Resolved Help on deciding which rMBP

[iMacBooked]

Hello everybody. Like many others here I've been waiting for a long time to buy the new rMBP's. Now that they just have been released, I'm seeking some advice on deciding which model to buy.

I'm wondering if I should buy the top end 13 inch rMBP, or if I should buy the base 15 inch model. Their prices are about the same.. I don't care about the screen size as that is a matter of taste, already having many topics about.
I want to know which Mac will be the fastest concerning speed? And will the difference be very noticeable? (little bit confused of the difference dual-core/quad-core or Haswell/Crystalwell)
And if the 15 inch would be faster, would it get a lot more hot when watching video's and stuff than on a 13 inch? Because that also is an important factor to me: battery, MacBook getting hot, and certainly the noise it makes.

Thanks in advance!


Top end model 13 inch:

2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
512GB PCIe-based flash storage
Intel Iris Graphics

Base model 15 inch:

2.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
256GB PCIe-based flash storage
Intel Iris Pro Graphics

 

[purplekush604]

Hello everybody. Like many others here I've been waiting for a long time to buy the new rMBP's. Now that they just have been released, I'm seeking some advice on deciding which model to buy.

I'm wondering if I should buy the top end 13 inch rMBP, or if I should buy the base 15 inch model. Their prices are about the same.. I don't care about the screen size as that is a matter of taste, already having many topics about.
I want to know which Mac will be the fastest concerning speed? And will the difference be very noticeable? (little bit confused of the difference dual-core/quad-core or Haswell/Crystalwell)
And if the 15 inch would be faster, would it get a lot more hot when watching video's and stuff than on a 13 inch? Because that also is an important factor to me: battery, MacBook getting hot, and certainly the noise it makes.

Thanks in advance!


Top end model 13 inch:

2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
512GB PCIe-based flash storage
Intel Iris Graphics

Base model 15 inch:

2.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
256GB PCIe-based flash storage
Intel Iris Pro Graphics

I'm in the exact same dilemma as you, base 15 or maxed out 13 with 16gb of ram though

 

[iMacBooked]

I'm in the exact same dilemma as you, base 15 or maxed out 13 with 16gb of ram though

I really don't know which one to choose..

 

[isephmusic]

the fact that the new 15 inches don't get a discreet graphics card make me not want to get a new macbook . look at the XPS 15 from dell its qHD+ display is like 3300x1600 something crazy with a nvidea gtx 750m

 

[iMacBooked]

I really want a Mac, so Dell is no option for me Just don't know if I should buy the top end 13 inch or the base 15

 

[Chrsanthny5]

the fact that the new 15 inches don't get a discreet graphics card make me not want to get a new macbook . look at the XPS 15 from dell its qHD+ display is like 3300x1600 something crazy with a nvidea gtx 750m

Ew. Windows. Dell. Ew. :0


To OP: I was considering the same as you. I pulled the trigger on a 13 with i7/16GB. I think I made the right choice. I jus tm really needed an upgrade!

 

[tech4all]

the fact that the new 15 inches don't get a discreet graphics card make me not want to get a new macbook . look at the XPS 15 from dell its qHD+ display is like 3300x1600 something crazy with a nvidea gtx 750m

The high end has one.

 

[isephmusic]

The high end has one.

even if i was rich i would cry myself to sleep at night knowing i spent $2600 on a laptop just to get a dedicated graphics card . thats a ****ing round trip to europe from the states and a good concert while I'm there maybe a cheap date too

 

[kartnite]

I have a similar query. Now that the 15" cMBP is no longer available (that's what I was keen on before deciding to 'wait' for this keynote, sigh)...

I'm quite sure I will need a 15" machine (as opposed to 13", full spec'd or otherwise) *and* a quad-core processor. But I'm wondering if I will need a 16GB RAM.

 

[RobobVT]

So far I am impressed with the Intel Iris graphics, I couldn't afford a fully loaded 15" so I got the 13" top of the line so I wouldn't have to do a BTO and wait an extra 1-3 days

Some benchmarks have been posted here that the Iris Pro on the 15" is within 15% performance of the 750m anyway so I would suggest deciding based on form factor, if you will be carrying it around a lot the 13" is a little smaller while 15" is better for long periods of editing or movie watching

 

[iMacBooked]

So far I am impressed with the Intel Iris graphics, I couldn't afford a fully loaded 15" so I got the 13" top of the line so I wouldn't have to do a BTO and wait an extra 1-3 days

Some benchmarks have been posted here that the Iris Pro on the 15" is within 15% performance of the 750m anyway so I would suggest deciding based on form factor, if you will be carrying it around a lot the 13" is a little smaller while 15" is better for long periods of editing or movie watching

Thanks, you convinced me! Just bought the top model of the 13 inch!