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Retina MacBook Pros

M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
I'm looking to buy a second hand 13" MBP with retina display. But I don't know whether they're all the slim versions that are the same as available to buy today. For instance, is a late 2012 the slimmer version of the MBP?

I suspect that it'd better for me to get one built as late as possible due to the different chips being used across the years?
 
Y

yjchua95

macrumors 604
Apr 23, 2011
6,725
233
GVA, KUL, MEL (current), ZQN
MBP* said:
I'm looking to buy a second hand 13" MBP with retina display. But I don't know whether they're all the slim versions that are the same as available to buy today. For instance, is a late 2012 the slimmer version of the MBP?

I suspect that it'd better for me to get one built as late as possible due to the different chips being used across the years?
Click to expand...

The late-2013/mid-2014 variants are slightly thinner than the late-2012/early-2013 13" rMBPs.
 
M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
I see. I'm after the thinner model, so I guess I'll go for the late 2013s..
 
S

Samuelsan2001

macrumors 604
Oct 24, 2013
7,729
2,153
That is misleading

MBP* said:
I see. I'm after the thinner model, so I guess I'll go for the late 2013s..
Click to expand...

The 2012 is only 1mm thinner than the 2012 one (19mm to 18mm) they are both the thin version of the MBP all the retina ones are. The difference in weight is also marginal. They are both huge step up in thinnes and lightness from the classic MBP.

However the main reason for getting a 2013 is the huge boost in graphics that intels IRIS gives over the HD 4000 in the 2012. Plus the Thunderbolt 2 and AC wireless card are a bonus.

If you can get the 2012 at a really good price though then why not.
 
A

alex0002

macrumors 6502
Jun 19, 2013
495
124
New Zealand
Samuelsan2001 said:
The 2012 is only 1mm thinner than the 2012 one (19mm to 18mm) they are both the thin version of the MBP all the retina ones are. The difference in weight is also marginal. They are both huge step up in thinnes and lightness from the classic MBP.

However the main reason for getting a 2013 is the huge boost in graphics that intels IRIS gives over the HD 4000 in the 2012. Plus the Thunderbolt 2 and AC wireless card are a bonus.

If you can get the 2012 at a really good price though then why not.
Click to expand...

That extra 1mm made it so chunky, they made sure they only produced that fat beast for one year before making it thinner. :)

Intel IRIS graphics is the big bonus.
Plus the PCIe SSD can be quite a bit faster than the previous SATA interface SSDs.

Just one word of warning - if you get the late 2012 rMBP there are a number of options to upgrade the SSD with third party products available from Transcend and OWC, plus some novel solutions such as this one using an mSATA adapter:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1836345/

With the late 2013 - mid 2014 model rMBP, you really need to make sure you purchase it with the SSD you want as there are no third party SSD options. At best you might be able to get a Apple O.E.M. SSD made by Samsung on eBay.
 
M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
Y

yjchua95

macrumors 604
Apr 23, 2011
6,725
233
GVA, KUL, MEL (current), ZQN
MBP* said:
I've short listed some here, could anyone help me out with re the better model to choose. My criteria are simply 256Gb flash, 8GB ram, and the Iris graphics to ensure I'm getting a more recent model.

Here's what I found

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-Mac...omputing_Apple_Laptops_ET&hash=item35e1b2d289

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Macbook-P...omputing_Apple_Laptops_ET&hash=item2a4a6480e2

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-Mac...omputing_Apple_Laptops_ET&hash=item3f44a56c9e
Click to expand...

Whichever comes from the most reputable seller and/or the cheaper one will do. There's barely any difference between the 2.4 and 2.6GHz i5s.
 
M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
yjchua95 said:
Whichever comes from the most reputable seller and/or the cheaper one will do. There's barely any difference between the 2.4 and 2.6GHz i5s.
Click to expand...

2.5 vs 2.6? Are you referring to the early retina there?
 
M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
Do you think its worth spending an extra $170-$200 for a 2013 MBP vs a 2012 with the same specs? Is the main difference the graphics? If so, how will this benefit me?
 
Y

yjchua95

macrumors 604
Apr 23, 2011
6,725
233
GVA, KUL, MEL (current), ZQN
MBP* said:
Do you think its worth spending an extra $170-$200 for a 2013 MBP vs a 2012 with the same specs? Is the main difference the graphics? If so, how will this benefit me?
Click to expand...

Totally worth it. The 2012 and early 2013 with Intel HD4000 are pathetic in driving retina displays.

The Iris in the late-2013 ones are far better. You also get PCIe SSD with the late 2013 ones.
 
M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
yjchua95 said:
Totally worth it. The 2012 and early 2013 with Intel HD4000 are pathetic in driving retina displays.

The Iris in the late-2013 ones are far better. You also get PCIe SSD with the late 2013 ones.
Click to expand...

So basically what I'm looking for is the Iris graphics, and then i'll know that's the model to go for?

Thanks
 
redheeler

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
8,516
9,021
Colorado, USA
Samuelsan2001 said:
The 2012 is only 1mm thinner than the 2012 one (19mm to 18mm) they are both the thin version of the MBP all the retina ones are. The difference in weight is also marginal. They are both huge step up in thinnes and lightness from the classic MBP.

However the main reason for getting a 2013 is the huge boost in graphics that intels IRIS gives over the HD 4000 in the 2012. Plus the Thunderbolt 2 and AC wireless card are a bonus.

If you can get the 2012 at a really good price though then why not.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I would choose a late 2013 over an early 2013 because of the PCIe SSD, better integrated GPU, and slight difference in thinness/weight. Thunderbolt 2 and 802.11ac make it slightly more future-proof but don't make a really huge difference right now.

I say this because recently I was given the opportunity to trade my late 2013 for an early 2013 with 3.0 i7 and decided not to.
 
M

MBP*

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
119
1
yjchua95 said:
If you have the original receipt (and even if you don't, it should be tied to the S/N).

I'd also buy extra AppleCare for it.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about AppleCare, but it's pretty expensive.

Am I still eligible to buy it? He bought the laptop in Nov '14.
 
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