MBP Revisions

[Kaiser Phoenix]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

The bootcamp thing is really attractive to me and Im thinking of purchasing a MBP.

I want to know how the MBP revisions are faring in terms of whether they have really fixed the issues. Basically, does anyone own these "revision D" MBPs? Are they running cooler?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[thegreatluke]

While most of the problems are fixed, people with revision "D" MacBook Pros are reporting the buzzing is still there and it still gets as hot as the previous revisions.

Unless you absolutely need an MBP, I'd recommend the iMac (Core Duo). It's got the same specifications, so it's basically a cheaper, problem-free MBP on a stand (with a slightly better graphics card, a bigger hard drive and a bigger screen).

 

[kretzy]

From what I've read it sounds like the heat issue is still there, which I must say is a bit of a turn-off. My PB gets pretty hot, but apparently the MBP gets even hotter which I really don't think is acceptable. I would wait as long as possible before buying anything because things will always be improved.

 

[cherry38]

Go out and get one. My advice - buy it from an Apple store so if you run into any problems you can go and return it (if there is a valid issue with the MBP they will waive the restocking fee).

Trust me, they are amazing and you will love it there is no point in waiting unless you want to wait until the specs get upped...I have a week 10 MBP (supposed Rev C) and it is fantastic, no problems, and I don't think it gets too hot. I know a lot of people who have made the plunge and have no problems at all with their MBP, and theirs have early production weeks than mine.

I bought a Mac Mini last year when they first became available and I never had a single issue with it. Don't be scared by "Rev A." Go get your Macbook Pro!!!

 

[screensaver400]

(with a slightly better graphics card, a bigger hard drive and a bigger screen).

Don't both the MBP and iMac use the x1600? And doesn't the 2.0 ghz MBP have an extra 128mb of video memory over the 2.0 ghz iMac? And an extra 512mb of RAM?

 

[Kingsly]

From what I've read it sounds like the heat issue is still there, which I must say is a bit of a turn-off. My PB gets pretty hot, but apparently the MBP gets even hotter which I really don't think is acceptable. I would wait as long as possible before buying anything because things will always be improved.

I wonder if I should demand a new MBP. I have to send mine in anyway to get the keyboard replaced... I might as well get a whole brand new one that doesn't burn me on contact.

 

[XP Defector]

If you want to complain about your MacBook getting heated, you should try using a three-year old Dell Inspiron 5100 - the model that the heatsink was attached the wrong way around - to really experience a notebook that gets at hot as the sun.

 

[Kaiser Phoenix]

Hi Guys, thanks so much for the replies. I guess what I shall do is wait till the next "REAL" revisions ie maybe Merom.

The heat thing really bothers me because I used to own a Powerbook G4 15. It was hot but not sooooooooo hot like the MBP. I looked at an MBP at a local applestore and it was like a frypan. I couldnt even touch that bit between the keyboard and the screen. It was pretty lethal, like a babys hand would burn easily.

 

[thegreatluke]

Don't both the MBP and iMac use the x1600? And doesn't the 2.0 ghz MBP have an extra 128mb of video memory over the 2.0 ghz iMac? And an extra 512mb of RAM?

I forgot about the RAM and the video RAM. Oops!

The iMac uses an ATi Radeon X1600 and the MBP uses an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600. They're basically the same thing, but the iMac's video card will be clocked a couple hundred MHz higher and it's powering a lower resolution, so the graphics performance on the iMac will probably be a bit better.

In my opinion, the iMac is a better choice unless you really need the mobility. I ordered my MBP on January 11 (one day after MWSF) and I kind of regret it. I could've gotten an iMac five weeks sooner, and it's better with no major problems. (With $700 left over...)

 

[kntgsp]

I forgot about the RAM and the video RAM. Oops!

