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

[xraydoc]

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.

But if the OP doesn't do anything requiring high performance video, the upgrade will go unnoticed.

 

[deliriumxy]

But if the OP doesn't do anything requiring high performance video, the upgrade will go unnoticed.

The OP may not notice it in actual performance, but he can brag that he's got it!

 

[Make Apple Great Again]

But if the OP doesn't do anything requiring high performance video, the upgrade will go unnoticed.

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.


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.

 

[xraydoc]

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.

I was referring to the graphics card upgrades (base 450/455 versus 460).

 

[npreq]

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.

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.

 

[Naimfan]

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.

An interesting theory which is not supported in fact. On what basis do you make that claim when Apple stops supporting all versions of a given platform at once? As they are about to do with a variety of Macbook Pros from 2011, without regard to the processor speed, amount of L3 cache, or anything else.

 

[Make Apple Great Again]

An interesting theory which is not supported in fact. On what basis do you make that claim when Apple stops supporting all versions of a given platform at once? As they are about to do with a variety of Macbook Pros from 2011, without regard to the processor speed, amount of L3 cache, or anything else.

Sure, I am not speaking about Apple's support for the software of the machine, which I believe you were referring to(they named a few of the 2009 obsolete, and 2011 vintage), but rather the Machines longevity in terms of use as new programs/software/technology improve and demand more work from your processor over the next few years. With current MBP's not being upgradeable in any way (from ram to the ssd), I definitely recommend trying to get the best bang for your buck that you can get now in terms of performance for the machine as it will do better as newer Apps/Programs/Software will demand more memory and power through the years. This is obviously just a recommendation and not 100% certainty, but for about $100 I definitely think it's worth the peace of mind on a Machine that costs nearly $4k.