I apologise if this is the wrong place to post this...I currently have a 5 year old Powerbook G4 (512 RAM 667 MHz) which is pretty quickly going senile. Have decided to pick up a new MacBook pro. I can't decide which of the two 15 inch options to go for. I'm not bothered about the HD size, but was wondering how much real difference the 2.2 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz and also the 128 and 256 SDRAM would actually make? I will use it mainly for (admittedly non-professional!) graphics work and some audio stuff. I'd be really grateful if anyone could help and give any advice and also let me know if there are any other differences between the two that I should be aware of. Thanks very much in advance!
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Which 15" Macbook Pro to buy?!
- Thread starter Drexler
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considering you have held onto your current powerbook for 5 years, i would highly recommend you go with the upper mbp with the 2.4 proc and the 256vram. this is the one i picked up and i plan on keeping it for quite awhile.
i reckon the extra .2GHz won't make much (if any) difference, but the extra 128 MB VRAM might. If you hate buying new machines, get the best your money can buy.
The higher spec one would be the better long-term investment. In the short term, I wouldn't have thought the difference in the VRAM would make too too much difference (from what you outlined you'll be using it for), but you might be thankful in the future that you got it.
The difference between the two is not really noticeable for most tasks. It only matters for stuff that uses a lot of cpu power (realtime things mostly) or that uses a lot of 3D textures (games, but only if you want to play at highest settings).
In five years time (if that's important to you) these differences won't matter one bit anymore. Imagine choosing between an 800MHz and a 900MHz cpu now...
EDIT: on the other hand, the price difference spread over 5 years is going to be pretty small as well, so you may as well go for the best one.
In five years time (if that's important to you) these differences won't matter one bit anymore. Imagine choosing between an 800MHz and a 900MHz cpu now...
EDIT: on the other hand, the price difference spread over 5 years is going to be pretty small as well, so you may as well go for the best one.
I personally got the low end mac. For the $425 you save (once you factor in the 160 gig hard drive that the low end -doesn't- have) I think its a way better deal. But as the others before me have said, if you plan on holding on to it for a while, it may be better for you to get the high end 15 inch-er.
Thanks for all the replies! Yeah, I don't know if I will wait 5 years again before upgrading - just the way it's panned out this time. I don't play any games on my mac (except for a bit of Monkey Island
from time to time), so I don't think that would mke too much difference. Money is kind of an issue though - blimey, lots to think about! Can anyone give a simple explanation of the difference between the 128 SDRAM and the 256? I've looked but can't find one that I can really understand! Technoprat that I am!
I'll see what the store people say tomorrow as well! Thanks again!
from time to time), so I don't think that would mke too much difference. Money is kind of an issue though - blimey, lots to think about! Can anyone give a simple explanation of the difference between the 128 SDRAM and the 256? I've looked but can't find one that I can really understand! Technoprat that I am!I'll see what the store people say tomorrow as well! Thanks again!
Thanks for all the replies! Yeah, I don't know if I will wait 5 years again before upgrading - just the way it's panned out this time. I don't play any games on my mac (except for a bit of Monkey Island
I'll see what the store people say tomorrow as well! Thanks again!
another reason why i went with 256 is because i have read from other more technical users who expressed the fact that the OSX GUI loves video memory. you know how you can minimize a quicktime movie into the dock and you can actually continue to watch it? more and more stuff like that will become available as OSX continues to evolve. get the most video memory you can get; your gonna need it.