tbMBP 13" i5 or i7 16GB RAM for large excel files?

[mac_monkey]

Hello guys,
I just bought a 13-inch tbMBP with 16GB Ram and 512GB SSD and the i7 processor. I wanted the basic i5 processor but all apple stores just had the 512gb/16gb models with the i7 processor available.
Now I'm trying to find arguments for the i7 processor. Is the 3,3GHz i7 far superior for large excel spreadsheets? Is there any reasonable use case for the i7?

Thanks a lot in advance
mac_monkey

 

[Precursor]

Excel 2016 still uses single core on Mac OS unfortunately, so there's not much difference between my 12" rMB and 15" tbMBP on 10k+ lines in excel.

Though if u're gonna use Bootcamp or Parallel windows still go for i7, it is superior in excel

 

[keviig]

i7 is pointless, it's just a clock speed bump (expect a little over 5% performance boost compared to the i5 in max CPU load tasks). If you need more CPU performance, get the quad core 15".
16gb RAM might be helpful though.

 

[mac_monkey]

Okay. I'm gonna use Bootcamp a lot. But if the performance boost is just that small, I'm thinking of switching to the base i5.
Is the lowest 15" performance wise worth the higher price? I have to pay 130€ more for an upgrade to the 15" 512gb/16gb 2,6GHz i7. Is the 2,6ghz i7 quad-core good enough, even for programs using only single-core?

Thanks guys!

 

[SteveJUAE]

I doubt you would see a major difference in MAC Excel as I understand it only uses one core your more likely to see a bigger difference using Windows10 version where Excel should use all the cores and hyperthreading on the I7

But I would test it out to be sure depending what your Excel sheets are doing

 

[keviig]

Okay. I'm gonna use Bootcamp a lot. But if the performance boost is just that small, I'm thinking of switching to the base i5.
Is the lowest 15" performance wise worth the higher price? I have to pay 130€ more for an upgrade to the 15" 512gb/16gb 2,6GHz i7. Is the 2,6ghz i7 quad-core good enough, even for programs using only single-core?

Thanks guys!

The base 2.6 15" has a single core turbo boost speed of 3.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz for the i7 13".
Source: https://ark.intel.com/products/88967/Intel-Core-i7-6700HQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_50-GHz

It's toe to toe in single core, but absolutely smashes it for multi core loads. I'd definitely put in the extra 130. You get a dedicated GPU, better processor, 50% bigger battery and a bigger screen. Not bad value at all in the world of Apple.

The 15" also appears more "zippy" to me. I've had the 13" i5 tbMBP and the 15" tbMBP side by side at home. It's not something you'd notice if you only used the 13", but everything seems to react that little bit faster, making it a joy to use.

 

[mac_monkey]

The base 2.6 15" has a single core turbo boost speed of 3.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz for the i7 13".
Source: https://ark.intel.com/products/88967/Intel-Core-i7-6700HQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_50-GHz

It's toe to toe in single core, but absolutely smashes it for multi core loads. I'd definitely put in the extra 130. You get a dedicated GPU, better processor, 50% bigger battery and a bigger screen. Not bad value at all in the world of Apple.

I was thinking the same but am worried about the portability of the 15". I just can't decide if the 13" is too small or just perfect

 

[keviig]

I was thinking the same but am worried about the portability of the 15". I just can't decide if the 13" is too small or just perfect

The new 15" isn't that big. But I can see it getting annoying if you travel a lot with it The 13" is tiny now! But I'd stick with the i5 for the 13"

 

[Precursor]

Having to work with excel with 20 tabs and 10k+ lines and many pivot tables, I'd also suggest getting the 15" quad core
Save yourself the frustration of watching a beachball every time you update a cell, if you work heavily on excel like I do

 

[mac_monkey]

The new 15" isn't that big. But I can see it getting annoying if you travel a lot with it The 13" is tiny now! But I'd stick with the i5 for the 13"

Ok, thank you very much for your help. I'm going to order the 15" and return my 13" if the size is no problem for me.

Have a nice day @keviig and @Precursor !

Oh, sorry guys. I got another quick question. Is there a big difference between the 15" 2,6GHz and the 2,7GHz models? It's the price difference between those two models of 230€ just for the better dGPU justified?

Thanks!

 

[SteveJUAE]

You can switch the cores off and get a good feel how better Excel is running under Bootcamp with and without hyperthreading and of course the 15" Quad core will be simulating 8 so should be even better whatever you choose I7 should be preferable

dGPU should make little difference as you should have screen updating switched off during complex operations but otherwise a yes

 

[robvas]

If I was looking for the ultimate performance in Excel I would run it on Windows

 

[SteveJUAE]

If I was looking for the ultimate performance in Excel I would run it on Windows

Agreed. I have never used Parallels but as your using shared resources in the VM bootcamp would seem preferable for the OP to avoid any loses that been paid to gain in the first instance

 

[mac_monkey]

If I was looking for the ultimate performance in Excel I would run it on Windows

Yes, that's my plan.