Updating from '10 13"MBP to '11-12 15" MBP?

[alex87f]

Hi everybody!

I have a question regarding a potential upgrade..

I've had my mid-2010 13" MBP for five years now, and use it everyday. The only upgrade it has is a 128GB SSD. I play video games half-regularly, and would like to have a bump in performance, but don't see myself spending more than 2k on a new retina.

I was looking into buying second-hand and realized one can find a late-2011 or mid-2012 15" Macbook pro (with i7 quad-core, 8/16GB RAM and 512/1024MB dedicated graphics) for $800-1100 depending upon the exact config, which means I could do the upgrade for little money.

My question is: will the performance bump be enough to justify doing the upgrade? I don't play very demanding games (Skyrim, League of Legends, Fallout 3, Heroes of the Storm, etc.) but would like to have comfortable performance with half-recent games, as well as a bump in everyday speed. Will I see a big difference?
Also, how does a late '11 or mid '12 MBP 15" with dedicated graphics compare to a new 13" retina?

Thanks!
Alex

 

[T5BRICK]

Will I see a big difference?

I'd think so. You'll be upgrading from a dual core C2D, to a Quad i7. It's a pretty big upgrade.

Also, how does a late '11 or mid '12 MBP 15" with dedicated graphics compare to a new 13" retina?

The quad core processors in the 2011 and 2012 15 MBPs will outperform the dual core processors I the 13" rMBP.

 

[yjchua95]

Hi everybody!

I have a question regarding a potential upgrade..

I've had my mid-2010 13" MBP for five years now, and use it everyday. The only upgrade it has is a 128GB SSD. I play video games half-regularly, and would like to have a bump in performance, but don't see myself spending more than 2k on a new retina.

I was looking into buying second-hand and realized one can find a late-2011 or mid-2012 15" Macbook pro (with i7 quad-core, 8/16GB RAM and 512/1024MB dedicated graphics) for $800-1100 depending upon the exact config, which means I could do the upgrade for little money.

My question is: will the performance bump be enough to justify doing the upgrade? I don't play very demanding games (Skyrim, League of Legends, Fallout 3, Heroes of the Storm, etc.) but would like to have comfortable performance with half-recent games, as well as a bump in everyday speed. Will I see a big difference?
Also, how does a late '11 or mid '12 MBP 15" with dedicated graphics compare to a new 13" retina?

Thanks!
Alex

Don't bother with the 2011 models due to Radeongate.

The mid-2012 15" retinas also have GPU problems. Non-retina 2012 15" ones seem to be free of it.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hi everybody!

I have a question regarding a potential upgrade..

I've had my mid-2010 13" MBP for five years now, and use it everyday. The only upgrade it has is a 128GB SSD. I play video games half-regularly, and would like to have a bump in performance, but don't see myself spending more than 2k on a new retina.

I was looking into buying second-hand and realized one can find a late-2011 or mid-2012 15" Macbook pro (with i7 quad-core, 8/16GB RAM and 512/1024MB dedicated graphics) for $800-1100 depending upon the exact config, which means I could do the upgrade for little money.

My question is: will the performance bump be enough to justify doing the upgrade? I don't play very demanding games (Skyrim, League of Legends, Fallout 3, Heroes of the Storm, etc.) but would like to have comfortable performance with half-recent games, as well as a bump in everyday speed. Will I see a big difference?
Also, how does a late '11 or mid '12 MBP 15" with dedicated graphics compare to a new 13" retina?

Thanks!
Alex

Firstly all the games you mentioned are fairly demanding.

Secondly if gaming is your main focus then buy a gaming PC, macs are just not optimised for gaming you can buy anyone you like but you just won't get great performance. You would be much better off with a razer blade or similar windows machine.

Thirdly gaming on any laptop is a compromise, why not just get an xbox one or PS4 and keep the mac for your daily internet and office stuff...

 

[MushroomMan]

If you can find a good deal on a 2012 non-retina then I would go for it.

As mentioned, I'd expect you to see a big jump in performance (not as much as a new one of course) and you would have USB 3.0, faster RAM and Ivy-bridge processor, ability to throw in a 2nd HDD etc. The 2011+ models can stream to Apple TV if that is of any benefit to you as well.