Sell CTO 2.4GHz for 2.5GHZ?

[camhabib]

I recently (today) received a CTO 2.4GHz MBP (upgrade was the 200GB 7200RPM drive) as a replacement for a previous laptop. Would it be worth my time and money to upgrade to a 2.5Ghz CTO model (selecting the 7200RPM drive)? I do a fair amount of CPU intensive work, but have a 2x2.8 Mac Pro with 16GB of ram to handle it, however would still like a capable portable so I don't feel like its from the stone age when compared to my desktop.

I checked eBay and the like, and saw a ~$1800-1900 selling price for sealed box CTO 2.4GHz, making it about $300 (w/ student discount) for a jump up (assuming I can sell this one for $1800). Does the 2.5GHz model offer enough performance increase, not just in core speed, but with the L2 cache and the increased graphics ram to warrant the extra few hundred (not really a huge issue) and the week or two it takes to sell something on eBay?

 

[aquajet]

Did you factor in the cost of eBay fees? If not, it'll be even more expensive to upgrade. I seriously doubt the upgrade will affect your work flow and it seems like a complete waste of time and money.

 

[camhabib]

Sell for - $1900
Less eBay / PayPal fees - $1800

2.5GHz CTO - $2550
Less discount - $2200

Difference - $400

So basically, is $400 worth 3MB of L2 cache, 256MB of video ram, and 0.1GHz speed increase?

 

[Collin973]

Don't forget you can only use your edu discount on one laptop per year.

 

[jjahshik32]

Don't forget you can only use your edu discount on one laptop per year.

Not true Ive used it 4 times in 2-3 months. And reused it 7 times per exchange. Seems like they dont care at 2 different apple stores as well. And all laptops.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

Sell for - $1900
Less eBay / PayPal fees - $1800

2.5GHz CTO - $2550
Less discount - $2200

Difference - $400

So basically, is $400 worth 3MB of L2 cache, 256MB of video ram, and 0.1GHz speed increase?

You are seriously underestimating eBay fees. If you somehow got $1900, you'd net like $1650 after FVF and PayPal fees. Thats assuming you don't get scammed, which 99% of laptop buyers on ebay try.
Remember, shipping the computer will be $40+
Final value fee for an item over $1000 is:
8.75% of the initial $25.00 ($2.19), plus 3.50% of the initial $25.01 - $1,000.00 ($34.12), plus 1.50% of the remaining closing value balance ($1000.01 - closing value). PayPal fee is 3%, you have to withdraw it from PayPal in $500 increments even if verified...

Difference is going to be $500+ and its fairly well documented that 2.4 to 2.5 is roughly nothing. If you have the money, sure, go for it. If you're looking for a cost effective way to get a speed boost, then this is not it. You'd be paying like $200 per percentage point of performance increase

 

[bplein]

Depending on where you live, the sales tax can be a big factor as well.

Is a few hundred dollars really worth it for the 4% speed difference that you might be able to measure buy you probably will never notice?