The iMac uses an ATi Radeon X1600 and the MBP uses an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600. They're basically the same thing, but the iMac's video card will be clocked a couple hundred MHz higher and it's powering a lower resolution, so the graphics performance on the iMac will probably be a bit better.

In my opinion, the iMac is a better choice unless you really need the mobility. I ordered my MBP on January 11 (one day after MWSF) and I kind of regret it. I could've gotten an iMac five weeks sooner, and it's better with no major problems. (With $700 left over...)

Nope, same graphics chip. The X1600 in the iMac and MacBook Pro are identical in performance and construction. Also, the iMac X1600 is clocked slower than it should be. There's a post somewhere in here about it too, but you can find it on google. Also, the x1600 in the imac has to run the 20" screen and higher res for apps, whereas the x1600 in the macbook pro runs it at the 15" resolution. You get higher fps and less strain on the card (for games especially). Granted you can run the games at lower res on the 17 and 20" imacs, it's still stretched because of the larger screen.

 

[kntgsp]

Atually I JUST got mine today, and I have serial number W8613

Revision D (supposedly the latest) is 11.

So I guess I have revision F?

I still have the whine as well. However, mine runs no hotter than my G4 Powerbook did. It's definitely not scalding hot like everyone has been clamoring about. Also the LCD flickering issue doesn't seem to affect mine at all, regardless of brightness settings. And I also don't have wake up from sleep problems, at least that I have noticed.

The only gripe I have is the whine, which actually seems quite sporadic.

I'm really pissed that this hasn't been fixed, as it's clearly firmware/software side. When you boot up photo booth it stops. It's clearly a "how many cores are in use and/or voltage issue"

 

[Cabbit]

i could do with a hot laptop lol, im going back to scotland soon -5 degree C at the moment my sis tells me. So a nice MBP mabey even squeese in a pentium presshot to really warm my fingures. But really laptops are going to be warm, and it is thiner than the powerbook so it has less space for all that heat. perhaps if they had kept the same size we would have had cooler MBP, quieter, and with less problems that are proberly to due with heat. Just be glad its not a Xbox 360, theres a reason Apple have to water cool G5's over 2.5 GHz and Micro$oft put in one at 3.2 GHz.

Buy the MBP be happy, if you want get some wis kid to remove the MBP logo and put a powerbook logo in its place.

 

[kntgsp]

i could do with a hot laptop lol, im going back to scotland soon -5 degree C at the moment my sis tells me. So a nice MBP mabey even squeese in a pentium presshot to really warm my fingures. But really laptops are going to be warm, and it is thiner than the powerbook so it has less space for all that heat. perhaps if they had kept the same size we would have had cooler MBP, quieter, and with less problems that are proberly to due with heat. Just be glad its not a Xbox 360, theres a reason Apple have to water cool G5's over 2.5 GHz and Micro$oft put in one at 3.2 GHz.

Buy the MBP be happy, if you want get some wis kid to remove the MBP logo and put a powerbook logo in its place.

Yea I actually don't mind the heat at all. I get cold at night anyway and the heat is actually nice, heh.

Yea it's probably form factor related too, but I just love this thing. Beats the snot out of my old 15" pb. This think is greased lightning fast, especially the boot up and shut down times. Just amazing.

And really yea, the 360 is just crazy. They have aftermarket "intercoolers" that you can connect to the back that adds 3 fans to help pull more air through the box and keep it from melting. Granted it's not an intercooler, since it doesn't use liquid, but still. That's not something somebody should have to buy to make the product work.

 

[Alan_Arkin]

Having just gone through the experience of having my Macbook Pro replaced 4 times, I can definitely say that certain things, such as the heat and the whine, vary from revision to revision -- though getting a later revision doesn't seem to be any guarantee. The second Macbook Pro I got suffered from bad VRAM which caused the screen to get all screwy. That one had an W8612 serial number. I am pretty sure the CPU whine was noticable on that one. They replaced it with an W8610, which had the worst whine and, worse, was alarmingly hot. I understand that laptops do run hot, but this one really seemed hotter than the previous two and hotter than it should have been. So it was not all that surprising to find logic board errors on the hardware test. They replaced it with the latest serial numbered model they had in the store, again a W8612. This one does not have the whine, near as I can tell, and my ears have grown pretty sensitive to it. It also is appreciably cooler than the prior model I had.

