2.2 to 2.6, worth the 700+?

[MarlboroLite]

So I've held off on buying a MBP until an update and it looks like it just happenned....so I need advice on this new bump. In the education store the 2.2 MBP starts at $1799 and the 2.4 starts at $2299 so that's $500 more and if you want the 2.6 upgrade you have to fork another $250. So that's a $750 difference between the 2.2 and 2.6, is it really worth it? Is the difference in GHz noticeable in that case?

 

[nikhsub1]

So I've held off on buying a MBP until an update and it looks like it just happenned....so I need advice on this new bump. In the education store the 2.2 MBP starts at $1799 and the 2.4 starts at $2299 so that's $500 more and if you want the 2.6 upgrade you have to fork another $250. So that's a $750 difference between the 2.2 and 2.6, is it really worth it? Is the difference in GHz noticeable in that case?

Worth it how? Do you do lot's of video encoding on your laptop? Perhaps you run SETI or Folding@Home? Do you do lots of rendering? If the answer is no, then the .2 or .4 speed bump will make NO DIFFERENCE to you whatsoever. The faster the chip is the more heat it will put out and more power it will suck up, so think about that as well. If you answered yes to any of my above questions then really you should be buying a tower and not a laptop

 

[MarlboroLite]

No I don't really do that! So I guess sticking to the 2.2 and saving $750 is a good deal...I'm kind of upset that the ship time is now 2-3 weeks if you decide to go with the higher HDs.

 

[creator2456]

So I've held off on buying a MBP until an update and it looks like it just happenned....so I need advice on this new bump. In the education store the 2.2 MBP starts at $1799 and the 2.4 starts at $2299 so that's $500 more and if you want the 2.6 upgrade you have to fork another $250. So that's a $750 difference between the 2.2 and 2.6, is it really worth it? Is the difference in GHz noticeable in that case?

For what most people will be doing, no. It is not worth it. Use that money you would have spent on maxing out the RAM and getting a nice external drive as well as any other accessory that people always ask about (mouse, keyboard, stand, etc.).

I have a Rev. A 17" MBP with the 2.16ghz CoreDuo 2gb RAM and I have trouble maxing the thing out while running multiple CS3 apps + itunes + adium + safari + random program or 5.

 

[mm1250]

I bought my MBP about a week ago. I ended up getting the 2.2Ghz model. I was debating the 2.2Ghz vs. the 2.4Ghz and it was eating me apart. The only difference between the 2 models is the 400Mhz faster (200Mhz per core) and the 256MB Nvidia Chip.

I choose to go with the cheaper since I didn't think the 2 really made much difference.

I do web design and graphics with Dreamweaver/Fireworks and basic web surfing, music. I don't regret not getting the 2.4Ghz at all.

 

[Maui]

(mouse, keyboard, stand, etc.)[/SIZE].

Unless you have unusual CPU needs, I think this is good advice. The question isn't "is it worth it," the question is "is the money better spent on the cpu or on memory, video card & other stuff." For almost every user, the answer is clearly memory, an external drive for TM, etc.

Good luck on your purchase.

 

[MarlboroLite]

Another quick question....the difference between the 200 and 250 GB HDs is $45...I have heard that 7200rmp drives consume more battery and produce more heat...for $45 less I could get 50GB more but at 5400rpm....is the 7200rpm only noticeable for certain professional applications also?

 

[iBecks]

So I've held off on buying a MBP until an update and it looks like it just happenned....so I need advice on this new bump. In the education store the 2.2 MBP starts at $1799 and the 2.4 starts at $2299 so that's $500 more and if you want the 2.6 upgrade you have to fork another $250. So that's a $750 difference between the 2.2 and 2.6, is it really worth it? Is the difference in GHz noticeable in that case?

The $500 difference between the 2.2 and the 2.4 is not just to cover the processor cost, there is a bigger hard drive and more graphics card memory.

Then on top of that if you wanted to go to 2.6 that would be $250 on top on the stock 2.4 model.

$750 dollars difference between 2.2 and 2.6 would mean .4Ghz on the processor, 40GB more hard drive and 128MB more graphics memory.

If you want the extra hard drive and graphics memory, then in my opinion $250 for the cpu increase isn't that bad really.

 

[nikhsub1]

Another quick question....the difference between the 200 and 250 GB HDs is $45...I have heard that 7200rmp drives consume more battery and produce more heat...for $45 less I could get 50GB more but at 5400rpm....is the 7200rpm only noticeable for certain professional applications also?

NOW IMO this is where you will notice speed. At least I do. I much prefer the 7200 RPM drives better ACCESS time, the machine feels snapier. Also consider what is more important to YOU, space or speed? For me in HD's I must have 7200 RPM in laptops. I don't keep anything critical on my laptop for fear of loss or theft so I keep all my important stuff on an external drive (iphoto, itunes, documents etc).