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Thinking about returning Retina MacBook Pro

kmj2318

kmj2318

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 22, 2007
1,669
712
Naples, FL
I just bought a 15" retina MacBook Pro about a week ago. I love everything about it but I just can't deal with the fact that it lags. And because we're still not sure if it is actually a software or a hardware problem, I would hate to be stuck with this with no hope of it being fixed (but I'm starting to think it is a software problem due to how smooth WebKit is). But still, if it's not going to be fixed until the next generation comes out (maybe with the next version of Mac OSX) then I might as well just wait for the next model right?

The problem is that I need a computer right now. I'm thinking about buying either a base 13" MacBook Air or base 13" MacBook Pro and keeping it just for a few months, and selling it when the next 15" retina MacBook Pro comes out. I'm wondering, if I do it this way, how much of a hit would I take when I resell it, and which one would have the best resale value?

Also, any advice on my decision of what to do with my 15" retina?

Thanks!
 
Mine doesnt lag at all. Have you tried a fresh install?

Also there is a dev kit for the Safari Lag.
 
kmj2318 said:
I just bought a 15" retina MacBook Pro about a week ago. I love everything about it but I just can't deal with the fact that it lags.
Click to expand...
Does it lag all the time, or just sometimes? All apps, or just some? At a time when you're experiencing the lag, follow every step of the following instructions precisely. Do not skip any steps.
  1. Launch Activity Monitor
  2. Change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes"
  3. Click on the "% CPU" column heading once or twice, so the arrow points downward (highest values on top).
    (If that column isn't visible, right-click on the column headings and check it, NOT "CPU Time")
  4. Click on the System Memory tab at the bottom.
  5. Take a screen shot of the entire Activity Monitor window, then scroll down to see the rest of the list, take another screen shot
  6. Post your screenshots.

If you're having performance issues, this may help:
 
If you do go with an Air or cMBP to tide you over, I'd strongly recommend getting a refurbished model. The refurbished models effectively set a ceiling on the resale value. Airs tend to lose their value more quickly than the cMBPs, probably because Apple keeps changing them (the 2010 and 2011 updates were very significant, and even the 2012 added the 8GB option and USB 3.0), and because they aren't upgradable. The refurbished models are 15% less than the Apple retail price for new ones, and they are just as good from my experience.

That said, the best solution may be to stick with what you have. If it is software then the lag may go away before the new models come out (or the new models may have the same glitches).
 
One question, is Apple aware of this issue?, will they fix this through a update without recurring to a patch?
 
GGJstudios said:
Does it lag all the time, or just sometimes? All apps, or just some? At a time when you're experiencing the lag, follow every step of the following instructions precisely. Do not skip any steps.
  1. Launch Activity Monitor
  2. Change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes"
  3. Click on the "% CPU" column heading once or twice, so the arrow points downward (highest values on top).
    (If that column isn't visible, right-click on the column headings and check it, NOT "CPU Time")
  4. Click on the System Memory tab at the bottom.
  5. Take a screen shot of the entire Activity Monitor window, then scroll down to see the rest of the list, take another screen shot
  6. Post your screenshots.

If you're having performance issues, this may help:
Click to expand...

It's choppy everywhere with general UI animations (mission control, launchpad, swiping spaces), scrolling in iTunes, mail, safari, CS6. Sometimes it's worse than others but it's generally not up to par even at it's best. When I use QuickRes to change the resolution to 1440 x 900 at normal resolution, everything feels perfect. I've used another person's retina macbook, and theirs behaved just like mine but they didn't notice.:confused:

Here's the screenshot. What I did to make this happen was I swiped over to my next space and then I swiped back to the desktop. 30% of the CPU for windowserver looks interesting...

Untitled-1-2_zps8c860eb2.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
dmk1974 said:
I went through the same exact thing and ultimately decided against both the 13" and 15" rMBP models because of that issue. I have some posts describing what I experienced and a little "test" in post #41 to see the problem.

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=16628452#post16628452
Click to expand...

I must have a wrong rMBP then. On my machine its absolutely smooth. There is a fraction of a second initial delay before the menu opens, but this seems to be lack of image caching. The menu itself is rendered smoothly, no 'square placeholders' or similar.
 
kmj2318 said:
30% of the CPU for windowserver looks interesting...
Click to expand...
Indeed. A Google search for "windowserver process cpu" reveals many who are having this issue. I haven't read through all the search results to see if there's a resolution, but you might try looking there first. Everything else on your screenshot looks fine. Be sure to check out the performance tips I posted.
 
kmj2318 said:
It's choppy everywhere with general UI animations (mission control, launchpad, swiping spaces), scrolling in iTunes, mail, safari, CS6. Sometimes it's worse than others but it's generally not up to par even at it's best. When I use QuickRes to change the resolution to 1440 x 900 at normal resolution, everything feels perfect. I've used another person's retina macbook, and theirs behaved just like mine but they didn't notice.:confused:

Here's the screenshot. What I did to make this happen was I swiped over to my next space and then I swiped back to the desktop. 30% of the CPU for windowserver looks interesting...

