Hey all. Once I get my tax return and I see that it's enough I want to get a new (or "new", depending on a few things) 2015 Retina MacBook Pro 15". I'm not too concerned about when the Skylake models come out. I don't have a laptop really at the moment besides my brother's 2007 Core 2 Duo GMA 950 equipped 13" MacBook (I had the model newer than that.. a Santa Rosa that died on me fully in 2013 or so).
If my tax return is amazing I might pull the trigger and get a 15" model with Iris Pro for $1999, or maybe the same model refurbished for $1699. Either would be fine with me. My only question about the Iris Pro only 15" models is this: Is the Iris Pro's 1.5 GB of VRAM shared with the system RAM like all other Intel GPUs, or is it its own dedicated Intel GPU? I think I know the answer, but I just want to get my facts straight. I know that with the Iris series of GPUs Intel has gotten closer to true dedicated GPU performance. I'd graduate up to the Iris Pro/Radeon configuration for $2109 or w/e it is... but I'm not really a gamer or content creator to that extent. Would I benefit from the 2 GB of additional GPU power?
My "workflow" mainly consists of web/email/some light-ish video editing from when I go on my trips each year, some 1080p video watching and maybe some light gaming ala Tomb Raider (2013) or Starcraft II.
Would the Iris Pro only model suit me well for what I do on a daily basis? I have actual game consoles and a really good desktop to use if I want to game seriously.
Oh and before anyone steps in and says "Why not get a MacBook Air for your uses?" I want this machine to last me at least 4-6 years as my SR MacBook (Rest in Peace old buddy) did.
Thanks in advance,
ShiggyMiyamoto
If my tax return is amazing I might pull the trigger and get a 15" model with Iris Pro for $1999, or maybe the same model refurbished for $1699. Either would be fine with me. My only question about the Iris Pro only 15" models is this: Is the Iris Pro's 1.5 GB of VRAM shared with the system RAM like all other Intel GPUs, or is it its own dedicated Intel GPU? I think I know the answer, but I just want to get my facts straight. I know that with the Iris series of GPUs Intel has gotten closer to true dedicated GPU performance. I'd graduate up to the Iris Pro/Radeon configuration for $2109 or w/e it is... but I'm not really a gamer or content creator to that extent. Would I benefit from the 2 GB of additional GPU power?
My "workflow" mainly consists of web/email/some light-ish video editing from when I go on my trips each year, some 1080p video watching and maybe some light gaming ala Tomb Raider (2013) or Starcraft II.
Would the Iris Pro only model suit me well for what I do on a daily basis? I have actual game consoles and a really good desktop to use if I want to game seriously.
Oh and before anyone steps in and says "Why not get a MacBook Air for your uses?" I want this machine to last me at least 4-6 years as my SR MacBook (Rest in Peace old buddy) did.
Thanks in advance,
ShiggyMiyamoto
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