But when I brought up the whine at the store, they said that it hasn't been eliminated by later revisions and all Macbook Pros have it to some degree.

 

[count chocula]

If you want to complain about your MacBook getting heated, you should try using a three-year old Dell Inspiron 5100 - the model that the heatsink was attached the wrong way around - to really experience a notebook that gets at hot as the sun.

he's right, i'm using one as my main computer and its just terrible. does yours shut off all the time cuz it gets so hot? mine does, way too often.

 

[sirius1722]

Are there MBPs out whose serial numbers start with W8710?

I ask because I am buying a MBP from someone and asked him what the first five chars of the serial were and I dont think I've heard of the serial numbers going that high before. Typo?

 

[chosenwolf]

Are there MBPs out whose serial numbers start with W8710?

I ask because I am buying a MBP from someone and asked him what the first five chars of the serial were and I dont think I've heard of the serial numbers going that high before. Typo?

Mine does and I can tell you that it's at Apple repair right now. The whine is there and very high pitched along with major heat issues.

 

[calebjohnston]

I've heard that the MBP's get hotter than the PB's, and that is insane. I'd definitely recommend an iMac unless you absolutely need a laptop.

 

[milo]

Go out and get one. My advice - buy it from an Apple store so if you run into any problems you can go and return it (if there is a valid issue with the MBP they will waive the restocking fee).

Bad advice. Many of the things like the noise and heat aren't considered valid issues. You may be unhappy with the box, but they still won't take it back without a restocking fee.

 

[Codemonkey]

I've heard that the MBP's get hotter than the PB's, and that is insane. I'd definitely recommend an iMac unless you absolutely need a laptop.

I'm confused why "that's insane"... enlighten me - if it's a faster chip, doesn't it stand to reason that it should generate more heat?

 

[wonga1127]

I'm confused why "that's insane"... enlighten me - if it's a faster chip, doesn't it stand to reason that it should generate more heat?

G4's were faster than Pentium 4's, but Pentiums make tons of heat.

 

[Codemonkey]

G4's were faster than Pentium 4's, but Pentiums make tons of heat.

I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and say a) running the same OS and b) that your comparison is more of a current:current comparison, and I'm looking for a current:nextgen comparison.

 

[Gurutech]

G4's were faster than Pentium 4's, but Pentiums make tons of heat.

Well, I think now that Intel pretty much agrees that their netburst architecture was failure (Prescott...)

Anyway, MBP is a lot faster than decade old G4 chips ( ok i'm exaggerating too much here.. but oh well, the speed is definitely lot faster in UB version programs)

So it's kinda understandalbe that it runs hotter....

What I like to have as an option is variable speed control of the cooling fans inside MBP.

There are some occassions that I'd rather want to sacrifice silence for better cooling.

Also, I'm wondering why Apple doesn't tell people how to detect the temperature sensors built in MBP.
Perhaps Apple is afraid that people will get shocked by seeing their beloved MBPs' crazy temperature..

 

[Scratchbc]

I wouldnt worry about the heat issue. I have a pre rev-c MBP (made in the 8th week not 10th or 11th SN W86086) and I have barly noticed the heat. I fly often and always keep the computer on my lap. I am always comfortable. I also dont have any of the issues with the screen whining. If you have the money go out and get one or wait for the soon to be releaced Mac Book.

Remember if you are just getting the computer for bootcamp a PC an be purchased much cheaper.

 

[generik]

Will the upcoming MBPs running on the Merom processor run cooler? Jeez, I really expected them to fix the whine issue by now...