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Would this be an Upgrade in Performance?

R

rocknpop

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 11, 2009
88
0
Hi guys,

I am considering selling my MacBook MB403LL/A to get a MacBook Pro MB990LL/A but I am not sure if it is worth it as they are the same price and I don't understand the technical differences. Can you please help me understand? You can be very technical, I'm an engineer.

Reasons I need an upgrade:
- Running recording music recording software which is heavy on RAM and CPU
- Need a powerful machine that will last a LONG time as I will be going back to Grad school

Differences between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro:
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3 MB shared L2 Cache
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM;
800 MHz data bus speed
Intel GMA X3100 Graphics Processor

2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor with 3 MB shared L2 Cache
2 GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM DDR3 memory (up to 8GB)
1066MHz frontside bus
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics

Thanks!!
 
those guys have a point
BUT...

If you happen to go with the upgrade you'll get better graphics card which in case when snow leopard comes out the OPEN CL will be much better!!
and ram is up to 8gb

Since you like to edit music YOU can get 8gb of ram while the 2.4 macbook can only hold up to 4.
4gb is truly a big difference when it comes to music editing and video editing

I'm a video editing person, since I YouTube a lot, I really need a powerful machine to make all these HD videos i have work with my machine... I myself have a weak macbook, but it does the job, but it's quite slow when it comes to converting and such. I'll upgrade sooner or later

Graphics card Might help i'm not so sure. but it's a big step from x3100 to nvidia though...

better battery life too. will increase
 
MarkCooz said:
those guys have a point
BUT...

If you happen to go with the upgrade you'll get better graphics card which in case when snow leopard comes out the OPEN CL will be much better!!
and ram is up to 8gb

Since you like to edit music YOU can get 8gb of ram while the 2.4 macbook can only hold up to 4.
4gb is truly a big difference when it comes to music editing and video editing

I'm a video editing person, since I YouTube a lot, I really need a powerful machine to make all these HD videos i have work with my machine... I myself have a weak macbook, but it does the job, but it's quite slow when it comes to converting and such. I'll upgrade sooner or later

Graphics card Might help i'm not so sure. but it's a big step from x3100 to nvidia though...

better battery life too. will increase
Click to expand...
6 GB in the Penryn MacBook Early 2008.

If you're that concerned about CAD performance don't get an IGP at all. Go for a refurbished MacBook Pro with the 9600M GT.

I keep seeing these OpenCL promises as well. It's getting a bit old. Just like before the Leopard launch.
 
MarkCooz said:
Since you like to edit music YOU can get 8gb of ram while the 2.4 macbook can only hold up to 4.
4gb is truly a big difference when it comes to music editing and video editing
Click to expand...

Honestly, I'm not concerned about the video... I'm focusing 100% on performance. I don't want my computer to give me RAM errors in ProTools...

Couple of questions:
- What difference does the bus speed make?
- Will the MacBook Pro actually be SLOWER because it is 2.26 vs 2.4?
- Will I notice a great difference if I went to the 2.53?
 
rocknpop said:
Honestly, I'm not concerned about the video... I'm focusing 100% on performance. I don't want my computer to give me RAM errors in ProTools...

Couple of questions:
- What difference does the bus speed make?
Click to expand...
Barely anything worth note on a dual core laptop.

rocknpop said:
- Will the MacBook Pro actually be SLOWER because it is 2.26 vs 2.4?
Click to expand...
Yes, you're still talking about a Core 2 Penryn. Clock speed matters and more is better. You're going to want the 2.4 over the 2.26.
rocknpop said:
- Will I notice a great difference if I went to the 2.53?
Click to expand...
A few seconds that you'll probably never notice.
 
Eidorian said:
Barely anything worth note on a dual core laptop.


Yes, you're still talking about a Core 2 Penryn. Clock speed matters and more is better. You're going to want the 2.4 over the 2.26.
A few seconds that you'll probably never notice.
Click to expand...

Well... if what you say is true... it doesn't make any sense to upgrade to a MacBook Pro... :confused:

MarkCooz said:
I'm not really sure about that, I've never heard a macbook can go up to 6gb, the one i have been hearing, that it can go up to 4gb... and the NEW UB Macbook Pro's can go up to 8gb.
Click to expand...

Yes, mine can only go to 4GB. Not sure where the 6GB came from :)
 
Eidorian said:
Which is why I suggested getting more RAM and a faster hard drive. :rolleyes:

OS X is great for low latency audio goodness.
Click to expand...

You know? Thinking about it more I think that the issues I have are related to the CORSAIR RAM that I got... Do you think that alone can save my computer form freezing even when using Safari? Say I change to a different RAM manufacturer?
 
rocknpop said:
Really great info... You're awesome!

Last questions, I guess :) ...
- Samsung or OWC? I know Samsung is the OEM, but I have an OWC ext. HD that I love...
- Do I really have to get 12GB (2 sticks of 4GB and 2 sticks of 2GB if I want to upgrade to 6?)
Click to expand...
4 GB is fine to be honest. 6 GB might be overkill for your purposes. I have 6 GB in my tower and I've only found limited use with virtual machines.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136280

This bugger is popular or you can go SSD.
 
Eidorian said:
4 GB is fine to be honest. 6 GB might be overkill for your purposes. I have 6 GB in my tower and I've only found limited use with virtual machines.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136280

This bugger is popular or you can go SSD.
Click to expand...

Thanks again, I forgot to mention I do record into an external 7200 rpm OWC HD so no need for the internal... I'm going FW into the HD, so I think I'm OK.

OK OK LAST question (and thanks again)...
OWC 4GB CAS 4.... or.... Samsung 4GB?
 
rocknpop said:
Thanks again, I forgot to mention I do record into an external 7200 rpm OWC HD so no need for the internal... I'm going FW into the HD, so I think I'm OK.

OK OK LAST question (and thanks again)...
OWC 4GB CAS 4.... or.... Samsung 4GB?
Click to expand...
Go for OWC.

I don't know what your budget is but the RAM first and then the hard drive.
 
Sorry... you know a lot about mac, so i have to give props to you...

i just started using mac like a month ago.. so I'm just trying to use all the knowledge that i know to give this guy some info's.
but you seem to handle it pretty well.
 
The biggest thing with the new MBP (which I guess u were getting) is the battery life, I upgraded from my Aluminium Macbook that were 9 months old to this.
 
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