3. connecting multiple high-resolution monitors (can run an extra external monitor and has a ton of vRAM)

Do any of those programs use CUDA for rendering?

To my knowledge only Photoshop *might* use CUDA rendering. That's a good list of things to think about. Thanks!

 

[yjchua95]

To my knowledge only Photoshop *might* use CUDA rendering. That's a good list of things to think about. Thanks!

Ever since CS6, Photoshop relies on OpenCL more and I don't think it uses CUDA acceleration anymore.

That said, the NVIDIA is useful for other CUDA tasks like some MATLAB functions, plus gaming.

The gains between 2.5-2.8 is minimal at best, and hence isn't worth the upgrade.

So the stock 2.5/16/512/750M would do you fine.

 

[Steve686]

If you get the discrete GPU, definitely use gfxcardstatus. I've caught my mid-2014 switching to the dGPU for iPhoto while on battery. I honestly never would have thought iPhoto would require a switch with as good as the integrated graphics are.

 

[maflynn]

iPhoto and Aperture use the GPU for a number of tasks so it is reasonable that it wants to use the dGPU over the iGPU.

I personally don't see the benefit of the dGPU in the uses you state. I'd opt for the iGPU only 15" MBP - that's just me though.

 

[The Mercurian]

If you get the discrete GPU, definitely use gfxcardstatus. I've caught my mid-2014 switching to the dGPU for iPhoto while on battery. I honestly never would have thought iPhoto would require a switch with as good as the integrated graphics are.

Perhaps the dGPU is more energy efficient ?

 

[reditedea]

To my knowledge only Photoshop *might* use CUDA rendering. That's a good list of things to think about.

 

[maflynn]

Perhaps the dGPU is more energy efficient ?

No the opposite, it consumes more electricity but its more powerful, which is why some apps will look to use it.