Is a dual core MacBook Pro still usable?

[EmlenTheBest]

So basically I'm in the need of a new MacBook since my current one overheats so much that I can't do anything on it and it's battery also dies super fast and at random times. I don't really have that big of a budget (500ish Canadian dollars) and I need something that can run a newer macOS than Big Sur, can run GarageBand without sounding like a jet engine, and can play very basic games like Minecraft. I have seen a lot of the 2015-17 13" MBPs and I'm wondering if the dual core i5 inside them can still keep up with the demands of the newer macOS, and there's also the fact that they only have 8GB RAM.
Thanks in advance for the help

 

[Mlrollin91]

I would imagine you could find a pretty good deal on a used 13" MBA M1 given that B&H was selling them new for $799 USD last week.

Any intel machine is going to sound like a jet engine, especially once you launch Minecraft. I had a 2020 quad-core i5 MBP and after 30 seconds of Minecraft it was scorching hot and the fans were at full blast. Needless to say, the battery lasted barely two-hours under those conditions.

My wife has a 7-core GPU 8GB MBA and she has no issues with Minecraft. She can also play the Sims 4 fairly well on it.

 

[MBAir2010]

Im streaming basketball to my Apple TV and HomePod to a 1080dpi TV
using a MacBook Pro, 2012 i7 16GB ram without any fan noise,
the graphic card is still good in 2023 and probably longer.
im sure a 2015 MBP would be better!

personally I would get a M1, but they hasta be more Loonies up north.

if this helps!

 

[DouglasCarroll]

So basically I'm in the need of a new MacBook since my current one overheats so much that I can't do anything on it and it's battery also dies super fast and at random times. I don't really have that big of a budget (500ish Canadian dollars) and I need something that can run a newer macOS than Big Sur, can run GarageBand without sounding like a jet engine, and can play very basic games like Minecraft. I have seen a lot of the 2015-17 13" MBPs and I'm wondering if the dual core i5 inside them can still keep up with the demands of the newer macOS, and there's also the fact that they only have 8GB RAM.
Thanks in advance for the help

Have you thought of a used 13" MacBook Air, 2015-2017? One of those would be cheap and should do everything you listed and will run up to Monterey. I have one of the 2015 Airs and I really like it and it seems to run just fine for these types of tasks.

 

[pshufd]

I'd try to find a 15 as you get 4 cores and 16 GB of RAM.

 

[Cubytus]

@OP For this price you can expect to get a base model 15" from 2012 (if in good overall shape), not much more. That's the current going rate for older machines. Thank you Apple for not making "pro" machines anymore.

 

[tstafford]

Have you thought of a used 13" MacBook Air, 2015-2017? One of those would be cheap and should do everything you listed and will run up to Monterey. I have one of the 2015 Airs and I really like it and it seems to run just fine for these types of tasks.

It would have to be pretty cheap for me to think this is a good move. I have a 2019 Retina MBA w/ 16.GB of RAM and it's so, so slow compared to anything with an M1. Not saying it's unusable, but it's not enjoyable at this point.

 

[Wokis]

Dual cores will work for basic stuff still and not feel too slow as long as one's expectations don't run away.

Hard to answer regarding Garage Band. I guess it wildly depends on how many instruments and tracks you usually end up with. Minecraft should run on a potato but then there's versions, mods and all that.

Regarding the 2015 to 2017 range only the 2017 models received official support for Ventura. The 2015 model runs Broadwell and the 2016 Skylake. Both technically support AVX2 and Metal 2 so Ventura runs fine so far on them through unofficial methods. I'd recommend the 2015 model even though it's a bit bulkier due to its proven reliability and no butterfly keyboard. I believe it's an uncontroversial take that the 2015 13" MBP was a pretty good model.

I wouldn't go with a 2015-2017 Air personally because I think the screen is a bit too sub-par, but to each their own. I don't think their performance is all that bad because the cooling system on the old Airs actually worked, so you didn't get weird ("within spec") throttles. But again, the screens...

Regarding RAM. This might matter in Garage Band, I'm not sure. For web-browsing, reading and media consumption, 8GB is still fine, but who knows for how much longer that sentiment will hold true. There were 16GB CTO options available for all of these models, though, so maybe if you stay on the lookout you could find one of them.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

It would have to be pretty cheap for me to think this is a good move. I have a 2019 Retina MBA w/ 16.GB of RAM and it's so, so slow compared to anything with an M1. Not saying it's unusable, but it's not enjoyable at this point.

That’s insane….what are you trying to do with that 2019 that makes it so,so slow and unenjoyable???

I’m using a 15” 2015 MacBook Pro with 16gb that work perfectly fine for everything I do. (I own an M1 mini so I know exactly how fast one is also)

I have a family member whose 2015 was completely screwed up and slow to the point of unusable….turns out I found a crap load of viruses and bitcoin mining bots on it. (WTH ?!?!). After I removed all that crap and upgraded the OS to Monterey it “magically” was back to full speed again with no issues.

Have you checked to make sure you don’t have any weird crap slowing down your laptop????

 

[tstafford]

That’s insane….what are you trying to do with that 2019 that makes it so,so slow and unenjoyable???

I’m using a 15” 2015 MacBook Pro with 16gb that work perfectly fine for everything I do. (I own an M1 mini so I know exactly how fast one is also)

I have a family member whose 2015 was completely screwed up and slow to the point of unusable….turns out I found a crap load of viruses and bitcoin mining bots on it. (WTH ?!?!). After I removed all that crap and upgraded the OS to Monterey it “magically” was back to full speed again with no issues.

Have you checked to make sure you don’t have any weird crap slowing down your laptop????

It's clean but thanks for the advice.

It's noticeably slower than either my MBP14 or Studio. It's not unusable as I specifically said, but it's not snappy like either of my M1 machines. Empirical data from Speedometer 2.0 confirms what my experience shows - the web page loading is not anywhere close. I'm spoiled and I get it. It's a spare machine that I use at night before bed to check email and a couple of sites. It's fine for that.

Side note: the battery life stinks too. And it have maybe 650 cycles and shows as "normal".