Thoughts and Tests on the 2.2GHz MacBook Pro

[Thysanoptera]

@DannEboE @Thysanoptera do you guys notice a big difference in temp using an external monitor...I only just learned that the dGPU drives any external displays you connect so obviously that’d cause it to heat up?

I noticed that certain stuff on screen would load the dGPU, I have 34 inch UW 1440p and two 1080p connected with a spiderweb of dongles. For example webcam safari plugin would use 20W on dGPU, it was driving me mad so I got Razer Core X, put Vega FE from my Mac Pro in it and that solved both the noise and cable mess problem. Not to mention that this turns the MBP into legitimate gaming machine

 

[MacNut]

Coming from a 2010 mbp I’m due for an upgrade. I always go for the maxed out model. But at $3700 is it worth it for Lightroom and Final Cut? Can I get away with a base model or is the extra price worth it long term.

 

[Thysanoptera]

Can I get away with a base model or is the extra price worth it long term.

The base will be exactly 6 times faster than your old machine. The top spec at most 6.4 times faster, under ideal conditions. I'm pretty sure you can "get away" with base CPU. Just to put it into perspective - the base 2.2 requires 90W at max turbo which is already well beyond what the chassis can cope with. If you do a lot of video you may want to upgrade to 560x, this is actually a different chip than base 555x (unlike i7/i9 marketing gimmick) and will give you nice boost.

 

[MacNut]

The base will be exactly 6 times faster than your old machine. The top spec at most 6.4 times faster, under ideal conditions. I'm pretty sure you can "get away" with base CPU. Just to put it into perspective - the base 2.2 requires 90W at max turbo which is already well beyond what the chassis can cope with. If you do a lot of video you may want to upgrade to 560x, this is actually a different chip than base 555x (unlike i7/i9 marketing gimmick) and will give you nice boost.

So save the money for the extra ram and faster video.

 

[Vazza]

So save the money for the extra ram and faster video.

Or just save the money full stop. The 560x won’t future proof the purchase really so if that’s the reason you’re going for it then don’t bother, however if you need the extra power because you do 3D rendering etc. that’s a different story.

 

[macintoshmac]

Given the poor performance of the 555x/560x, GPU benchmarks aren't all that useful, only because the MBP is not a gaming laptop, no where near it tbh.

The Dell which has the same chipset is not considered a gaming laptop and it produces better results with the 1050 GPU. The issue with the Dell, is that in gaming it will throttle pretty quickly, and given that the MBP is even thinner, its going to perform even worse.

One thing I miss about the Razer 15" that I returned is the awesome GPU performance that I was seeing. I still had to manage it thermally for most tasks, and it couldn't play games on your lap. I do think for my needs the MBP is a better overall choice over the razer.

I feel, for gaming, we really just need to look at a dedicated Windows desktop for satisfying performance. The only thing we will need to replace in some years is the graphics card, nothing more, for a well-configured desktop. I feel this way the performance to price value will be most rewarding.

 

[MacNut]

Or just save the money full stop. The 560x won’t future the purchase really so if that’s the reason you’re going for it then don’t bother, however if you need the extra power because you do 3D rendering etc. that’s a different story.

At this point I’m looking at the 2.6 i7. I’m going to keep this computer for 5-8 years and something will always be better next year. $200 difference doesn’t seem like much and Apple will always be over priced.

 

[DannEboE]

At this point I’m looking at the 2.6 i7. I’m going to keep this computer for 5-8 years and something will always be better next year. $200 difference doesn’t seem like much and Apple will always be over priced.

That's perfectly valid. As long as we end up happy with our computers, all is good.

I feel, for gaming, we really just need to look at a dedicated Windows desktop for satisfying performance. The only thing we will need to replace in some years is the graphics card, nothing more, for a well-configured desktop. I feel this way the performance to price value will be most rewarding.

While true, I think its also nice to know that if you wanted to do some light gaming on a laptop focused on "professional work" that it is a possibility. Sure, we won't play in 4k at 60 fps, but 900p at 60fps for most games is entirely doable for those times you just want to game.

 

[btt8]

It's final. I just ordered a 2.2/16/512/555x from BHphotovideo. Right now, they are offering $150 off all 2018 MacBooks with NO TAX. Total is $2450.

I mainly work with Lightroom and photoshop as of now so I think this configuration is more than adequate for my needs. If I decide to venture into video later on, then perhaps I'll consider upgrading then. Buy what you need and is adequate now is key. Save the money for future investments.

 

[Cavman]

It's final. I just ordered a 2.2/16/512/555x from BHphotovideo. Right now, they are offering $150 off all 2018 MacBooks with NO TAX. Total is $2450.

I mainly work with Lightroom and photoshop as of now so I think this configuration is more than adequate for my needs. If I decide to venture into video later on, then perhaps I'll consider upgrading then. Buy what you need and is adequate now is key. Save the money for future investments.

Been following this thread and want to thank everyone for all the hard work / time / effort that has gone into running and posting the benchmarks / temperatures / results. Thank you.

Cool and quiet trumps speed for me. Run 2 external 1920x1200 monitors all day. Had the 13" i5/16gb/512gb but missed the screen real estate of the 15" when not at work. Ended up switching to the 15" 2.2ghz/555x/32gb/512gb CTO. Hoping it will be cool and quiet, yet fast.

Thanks again to all who have posted in this thread. Phenomenally helpful. Well done.

 

[RumorConsumer]

I’m on the way to the store now. I gotta get something. It goes against all my muscle car instincts and I think I’ll be picking up a 2.2. I gotta see how it works for me. I’m a former Quad G5 owner and basically love performance more than anything and this model is a bit of an enigma.
[doublepost=1534803926][/doublepost]God damnit they have the 2.6 in stock I just have to do it.

