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2.6/512/460 or 2.7/512/455?

zduhac

zduhac

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 27, 2012
42
16
Ok. I am deciding between these two configurations and I am stuck.

I am a somewhat heavy Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign and I've just started learning programming, which I hope will be something I'm gonna do in the future. I barely do any video editing, and I do not see myself doing it in the future (maybe 2-3 videos from a GoPro a year).

I've used 2011 MBA for the past 5 years, and have waited almost 2 years for the Skylake update. Deciding to switch to 15" was the first tough choice I've faced. I do really love MBA portability, but I really don't take it out that much, and I don't have a place in the apartment for a second monitor. Plus I do believe quad-core, dGPU and additional screen real estate is the way to go.

So, what makes more sense, .1Mhz increase with 33% more L2 cache or the additional 2GB VRAM that the 460 offers? One other concern are the glitches that mostly users with 460 are experiencing. I am even considering dropping the 460 and going with the 450 to save around $200.

Any advice/opinion is much appreciated.
 
Bigger difference in plus you will see with Radeon Pro 460 than with 2.7 GHz CPU.

As I have said many times before: sweet spot for performance: 2.6 GHz/16 GB/512 GB SSD/Radeon Pro 460.
 
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Make Apple Great Again said:
Not true, while there are limited "real world" performance notices, you will definitely help the longevity of the machine by having 8MB of L3 Cache.

ALSO, the 2.7 and 2.9 support more intel technologies, compared to the 2.6:

In the 2.7 and NOT in the 2.6 are the following:

Intel® vPro Technology:
Intel® vPro™ Technology is a set of security and manageability capabilities built into the processor aimed at addressing four critical areas of IT security: 1) Threat management, including protection from rootkits, viruses, and malware 2) Identity and web site access point protection 3) Confidential personal and business data protection 4) Remote and local monitoring, remediation, and repair of PCs and workstations.


Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Transactional Synchronization Extensions New Instructions (Intel® TSX-NI) are a set of instructions focused on multi-threaded performance scaling. This technology helps make parallel operations more efficient via improved control of locks in software.

Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP) can help your company identify and deploy standardized, stable image PC platforms for at least 15 months

Trusted Execution Technology
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology for safer computing is a versatile set of hardware extensions to Intel® processors and chipsets that enhance the digital office platform with security capabilities such as measured launch and protected execution. It enables an environment where applications can run within their own space, protected from all other software on the system)

Go for the 2.6 with 460. More vRam is ALWAYS a good choice


Source: https://ark.intel.com/compare/88972,88967,88970

The SIPP isn't that important to many people here, but the support for the other technologies, the extra L3 cache, and the slight improvement in clock speed IMO make the investment worth it, as it will help with performance and the longevity of the machine.
Click to expand...

Both vpro and SIPP are unused on macs, even if present in silicon. vPro is a feature for corporate machines, where a sysadmin can remotely control machines, even when they're off. The functionality also requires an intel ethernet card and special windows-only software. SIPP is specifically used for webcams and image sensors - think those Windows 10 tablets. I think Windows 10 specifically makes use of this for it's face login feature.

TSX-NI is nice, but it needs to be used by software, I'm highly doubtfull Apple uses this.

TXT is anaologue to Secure Enclave on the iPhone or TrustZone on ARM. It's unused on Macs and laptops in general (this would be usefull if the chip was used in a SoC kind of way.
 
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For your use it sounds like higher cache would be more important than the gpu
 
I'm begining to think that maybe the best option is to simply save the $200.
The reason why I'm not simply choosing the 460 model is because that GPU seams to be the most troubled one. Most of the reported glitches and problems are attributed to this GPU.
 
Every application that will use Metal will have by default GPU acceleration. So the more power you have there the better for your experience.

However, it is up to you how much performance from GPU you need. RP 450 is around GTX 950M, in performance.
 
zduhac said:
I'm begining to think that maybe the best option is to simply save the $200.
The reason why I'm not simply choosing the 460 model is because that GPU seams to be the most troubled one. Most of the reported glitches and problems are attributed to this GPU.
Click to expand...


The GPUs are all the same in that regard. I am willing to bet that the issues are global across the entire 450/55/60 line and are most likely going to be fixed via software.
 
Spending extra money on the GPU won't provide better performance - even if the 460 is much faster - if you don't have a workflow that makes use of it.

