Should I buy Macbook pro 13 2012 or 15 2011?

[2ochi]

Hi, Please I'm having problems deciding on the macbook to buy. Should I get the macbook pro 13 2012 or Macbook pro 15 2011?
I want to use it mainly for heavy Photo editing with Appeture, Photoshop and Lightroom. And also occassional gaming like Wow,Diablo,COD, crysis. etc.
The reason I want the 13 of 2012 is cos of usb 3.0 which will help me in transferring large files for editing. The downside is no dedicated graphics card and overheating.
I want the 15 of 2011 cos of dedicated graphic card and the bigger screen. Downside is no usb 3.0.
Please which should I buy, the 15 inch 2012 is out of my budget. Please help.

 

[TUSL2C]

Where you considering buying a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)?

If you were to go for that option make sure it has no issues with the MLB (eg: GPU switching and/or freezing) or has some kind of guarantee with it preferably AppleCare.

The 2012 13" MBP is a decent enough portable (size and weight wise). Not sure if I would buy one at this time with the likely possibility of something newer in the same price range coming out in the next few months.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) Quad Core CPU has more headroom for carrying out multiple tasks than the MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) which has a Dual Core CPU. Some MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) models may exhibit hardware issues around the logic board and GPU switching feature...

 

[Tankmaze]

15 inch 2011 with dedicated graphic, easy.

because the mbp 15 would be future proof for future OS than the 13.

the 15 mbp 2011 would also have thunderbolt which will trump USB 3.0,
so invest in thunderbolt as I believe apple would push the port adoption.

 

[jg321]

15 inch 2011 with dedicated graphic, easy.

because the mbp 15 would be future proof for future OS than the 13.

the 15 mbp 2011 would also have thunderbolt which will trump USB 3.0,
so invest in thunderbolt as I believe apple would push the port adoption.

Am I missing something here? 2011 model being more "OS future proof" than a 2012???

Also, the 13" has Thunderbolt, and has done since 2011.

Apologies if I've missed something obvious.

To the OP: it all depends on portability. I chose the 13" as it's more portable, and sits on my desk connected to a screen when I want to do serious work. The 15" just wasn't portable enough for my needs, but of course YMMV.

 

[Tankmaze]

Am I missing something here? 2011 model being more "OS future proof" than a 2012???

the 15 2011 mbp got dedicated graphics. if the OP get the 15 mbp with AMD 6750M card it is 2x fast than the intel HD 4000 integrated gpu found in 13 2012 mbp.

even games like Call of duty black ops (new game) doesn't support Intel HD 4000 in mbp 13 2012 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/call-of-duty-black-ops/id530221719?mt=12 but support the mbp 15 from 2011.

a bit sad is it for the 13 2012 owner?

Mac OS relies heavily on core animation, and fast GPU really helps alot.

 

[jg321]

the 15 2011 mbp got dedicated graphics. if the OP get the 15 mbp with AMD 6750M card it is 2x fast than the intel HD 4000 integrated gpu found in 13 2012 mbp.

even games like Call of duty black ops (new game) doesn't support Intel HD 4000 in mbp 13 2012 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/call-of-duty-black-ops/id530221719?mt=12 but support the mbp 15 from 2011.

a bit sad is it for the 13 2012 owner?

Mac OS relies heavily on core animation, and fast GPU really helps alot.

Totally agree on the gaming, but you mentioned "OS future proof" - which is what I was questioning! Still not sure we agree on that one!

 

[Tankmaze]

Totally agree on the gaming, but you mentioned "OS future proof" - which is what I was questioning! Still not sure we agree on that one!

not OS future proof for many generations, but still far better at least one generation of OS. for example :

the white/black macbook from 2008 with intel gma X3100 , 2.4 ghz core 2 duo can't install mountain lion.

but the macbook pro from 2007 with nvidia 8600m gt can install ML just fine, albeit not that fast, but working fine.

so the 13 mbp is just like the macbook before apple introduce the unibody and merge the line, because the 13 mbp still has integrated graphics.

 

[B...]

not OS future proof for many generations, but still far better at least one generation of OS. for example :

the white/black macbook from 2008 with intel gma X3100 , 2.4 ghz core 2 duo can't install mountain lion.

but the macbook pro from 2007 with nvidia 8600m gt can install ML just fine, albeit not that fast, but working fine.

so the 13 mbp is just like the macbook before apple introduce the unibody and merge the line, because the 13 mbp still has integrated graphics.

I disagree. A discrete GPU will never be a requirement for installing an OS, because that gives the computer bad battery life and bad thermals if the dGPU is running all the time just to run the OS. I believe the nVidia 8600M was implemented as an integrated graphics as was the Intel GMA X3100.

 

[Tankmaze]

I disagree. A discrete GPU will never be a requirement for installing an OS, because that gives the computer bad battery life and bad thermals if the dGPU is running all the time just to run the OS. I believe the nVidia 8600M was implemented as an integrated graphics as was the Intel GMA X3100.

I just gave you an example above. just google it. the 2007 mbp I believe also has the 2.4 ghz core 2 duo processor, GPU matters a lot because heavy use of animation in the OS (Mac OS).

 

[B...]

I just gave you an example above. just google it. the 2007 mbp I believe also has the 2.4 ghz core 2 duo processor, GPU matters a lot because heavy use of animation in the OS (Mac OS).

I guess your wording was just very ambiguous.

 

[mslide]

the white/black macbook from 2008 with intel gma X3100 , 2.4 ghz core 2 duo can't install mountain lion.

but the macbook pro from 2007 with nvidia 8600m gt can install ML just fine, albeit not that fast, but working fine.

and both laptops are equally slow as hell by today's standards.