2.26GHz/2GB vs 2.53GHz/4GB for 13" MBP?

I will be replacing whatever MBP I get after 2 years no matter what. I already have a Windows desktop that I'm thinking of getting a new video card for (possibly 4850 HD).

Basically, I already have a 3 year old 15" Toshiba notebook, but it's getting increasingly cumbersome to carry around. I'd assume a 15" Macbook Pro would be similar, so I won't even consider it. I'll be using the new notebook for schoolwork, programming, photo editing, and possibly a little bit of light gaming (though I'd probably save the gaming for home with the desktop). I'm kind of curious how big of a difference 2.26GHz/2GB and 2.53GHz/4GB would make in the tasks that I do.

Couple of examples:
Schoolwork - Typing up essays with Office for Mac 2008
Photo Editing - editing 12 megapixel photographs from my D90
Graphics - Designing logos in Illustrator or Photoshop CS4
Light Gaming - CS:S, Unreal Tournament, and Team Fortress 2. I wouldn't mind turning down the graphics settings if necessary, since majority of gaming would be done in my desktop.

Any suggestions on which one to get? Will picking one over another make that large of a difference?

 

I would get 2.53/4GB combo. Photoshop and games will benefit from a faster CPU + more RAM.


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I've been having the same issue deciding between the two. After reading up on it for hours into the past few nights I decided to go with the 2.26. The .27ghz is essentially what you are paying for. The ram and hard drive can be purchased for under $200 (unless going more than 4bg and ssd). So is the $150+ worth it for the .27....well from what I've read it will almost be negligible. In fact from what I understand if you went with the 2.26, put in 4gb ram, and went with a 500gb WD Scorpio Blue drive it would generally be faster than the base 2.53 model and end up saving the $150 or more.

I ended up sending back my macbook for ~$1600. I've decided that I would spend the money on the 2.26 (~$1200 with student discount and tax). Then I spent the other $400 getting 4gb (2x2gb) crucial ram, a western digital 500gb scorpio blue drive, a HP (2159m) 21 inch monitor, a keyboard and a mini dp > dvi cable. Ended up spending slightly over $400 but it came out to be around the same give or take $20-30. Got it all from amazon with free shipping (aside from the macbook and dvi cable).

Of course the difference between the models is $300, but you don't account the keyboard or monitor into the equation like I did.

Heres some links
Ram
HDD
Monitor
Keyboard

 

agreed. buy parts aftermarket to save big $$.

 

I just went through this and decided to get the 13 inch MBP 2.26 and used the extra cash for applecare. I had 4GB of PC8500 from my Sony Z and I also installed my Intel X25 160GB SSD, along with bootcamp and Windows 7 RC1.

So far all works well and things are snappy.

 

May I ask, does this argument apply to the iMac's as well (desktop chips)?

Thanks

 

Generally, if it doesn't void a warranty and its user upgradable....it's better to buy your own and diy to save money and sometimes get better performance on top.

 

Sure, you can do aftermarket upgrades for the RAM and HDD, but how much of a boost will the 2.53 processor provide over the 2.26? I'd assume that, like with virtually all laptops, the processor is non-upgradable.

 

You mean with virtually every laptops, the processor is upgradable, right?
E.g. almost every dell laptop's processor can be upgraded
E.g. Almost every HP laptop's processor can be ugpraded
...etc

 

I'm not an expert or anything but I gathered tons of info reading this and macrumor forums... apparently the difference between a 2.53 and a 2.26 will only ever be noticed when doing high processor required apps (like video rendering)....and the difference would be for example: the 2.53 would take 15 seconds to render something...the 2.26 would take 13 seconds.

It's all very minute for every day tasks. Like I said before I've been reading that the 2.26 with the scorpio blue hard drive would actually out perform the 2.53 with stock hard drive.

If you really want to see the biggest difference get a solid state drive. Something like 40% faster than the standard hdds. Getting the 2.26 also gives you another $300 towards that SSD if you went this route.

Since you said you will be upgrading in 2 years I would really just go with the 2.26 and buy the 4gb ram and extra hard drive if you need extra space.

If I were in your position where you have a dedicated desktop and know that I would be upgrading in 2 years. I would go with the 2.26, buy the 4gb crucial ram for ~$60 and then get a 128gb SSD for ~$250. You'll end up paying the same and the SSD will turn your macbook into a beast.

 

Wait, people can do that in their own houses without voiding warranties? This is news to me...

 

I believe it voids warranty. But if you are doing a CPU upgrade you would just send it back to apple and they would do it....if they actually do CPU upgrades that is.

 

It'll void your warranty in most cases. But it's definetly possible and easily upgrade the cpu in a laptop. In some cases, it's easier to upgrade the processor in a laptop than a desktop as long as you have the right tools.

 

I would take the 2.26GHZ model, the savings are huge if you look at the performance differences, very minor imo.

The dollar savings if you drop in a 128SSD for $300, you can out-perform the 2.53GHZ model easily on disk I/O intensive tasks with greater margin than just the 0.23GHZ difference.