MacBook Pro 15inch

There's currently two versions of the 15inch MacBook Pro;

• one with a 2.2GHz CPU, 120GB HDD and 128MB GeForce 8600m GT card
• one with a 2.4GHz CPU, 160GB HDD and 256MB GeForce 8600m GT card

I also saw on a retailer's site that the lower end 15inch MBP has a lower resolution screen (1280x800 compared to 1440x900) however it doesn't say that on Apple's site so I don't know if it's just a typo on the retailers site or what.

So my question is, how much of an improvement is the extra 0.2GHz and 128MB video memory really? In Australia there is about a $600 difference and I'm wondering if it's really worth it. Thanks.

 

Personally, I'd go with the higher end one. If you're going to get a laptop then you might as well go with the most you can afford, especially since you cannot upgrade the video card. But it really depends on what you're using it for. If you're going to be using stuff like final cut or any 3D rendering software, or even play games, go with the higher one. If you're just going to be using it for internet or tasks that are not GPU intensive, there really is no point in getting a more powerful Mac.

 

The extra 0.2 GHz won't make much of a difference at all... but the extra 128 MB of VRAM might make a difference - it really depends on what you plan on doing with your MBP. If you plan on gaming... it'll make a difference. Otherwise, save your $600 and spend it on extra RAM or a bigger hard drive!

 

It's a misprint. Both have a resolution of 1400x900.

 

Yes, that is a typo. Both 15.4-inch MBPs have 1440x900 resolution.

The extra 0.2 GHz is not significant, but as AuroraS pointed out, the extra 128 MB of VRAM will, depending your tasks. What kind of graphics intensive applications (games, for example) do you plan to run?

 

I will probably be playing stuff like HL2 and CS: Source. Any idea what kind of Framerate you get in HL2 at native res on the 15inch MBP? I might also do a little video/photo editing too.

 

i have the basic mbp i've playing a lot of TF2 at native res and high setting w/ 0 lag...just my experience

 

I've got the 2.2ghz MBP, I ran the CS:Source stresstest @ Max settings @ 1440x900 and got around 160fps. Plenty I should think.

 

Thats awesome. Thanks corz422 and Revolution, I think I will save that $600 and just get the 2.2GHz MBP. Cheers

 

I did the same thing (went with the 2.2GHz version), and Bioshock plays very smoothly on the Vista side.

 

I was going to get the better version, full blown, but decided to build a PC for crysis, and got the low end, and it performs wonderfully. Definitely worth saving the money, and get 2 2gig ram sticks from newegg.

 

I think that 128M will work in most of time, unless you do something like 3d design.

 

You can play Crysis with only 128mb of VRAM? What fps are you getting, and I assume settings are on low? Just curious, because I was thinking of getting Crysis but was worried about 256mb not being enough, but if you can play it, then I should have nothing to worry about.

 

Me? Play Crysis on the Macbook Pro? No, I built a PC, with an 8800GTX 768MB

 

Oh sorry, I must have misread

 

The 8600 is a great card, but Crysis is insanely demanding, if you want to play the game, it should work, but if you want to understand what all the hype is about you need to go with Alienware/Sager and get SLI in a laptop or a get a Desktop

 

Crysis? You need NASA computers to play that well!

 

Yea you can play crysis on the 128 mbp. I played it and beat it. I was running on medium/low settings, and i got around 25-35fps on 1280x720. Game still looked really good, and played perfectly fine.

Although I saw someone else with the same 128mb 8600, and it ran like crap on their computer, probably 12fps. So could be a driver thing.

 

I've written previously about gaming performance of the 2.2ghz MBP here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2639460#post2639460

From my usage, it is great at gaming, just don't expect to be gaming @ 1440x900 in recent games too often, as you will run out of VRAM. But it will run recent games at fairly high settings fairly well.

 

Cool, thanks for all the feedback guys. One last question. What OS comes with the current MBPs? Is it Tiger or Leopard?

 

Leopard comes in all new MBPs. If you got one that was boxed a month or so back, it'll come with Tiger and a Leopard install disc.

 

All the Macs sold after the Leopard launch in October either has Leopard pre-installed, or will have Tiger pre-installed and have Leopard Install Discs in the box. Since its already been nearly two months, almost all the Macs should have Leopard pre-installed by now.