2nd gen Macbook ordered!!

[gobikerider]

Okay, sorry I was stuck in traffic then need to run some errand, installed all updates available on the mac. Hopefully I'm doing it correctly. If not let me know and I'll try again. Thanks.

For the BlackDiskTest, I couldn't get a screenshot with the numbers that are showing on the gauges when both stops. As soon as I took a screenshot, the test ran again from the beginning.

First run after restarting and when both gauges stop: Write 812.8, Read 926.8

For Cinebench, OpenGL 19.49fps, CPU 214cb

Thank you so much you did everything correctly. Your awesome

 

[polee]

I have a Gen 1 and am so tempted to get this too! Sigh...

 

[mhx]

m5/512GB ordered Monday.. Pending shipment still.

 

[iMi]

Question to those buying the new Macbook. I need some advice!

Would it be better to buy the last year models with the faster processor and 512GB of space for $1,299 or would it be better to buy the new one with the basic processor and 256GB or space for the same price?

Trying to decide... I need the machine as basic travel laptop, companion to the 27 iMac that's in the office.

Bump... Trying to make a call here, folks. Could really use some input

 

[mhx]

Bump... Trying to make a call here, folks. Could really use some input

I would go with the new one just for the cpu/graphics bump. You can always use dropbox/icloud for more storage. Hardly anyone has a new one yet to give you more reasoning... You could always get the m7 + 256gb for 1549

 

[okwhatev]

Bump... Trying to make a call here, folks. Could really use some input

Go for the newer one. It will always bother you that you didn't go for the newer tech. Your computer will be worth double the value compared to the old one by next years time. I always think of the resell value.

 

[Buerkletucson]

m5/512GB ordered Monday.. Pending shipment still.

How did you possibly order it on Monday?

 

[gobikerider]

Go for the newer one. It will always bother you that you didn't go for the newer tech. Your computer will be worth double the value compared to the old one by next years time. I always think of the resell value.

New one

 

[iMi]

Thanks guys. I've been leaning toward new one, too. I figured that if the current 128GB is about enough, then 256GB will be plenty. 512GB will be over-kill and the speed improvements will pay a better dividend. Didn't really think about resale value, but that's a good point, too.

 

[gobikerider]

Thanks guys. I've been leaning toward new one, too. I figured that if the current 128GB is about enough, then 256GB will be plenty. 512GB will be over-kill and the speed improvements will pay a better dividend. Didn't really think about resale value, but that's a good point, too.

The new one has benchmarks above.

 

[ParanoidDroid]

I say go for it. I originally thought the performance increase with Skylake wasn't actually that significant, but the Skylake core m5 benchmarks higher than the core i5 in the 2015 Air's and is almost on par with the core i7. That's pretty amazing considering the first gen benchmarked close to the 2011/2012 Air's.

That's interesting!
Can you please link to these benchmarks?

Edit: nevermind. I read the entire thread.

Although, I'm undecided whether I should get an m5 or an m7.

 

[billylau]

Yea, I can't decide between an m5 or m7 as well. I am not a tech savvy, but surely I want to something that's worth the money. My main use for the rMB would be surfing webs, streaming videos, emails, excel works, and some minor adobe photoshop marketing for my own company.

Can anyone highlight the significant difference between an m5 or an m7?

 

[psymac]

M7 over the M3 for me, don't really need 512gb storage the M5 version gets you, and its a fair price for the CPU increase you get. The M7 also appears to have some future software upgradability. Just waiting for Macmall or similar sites to get stock so as to not get the sales tax bite.

 

[Emergo]

So the M3 isn't future proof? How long would the 2015 MacBook last?

 

[jlsm511]

I have a Gen 1 and am so tempted to get this too! Sigh...

I have a Gen 1 MB, 1.1Ghz, and am upgrading to the m3. Almost an even trade through my Apple Campus Store, so might as well. The 1.1 did everything I threw at it (Windows 10 VM, Lightroom/Photoshop, Xcode, and regular browsing) with the occasional beachball. I'm hoping the Beachball with the new m3 will become a little less likely.

 

[tpr007]

Are you noticing anything different performance wise?

Not at all

It looks and feels exactly the same.

I am simply doing word processing, safari, etc... nothing taxing.

