SkyLake 2.9GHz (28W) vs 2.0GHz (15W)?

[johngwheeler]

Now that the TB MBPs are being shipped, has anyone done any performance comparisons between the 28W 2.9GHz CPU in the TB model and the 2.0GHz base model?

Geekbench scores for the the little 15W 2.0GHz processor were quite good, comparing very favorably with last year's Broadwell 2.9GHz i5.

I know Geekbench doesn't test long-term thermal loading effects on CPU throughput, so I'm looking forward to some "soak tests" to see how the 15W CPU hold up against its more powerful sibling.

John.

 

[timcook_boyfriend]

https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/compare/1043913?baseline=1045162

https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/compare/1044412?baseline=1037718

Higher tdp means more heat dissipation.

But cooling is bigger and no problem. (15 tb model)

 

[204353]

I don't have a Touch Bar model available to compare with, but I'm very impressed with the base model I just got. The fan doesn't spin at all most of the time (similar to the 2015 13" Pro) and the CPU temperature typically hovers around 40 Celsius under normal load.

I've tried a little bit of gaming on it and the fan gets rather noisy after a while (to be expected of all MacBook Pros), reaching about 5000 rpm. I tested it with Civilisation V and the CPU settled in the mid 80s Celsius.

It's perfect for my usage. I was originally looking at a MacBook Air, but it's just too out-of-date, especially with its ancient TN LCD panel and low resolution. This MacBook Pro feels like a beefed up MacBook Air with (gorgeous) Retina display, a huge and brilliant trackpad, and a surprisingly nice keyboard.

It seems like quite an underrated and (relatively) good value Mac.

 

[xraydoc]

https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/compare/1043913?baseline=1045162

https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/compare/1044412?baseline=1037718

Higher tdp means more heat dissipation.

But cooling is bigger and no problem.

If accurate, there's very little difference except for, presumably, under sustained high CPU tasks.

This may push me to the base non-tb model instead of the mid -- the touch bar is nice, but not $300 nice. Extra two ports aren't of much concern to me.

 

[Answer3486]

If accurate, there's very little difference except for, presumably, under sustained high CPU tasks.

This may push me to the base non-tb model instead of the mid -- the touch bar is nice, but not $300 nice. Extra two ports aren't of much concern to me.

I'm in the same boat. I pre-ordered the 13TB expecting that the performance difference would justify enough of the cost difference. However, it's looking more like a 15% price increase gets a 5%-7% performance increase. With little use for the touch bar or more ports, it's getting difficult to see the benefits of that model for my use.

 

[johngwheeler]

Interesting answers - thanks guys. It does seem that as an MBA replacement, that the non-TB base model does quite well.

My major concern is battery life. I used to have an MBA and the battery life was fantastic - I'd regularly get 13-15 hrs with light usage, which meant I was seldom worried about running out of power when traveling (unless I was running VMs flat out or doing other CPU intensive jobs). If the battery life is 10 hrs maximum, this probably means 6-8hrs of moderately heavy usage, which means I won't be able to go for a full working day without the PSU.

 

[xraydoc]

Interesting answers - thanks guys. It does seem that as an MBA replacement, that the non-TB base model does quite well.

My major concern is battery life. I used to have an MBA and the battery life was fantastic - I'd regularly get 13-15 hrs with light usage, which meant I was seldom worried about running out of power when traveling (unless I was running VMs flat out or doing other CPU intensive jobs). If the battery life is 10 hrs maximum, this probably means 6-8hrs of moderately heavy usage, which means I won't be able to go for a full working day without the PSU.

I think Are Technica got something like 16 hrs of battery life on their light web benchmark or something like that (on the non-touchbar 13").

 

[204353]

I think Are Technica got something like 16 hrs of battery life on their light web benchmark or something like that (on the non-touchbar 13").

I haven't had mine long enough to fully judge, but I've seen my estimated battery life between 12 and 14 hours during normal Web usage. Definitely seems similar to the MacBook Air with this base model.

 

[fred911]

my touchbar version gets only 6 hours max.
but it runs cooler than what is reported from the non-touchbar version. under normal useage with multiple applications on 3 desktops it stays cool at 31 degrees

12 to 14 hours from the non-touchbar sounds promising and if it stays cool to i will switch over. next week i will receive the non-touch version to test it with the same load