2.0ghz vs. 2.1ghz, 6x superdrive vs. 8x superdrive

I think I know the answer, but:

1) What's the speed difference between the old blackbook (2.0Ghz) and the new one (2.1Ghz)? Is it anything noticeable?

2) What about 6x superdrive vs. 8x superdrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)?

3) Let me put the question into a $$$ perspective: do you think those upgrades are worth an extra $250?

 

Not really. The 5% increase in CPU is barely noticeable, unless you run CPU intensive tasks all the time - and then you should consider something else than a Macbook anyways. The 2x increase in writing speed is welcome, but unless you burn a lot of disks I wouldn't really mind.

 

Forgot to add the hard rive options...blackbook comes standard with 160gb hard drive. Greater expandability up to 200GB for all models.

 

The increase in speed wont really be that noticeable unless you're running speed testing applications all the time. I have the 2.16 MBP, and it blazes through my matlab code like it was html. Honesty a 2.16ghz C2D will last you quite some time. It's rather future proof(e.g. it's got dual core technology for greater speed, and 64 bit capabilities for when leopard comes).
The big difference you'll see with the two processors is the chache. Going from a 2MB to 4MB cache is pretty big. It's not going to be anything astounding, but you will notice larger programs loading faster(it's basically like have a bit of hyper-speed memory right there in your processor).

As for the super drive. That you will notice. I wouldn't spend any extra money to get the 8x over the 6x, but it will be quite a noticeable difference. You could expect to see up to a 10 minute difference when burning full length DVDs.

 

That#s funny, cuz the refurbished macbook i had on sight was 2.0ghz but had 4mb cache with 6x writing speed.

 

The 2.0ghz should have a 4mb cache if it's a core2duo. The T7xxx's have the 4mb cache, and the 2.0ghz C2D is a T7200.

 

Somebody already mentioned, the 2GHz Core 2 Duo in the "previous" MacBook (the middle and black models) had 4MB of L2 cache. They were the T7200 models. It does make a pretty big difference over 2MB of cache when you're doing things like video encoding. The cache can be filled with all kinds of instructions to optimize and speed up the encoding process. More cache almost always means higher performance except in some occasions.

I know of the 2 Turion64 systems I had thanks to my "HP situation", the Turion ML-37 at 2GHz with 1MB of cache greatly outperformed the Turion MK-36 at 2GHz with 512KB of cache when it came to practical uses, like video and music encoding.

You'd see more of a performance increase going from the "previous" "base" MacBook (with no DVD burner) at 1.83GHz with 2MB of cache to the "previous" "middle" MacBook (white with DVD burner) at 2GHz with 4MB of cache than you would going from the model just mentioned to one of the "new" "middle" white and black MacBooks.

Oh and that statement about DVD burning speed is completely inaccurate too.

4x DVD burning takes around 15 minutes to burn a full 4.38GB disc. 6x takes around 10-12 minutes. 8x takes 8-10 minutes. The difference in speed is hardly noticeable.

If one can find a "previous generation" white MacBook new, or refurbished, and heavily discounted.... it'd be a MUCH better value than one of the new ones. I put a 160GB drive in my "previous" generation MacBook with 2GHz Core 2 Duo and 6x DVD writer and don't feel even a single ounce of jealousy towards those just buying a new one.

 

Whoops, sorry bout that. Guess I had a brain fart and was thinking T5xxx vs T7xxx. So, yeah I guess then that you won't notice that much difference, unless you're an extreme power user, in which case you'd probably be getting a mac pro.

Any I stand by what I said about the 6x vs 8x. My PC had an 8x DVD burner(Sony) and it took about 20 minutes to burn a complete DVD iso(using nero 7). I've done it once with the 6x super drive through Toast and it took around 28 minutes. Different DVD but only a couple MB difference in size.

 

Considering that $250 is a large % of the purchase price, not worth it.

6x v 8x is not much. I use a 20x external anyhow to save the built-in drive and for the speed.

Using the computer blindfolded, you could not tell the difference between 2.GHz and 2.16GHz.

In a render or a rip, the 2.16GHz would probably slightly faster, but not really worth it faster.

 

Sony hardware isn't exactly reliable.

But are you counting the time to VERIFY the disc after the burn? Verifying is optional and most people choose not to do it.

With my MacBook and 6x SuperDrive it takes roughly 12 minutes total to BURN the disc. If I verify the disc then that adds another 8 minutes on.

With my HP system that has an 8x DVD writer, it takes just over 9 minutes to burn the same disc when all is said and done and another 8 minutes to verify if I choose to do so.

8x DVD burning should ALWAYS be around 8-10 minutes with a healthy computer and DVD writer. Likewise, 6x should always be around 12-13 minutes and 4x should always be around 14-15 minutes.

 

Yes I always verify. Perhaps it was toast vs nero that had some effect on it, but the times have been pretty consistent so far.