Image
Click to expand...

Odd that so many processes use some resources, even on my old Powerbook, I only have a few non zero ones, the other processes are all 0 when not used.
 
You should really edit that screenshot unless you want us all to know your real name ;)
 
It is odd that some have lag and others do not--I do not have any lag that is noticeable--never had really. That high CPU use for WindowServer certainly seems a big clue and I would think could cause some noticeable lag--my WindowServer process seems to stay around 1 or 2 percent.
 
I'm getting tired of repeating this.

rMBP: 5184000 pixels, GT650m.
27" iMac: 3686400, HD4670.

About 40% more pixels to drive.
With a card thats 250% better.

It's a software problem.

Edit:
Even better
rMBP: 5184000 pixels, GT650m
MBP: 1296000 pixels, 9400m
400% more pixels,
With a card thats 2000% better.
 
Last edited:
Ploki said:
I'm getting tired of repeating this.

rMBP: 5184000 pixels, GT650m.
27" iMac: 3686400, HD4670.

About 40% more pixels to drive.
With a card thats 250% better.

It's a software problem.

Edit:
Even better
rMBP: 5184000 pixels, GT650m
MBP: 1296000 pixels, 9400m
400% more pixels,
With a card thats 2000% better.
Click to expand...


Not the best comparison. The high performance graphics card is usually not active. In ordinary tasks, both are using the HD4000, so the rMBP is running much more pixels off of the same graphics card.
 
kmj2318 said:
Not the best comparison. The high performance graphics card is usually not active. In ordinary tasks, both are using the HD4000, so the rMBP is running much more pixels off of the same graphics card.
Click to expand...
Not entirely true that. 650m is always activated when more GPU power is required. Automatic graphics switching and all that.

Bottom line, rMBP has enough power under the hood to power the retina display, if anything isn't smooth, it can be attributed shoddy programming. Be it that discrete GPU turns on too late, or that programming on the HiDPI part is sloppy.
 
Ploki said:
Not entirely true that. 650m is always activated when more GPU power is required. Automatic graphics switching and all that.

Bottom line, rMBP has enough power under the hood to power the retina display, if anything isn't smooth, it can be attributed shoddy programming. Be it that discrete GPU turns on too late, or that programming on the HiDPI part is sloppy.
Click to expand...

Oh, that makes sense. When I keep the the discreet card active, itunes albums still are very laggy to scroll through, and it makes no sense that the 650M couldn't handle iTunes, so it is definitely looking like a software issue. Especially seeing how smooth WebKit is, it's clear that the computer can handle scrolling of any kind. I'm just hoping that it get's fixed soon.
 
kmj2318 said:
Oh, that makes sense. When I keep the the discreet card active, itunes albums still are very laggy to scroll through, and it makes no sense that the 650M couldn't handle iTunes, so it is definitely looking like a software issue. Especially seeing how smooth WebKit is, it's clear that the computer can handle scrolling of any kind. I'm just hoping that it get's fixed soon.
Click to expand...

Yep. Shoddy programming. I could run a 2560*1440 screen off my 9400m on my current laptop.

I've been waiting more than two weeks for my retina, ****ing 3rd world country.
 
I can relate to what the OP is saying and I'm sure everyone can, maybe they are in denial or they have never used a butter smooth Mac.

My 2009 13" Macbook Pro with a Crucial M4 and 8GB RAM was butter smooth.

Kind of sucks I miss it when using the rMBP at times. I'll probably stick with the rMBP and hope it gets better though.

EDIT: I LOVE everything about the 15" rMBP otherwise. I wouldn't have kept it this long if I didn't.
 
Ploki said:
I'm getting tired of repeating this.

rMBP: 5184000 pixels, GT650m.
27" iMac: 3686400, HD4670.

About 40% more pixels to drive.
With a card thats 250% better.

It's a software problem.

Edit:
Even better
rMBP: 5184000 pixels, GT650m
MBP: 1296000 pixels, 9400m
400% more pixels,
With a card thats 2000% better.
Click to expand...

Fyi, retina display is doing the scaling, therefore it's using much more GPU power than any other display.
 
I'm really wondering if there are some people who are unable to discern the difference. As I mentioned before, I know someone who cannot see any of the choppiness. Also, for the past few hours, that the lag has completely disappeared, but also I'm really tired, which would impact my ability to see the stuttering.
 
kmj2318 said:
I'm really wondering if there are some people who are unable to discern the difference.
Click to expand...

I tend to think the same thing.

I use mine very extensively day after day at work. I'm experiencing the same thing you are. Called AppleCare, they acknowledged it in a round about fashion. Reading between the lines I can't help but think that Apples working on it.

My 15" i7 2010 MBP with the Samsung SSD I installed is wicked fast and stutter free.

With some luck perhaps Apple will push out an OS update before long. Everything else about my retina MBP is terrific.
 
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