 

[ParanoidDroid]

Well, I think I can say that I'm fairly tech savvy. Basically the Core M (m3 up to m7) is always the same chip. However, after the manufacturing process Intel runs quality tests for each chip, and briefly said, picks the best CPU samples for the m7 line, because those can sustain slightly higher heat stress, and thus can be clocked higher.

Let's just assume for simplicity's sake; Intel were a road construction company. So bumpy roads get lower speed limits, while well paved roads become sort of German Autobahn. And that's how Intel basically does it its CPU pricing.

The m3 has a few 'bumpy roads', while m5 has much less, and the m7 has 'racing track' qualities. Back in the CPU world, it means that the m3 and m5 chips will be clocked lower and throttle their Turbo Boost compared the m7. The m7 behaves like a crazy race driver in a sports car. Driving for short bursts at max speed, before its motor overheats, then dropping back to cool down, but in the end it's faster for short sprints.

Due to the passive cooling solution constraints eventually all Core Ms will throttle back to the base frequency or even below in order to prevent physical damage to the chip.

If you however do rendering for hours, or converting videos etc. the m7 won't be that significantly faster compared to the m5, unless you cool it down externally. I remember how "Linus Tech" demonstrated that in a funny way by putting the last year's MacBook into a cold water bath.

I believe, the m7 only makes sense for people, who want to do light Photoshop work or simple raw photo editing, because that's the case where the additional 400 Hz at Turbo Boost (m5 vs. m7) can make the overall editing experience feel slightly snappier (e.g. adjusting brightness/contrast sliders etc.). For the web, office or mailing tasks even the Core m3 is perfectly fine.

Most people wouldn't notice any difference in speed if their MacBook was swapped out for a lower clocked model overnight. Maxed out CPUs are just phallic symbols of our modern time.

I'm concluding my post with Intel's raw spec spreadsheet for clarity though. Please note that Apple is natively overclocking the base frequency on all Core m CPUs — like they did on all previous Broadwell MacBooks last year.

 

[izzyfanto]

You guys have to realize how the Core M is designed to work. The reason its so close to the I5's and I7's in some benchmarks is because it IS a I5. The architecture of the chip is identical.

What you have to realize is that its performance at those levels is not something it can sustain. For loading a webpage, it probably works just as well as a MBP. For compiling source code, or running a Photoshop filter, it will be far worse. Because it will have to throttle down well before it finishes, whereas the MBP would continue its performance throughout the life of the program.

Thats where the TDP of the chip comes in. Intel allows the Core M to exceed its TDP values for short bursts, but for anything lasting long ("long" being more than like 50milliseconds) its throttled back.

Not really. All this does is expose a flaw in the testing methodology used by benchmarking apps such as Geekbench.

You will not see those numbers with the same tests on sustained runs. The m series will throttle down long before its bigger siblings do.

Geekbench, etc. needs to enhance their software to perform sustained workload benchmarks. Once they do that, you will see a more accurate picture of how the processors differ.

This was helpful understanding the scores. Makes a lot more sense to me now. Question though: what does geekbench scores include? Just CPU speed, or does it incorporate i7 stuff like hyperthreading and more cache into the final score? Hope that makes sense...I'm still learning computer hardware subtleties.

 

[mackie8]

I might be getting m3/256gb
Since i have pending order for gen1 that i havent paid yet.. I just receive email from apple store that they will automatically upgrade it to gen2 and when i check my pending order.. They also gave me $300 discount...
Happy camper here!

 

[jam_]

I'm curious to know the real world difference of the m3 and m7. Is the 2.2 and 3.1 GHz turbo going to be noticeable between the two?
Edit: Also, is the m3 going to become outdated much sooner than a m7?

 

[Serban]

so any one test the m7?

 

[where is it]

so any one test the m7?

It'll probably be a week before m7 tests begin as it's a build to order option.

 

[Serban]

hmm i thought if anyone ordered the m7 from day one, Friday or Monday will be here
[doublepost=1461223645][/doublepost]so lets wait a bit more

 

[where is it]

hmm i thought if anyone ordered the m7 from day one, Friday or Monday will be here
[doublepost=1461223645][/doublepost]so lets wait a bit more

That might be the case for a few lucky people but that still means waiting until tomorrow or Monday before anyone speaks out. Plus they might be enjoying their new Mac far too much to share details with us lot.

Not forgetting that the updated 2016 Macbook was only released on Tuesday.

 

[Brookzy]

My m7 is preparing for shipment, so should be here in a few days!