 

[csurfr]

I’m on the way to the store now. I gotta get something. It goes against all my muscle car instincts and I think I’ll be picking up a 2.2. I gotta see how it works for me. I’m a former Quad G5 owner and basically love performance more than anything and this model is a bit of an enigma.
[doublepost=1534803926][/doublepost]God damnit they have the 2.6 in stock I just have to do it.

Do they not have the 2.2 in stock? I feel like the speed difference between the 2.2 and 2.6 is negligible.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Do they not have the 2.2 in stock? I feel like the speed difference between the 2.2 and 2.6 is negligible.

They had it but my ambition took over. If I end up keeping this model I’ll be returning this one and getting one on discount through an Apple friend.

Bad start tho... this transfer should be ripping a** over usb-c, but its moseying along at 50mb/sec? Its from a 2017 maxed out to this guy. Really? My 2015 went to the 2017 over a thunderbolt 2 adapter at like 300mb/sec. Same exact data...

 

[csurfr]

View attachment 777000
They had it but my ambition took over. If I end up keeping this model I’ll be returning this one and getting one on discount through an Apple friend.

Bad start tho... this transfer should be ripping a** over usb-c, but its moseying along at 50mb/sec? Its from a 2017 maxed out to this guy. Really? My 2015 went to the 2017 over a thunderbolt 2 adapter at like 300mb/sec. Same exact data...

It should go faster. Are you sure you are using a usb-3 speed cable? A lot are sold as such but are actually 2.0.

 

[RumorConsumer]

It should go faster. Are you sure you are using a usb-3 speed cable? A lot are sold as such but are actually 2.0.

Very sure. Same cable.

Belkin USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.1)

https://store.apple.com/xc/product/HHSN2ZM/B

 

[RumorConsumer]

Wow. Now its stalling on the second reboot for no obvious reason at all. Recovery mode here I am. Not a good look.

 

[phobic99]

So would you all recommend a jump to the 2018 15" from a 2017 15"?

I use this with a 1080ti in a Razer Core v2 eGPU and it's my main computer for at least 6 more months. I'll be getting my desktop out of storage this coming March where I'll be upgrading it to whatever is available at the time.

 

[Eason85]

I never really understood that mantra about MBP not being a gaming laptop, or that you're not supposed to use a laptop in any other way that is not marketed by a laptop manufacturer. And 555x/560x has plenty of power, more than 960m which was a staple of gaming laptops just two years ago. My other gaming desktop at home has 1Mhz CPU and can display 320x200 screen with 16 colors tops and my kids have a blast with it, as I do.

@DannEboE - Thanks for the benches, I'll post mine shortly, I forgot to mention that you should use 'presets', not custom modes, because in Valley/Heaven I don't really know what settings were used.

The 960m was found in laptops 2-3 years ago, and the 560 is basically juuuuust as good, while the 555 is worse. I can't really think of any 3d game made in the last 5 years that the MBP could run acceptably (60 fps+). Maybe overwatch on lower details, if the CPU doesn't throttle.

 

[semistandard]

I've set the fans to 4626 and 4263 rpm in Macs Fan Control and run the benchmark 4 times. Ended up with 59 C on GPU, and CPU cores around 60C. 560x was at 72C GPU and 74 on CPU cores. So thats actually 22% temp increase for 17% gain, I mean in this benchmark, but it gives a general idea. I actually like the fans at those settings, they're not too loud but the keyboard remains cool to the touch. I think apple is too skittish with fan curves.

View attachment 775489

The CPU temps actually look nice, I am pleasantly surprised.
I wonder however, if it is because the benchmark is mostly GPU intentsive, or because temperatures when the fans spin at the max speed can get more "normal".

 

[Thysanoptera]

The CPU temps actually look nice, I am pleasantly surprised.
I wonder however, if it is because the benchmark is mostly GPU intentsive, or because temperatures when the fans spin at the max speed can get more "normal".

This particular benchmark is purely GPU, but the CPU heats up also because of heat pipes arrangement and proximity in a small chassis. The CPU itself can by far exceed the cooling capacity even at max rpms.

 

[Vazza]

This particular benchmark is purely GPU, but the CPU heats up also because of heat pipes arrangement and proximity in a small chassis. The CPU itself can by far exceed the cooling capacity even at max rpms.

How are finding your base 15” a few weeks on? Still glad you went for it?

 

[Thysanoptera]

How are finding your base 15” a few weeks on? Still glad you went for it?

Yes, definitely. No issues that others reported, the only annoying thing is I’m loosing HDMI audio after sleep with eGPU attached. I miss the 4TB, already filled my 2TB, so there is a little shuffling to external drives involved. But as far as CPU/GPU is concerned I still think that 2.2/555x is the best general option for this chassis.

 

[Vazza]

Yes, definitely. No issues that others reported, the only annoying thing is I’m loosing HDMI audio after sleep with eGPU attached. I miss the 4TB, already filled my 2TB, so there is a little shuffling to external drives involved. But as far as CPU/GPU is concerned I still think that 2.2/555x is the best general option for this chassis.

That’s good to hear, I’m waiting for delivery of my 2.2/16GB/512GB/555x but was having buying remorse over not upgrading to the 560x.

 

[maflynn]

but was having buying remorse over not upgrading to the 560x.

What do you do, that requires the 560x?

 

[Vazza]

What do you do, that requires the 560x?

Nothing except the odd occasion I edit 4K videos...I do play Civ 6 etc. sometimes and I keep wondering how well the 555x will run it as I can’t find any benchmarks for the card whereas there are some for the 560x.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-Pro-560X-GPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.318630.0.html