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The base vs mid range MBP question

L

latestmonkey

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Hello everyone,

I'm not too concerned about the extra 100mhz in processor but I would like to know if the 3MB cache and extra vram is really worth $500. I will be using the computer mostly for daily activities, some light video and photoshop work, and handbrake. I will also be running MS office inside parallels/fusion.

(I hate starting my own threads but the official front page thread is full of idiots complaining about the update and why apple needs to charge $19 for a remote. Since I wasn't expecting anything other than penryn and a speed bump, I am perfectly ok. Also, I took business 101. I just really needed to know from more knowledgeable people than me what the difference was and I couldn't wade through all the whining.)

Also - if anyone knows how amazon works, when will they be getting stock.

thanks
 
Base model is a better deal, unless you NEED more Vram in which case that changes.From what you said, it doesn't sounds like you'd really benefit much from going with the mid-range model.

Amazon is usually pretty fast, maybe a week?
 
PDE said:
Base model is a better deal, unless you NEED more Vram in which case that changes.From what you said, it doesn't sounds like you'd really benefit much from going with the mid-range model.

Amazon is usually pretty fast, maybe a week?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think even the MBP base (vs MB) might be too much for me right now but since I'll be running windows (and I hate windows) I don't want to ever encounter a slowdown or I'll get angry, I better go with the base model... at least. Like a sucker, I'm gravitating towards the midrange.
 
The base to mid-range MBP price/value ratio is imo the biggest rip in Apple's entire lineup. That includes the extra money for the black Macbook. $500 gets you an increase in processor speed that you'll never notice unless you spend your time encoding H.264 videos 24-7. Oh yeah, you get a slightly larger hard drive. 🙄

I can understand people who are gamers/etc. that HAVE to have the increased Vram on the graphics card, and are left with no choice. Otherwise, the base model MBP is unquestionably a better value.
 
toneloco2881 said:
$500 gets you an increase in processor speed that you'll never notice unless you spend your time encoding H.264 videos 24-7. Oh yeah, you get a slightly larger hard drive. 🙄
Click to expand...

Ah, but you won't need to spend the $$$s on heating oil this winter. 😉
 
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IMO the base model is by FAR the best deal. The VRAM difference matters very little since even 256 is quite a bit. I guess it might matter if you were running dual display with a 30" external. The cache will have some minor effect, but not $500 worth by any means.
 
I am in the same position.

I have a 2.33 Ghz model (2Gb) that I want to upgrade for a couple of main reasons:

  • I have a model with a German keyboard (long story)
  • When running some intensive photo processing (batch processing RAW files in Aperture while multitasking in less intensive tasks like browsing, music etc) I get spinning wheels and hang ups
  • I want to upgrade to 4Gb RAM, which is not supported on my current model

Now that they have updated the keyboard layout (Fn keys) and the trackpad, I want to upgrade, but am unsure between the 2.4 and 2.5 models. Could the graphics card make any difference to Aperture's performance (I run a 24" external) or should I just spend the savings on the extra RAM?? What about this cache difference?? I dont even know what that one means 😕😕
 
I ordered the baseline because the extra price is not worth it for me in what I need it for. The baseline will be more than enough power for me.
 
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