Now, that said, the real-world difference between the 2.6GHz processor and the 2.7GHz processor, even with its increased cache, is marginal at best.

Save money and don't upgrade either. Although, for simplicity sake, I bought the 2.7/512/455 model since I decided I wanted the 512GB SSD (and was in stock at my Apple Store) and didn't want to wait 3-4 weeks for a BTO.
 
At this point I think I have excluded the 460 option.
The only thing left for me to decide between 2.7/512/455 and 2.6/512/450 + $200.
 
zduhac said:
At this point I think I have excluded the 460 option.
The only thing left for me to decide between 2.7/512/455 and 2.6/512/450 + $200.
Click to expand...

Hello I would go for 2.7/512/455 for resale purposes -> the other one is too "basic"

my opinion is that 460 is going to be be "the must have", 455 is still closer from 460 than 450

after all, if you want to keep it forever, and playing + metal software are not for you, keep your money and purchase an Applecare
 
iGangsta said:
I went with 2.7GHz because it has 2mb more cache memory.
Click to expand...

What is the advantage of having more CPU cache memory? Is it like the RAM for CPU? When would someone actually utilize this extra cache; in what sorts of applications?
 
koyoot said:
Bigger difference in plus you will see with Radeon Pro 460 than with 2.7 GHz CPU.

As I have said many times before: sweet spot for performance: 2.6 GHz/16 GB/512 GB SSD/Radeon Pro 460.
Click to expand...
2.7/512/460 is the sweet spot IMO... for only about $100 more you upgrade the 2.6 to a 2.7 and improve your L3 cache from 6MB to 8MB which will help with the longevity of the machine... the 2.7 and 2.9 both have 8MB of L3 cache.

As for the OP, if you have to decide between those 2, definitely go with the 460.
 
deliriumxy said:
What is the advantage of having more CPU cache memory? Is it like the RAM for CPU? When would someone actually utilize this extra cache; in what sorts of applications?
Click to expand...
When you run multiple apps at the same time or in render processes you notice 2mb more cache memory. CPU will do the same processes in a shorter time next time because its memory higher than 2.6ghz
 
WhiteWhaleHolyGrail said:
I have the 455 - I have no issues at all.
Click to expand...
Right - there are plenty of people with no issues and it's the classic situation of the Macrumors forums: the most vocal are those having issues, and those who aren't having issues are out there enjoying their laptops and not here posting that everything is A-OK on their device.

I'm pretty certain that all the chips have the same failure / defect rate as they're all just binned versions of the same chip, but we'll never have any definitive proof unless Apple starts recalling.
 
Everyone seems to hurry and recommend the 460 GPU, but that seems to be the most troubled option.
This forum is full of people experiencing issues with that GPU above all others.
 
zduhac said:
Everyone seems to hurry and recommend the 460 GPU, but that seems to be the most troubled option.
This forum is full of people experiencing issues with that GPU above all others.
Click to expand...


I really do think it's a matter of sample size, and it doesn't seem like it's widespread to the point where we need to hold off purchasing it altogether. At the end of the day, Apple has to stand by these things and if there are issues you'll end up with a replacement or the option for a different GPU.

I've got like 80 hours of gaming in and a few 4K XAVC-S Premiere projects down so far and haven't had a single issue with the GPU directly. My initial startup on OSX gives me a slow-fps login page before it boots fully into the OS, but I can't see that one sign being a red alert to return the notebook - it feels like a bug in the pre-boot environment where you select a user.
 
fs454 said:
I really do think it's a matter of sample size, and it doesn't seem like it's widespread to the point where we need to hold off purchasing it altogether.
Click to expand...

I guess you are right about this being the sample size and I do hope that this is something that is going to be fixed with a software/firmware update. When you look at the 9to5's "unscientific" poll, you can see that all three cards have 60% users experiencing the issue.

As for the "getting a replacement unit if this one fails", that is what I am trying to avoid, because I am bringing my MBP to a country that has one or two authorized resellers and services and the exchange would not be as easy as it is in the US or UK.
 
zduhac said:
As for the "getting a replacement unit if this one fails", that is what I am trying to avoid, because I am bringing my MBP to a country that has one or two authorized resellers and services and the exchange would not be as easy as it is in the US or UK.
Click to expand...

In that case, get a standard configuration. I.e., the 2.7/512/455.
 
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