Old Gen Macbook Pro - Opinions?

I am looking to purchase a Macbook Pro, but I found a previous-generation one which has peaked my interest (it's a good price).

The one I am looking at is the 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo, 256MB X1600 GDDR3, 15", 100GB model. It's not Santa Rosa, but I am wondering how it stacks up to the current-gen ones?

This one is significantly cheaper than the newer models, and I am basically comparing it to the current 2.2Ghz/128MB 8600M GT one. My question is: how do the processors and video cards stack up to each other? I know the 8600M GT was a big improvement, but the X1600 has 256mb dedicated and apparently that's useful when you're running at 1440x900 (which I intend to do).

Will I be able to play current games at medium-high settings on 1440x900 with the X1600?

 

Gaming at 1440x900...hmm...hard to say. But if you don't mind not having the LED-backlit screen and 8600M GT in the Santa Rosa MBP, then yes, get this one, it is much cheaper but not that less powerful.

 

hi sam !

What sort of games will you be playing? I don't think you 'll be able to play many new games on high settings, but probably med i would say, you might have to play it on 1280.

 

I think the video card is better, even if it has 128MB.

 

Yup, 8600mGT is much better than the X1600, higher video mem only helps when running games/apps at high res.

 

1) Is LED-backlighting that effective?

2) Also, assuming I'm gaming at 1440x900, how much better is the 128MB 8600M GT?

3) Lastly, is the iSight camera the same in both models?

 

1) LED-backlighting is brighter, save battery life, and doesn't dim over time as normal screens do

2) 8600mGT GDDR3 (the one in the MBP) is nearly (very close) to the Mobility Radeon X1800XT in terms of performance.

3) i dont know i am not a MAC user

 

I think if the price difference is great enough, there's no reason not to get it. It'll save you some money, and you'll be able to put that away for the next next gen MBP.

Yes, the iSight camera is the same on both computers.

 

I don't think there is a significant performance leap from the x1600 256 to the 8600 in DirectX 9 games. Gaming industry isn't going to be shifting to DX10 for quiet some time anyway. Processor is almost the same...2.33 compared to 2.4 is not really an upgrade.

I'll tell you that I can play most games at relatively medium high to high settings at 1440x900 and even run a 24" external display to play games at medium high settings on 1600x1200. WoW, AOE3, CS:S, etc...

 

ummm you might want to go over to the gaming forum and say that out loud...

 

Did you see Valve's stance on DX10? Did you notice that most gamers are still using XP?

read: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20070827225710.html

 

You are completely missing the point....it doesn't matter if its DX 9 or 10....the 8600GT in the MBP is a much better card by far...

As i said above, the 8600GT's Peformance is simililar to that of that X1800XT, may be you are trying to tell me that the X1600 performs similar to the X1800XT?

 

it basicaly comes down to this. If you are a hardcore gamer then the newer one is the one you should buy. It also depends what kind of games you want to play. if you want to play the newest games on decent settings, get the newer one.

If you arent a hardcore gamer, the older one will be fine. I have the 2.16 ghz version of that generation and it handles everything very well. I dont game so i cant comment on the gaming on the x1600.

The led screen is not all that much better in my opinion.

 

Well then don't quote the whole post next time. I've had no experience with the 8600GT. Have you?

 

It's not about experience, it's about numbers.

 

was the previous generation core duo or core 2 duo? core duo would be 32bit so no 4gb of ram for you......if that matters.....

 

Core 2 Duo. Anyway, this new one is better than the old one, that's for sure.

 

Yup! I have experience and numbers

 

How much price difference are we talking here? The LED backlight is nice and the 8600 is a better card. However, no laptop card, especially those in 15" and smaller laptops, is that great. DX 10 is a no go on either, the x1600 doesn't support it, and the desktop version of the 8600 supports it but chokes on it, so the notebook version would be worse.

If you are saving a load of money I would go with the older one. That was a $2500 notebook when it was released. I have the 2.16 and am very happy. If it is not too big a difference in price get the newer one. If you are a hardcore gamer, get a great desktop, stay away from notebooks.