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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
MacBook Pro 2.3 GHz vs 2.7GHZ
Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 7:20 PM on 05.06.11 |
->> is it worth the extra $$
13" MacBook Pro - 2.3GHz
2.3GHz Intel Core i5 (dual-core)
4GB DDR3 memory | 320GB hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 3000
7 hours wireless web
Ships: Usually ships the same business day
List Price: $1,199.00
You Save: $59.17(5%)
Final Price: $1,139.83
13" MacBook Pro - 2.7GHz
2.7GHz Intel Core i7 (dual-core)
4GB DDR3 memory | 500GB hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 3000
7 hours wireless web
Ships: Usually ships the same business day
List Price: $1,499.00
You Save: $74.01(5%)
Final Price: $1,424.99 |
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Jim Colburn, Photographer, Photo Editor
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 8:12 PM on 05.06.11 |
->> I believe that you'll get more bang-for-the-buck if you up the RAM (buy it from www.crucial.com and install it yourself if you can handle a screwdriver and are not a total idiot) from 4Gb to 8Gb as both chips are dual core and there isn't a huge gain in clock speed.
A faster spinning hard drive (7200rpm vs 5400prm) will be better as well. |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 8:17 PM on 05.06.11 |
->> Hi Debra,
THe i7 is worth the extra money since the hyper-threading in the chip adds two more virtual core, essentially making the computer a quad core computer. i7's are perfect for performing many processor intensive tasks such video encoding and other data crunching.
My intern was able to have a San Diego based Apple Store price match to the Micro Center Website (microcenter.com). This brings the 13' i5 2.3GHZ to $999. The 13" 2.7GHz goes down to $1399.99.
Good Luck. |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 8:42 PM on 05.06.11 |
->> Debra,
If you don't need the processing power, you can purchase the 2.3ghz i5, and use the $400 price difference to purchase an SSD and an 8GB RAM upgrade.
www.macsales.com has great products. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:18 PM on 05.06.11 |
->> not sure if I will need the processing power. It will be used to get images out FAST, sometimes opening RAW files. On average I would say 20-30 images but sometimes it may be more. I have been using an older PowerBook and a "Hackintosh" which I have been very happy with but just need something a little faster. So, I am not sure about the 5400 vs the 7200, although I always believe in buying the best so I can grow into it, and not out of it
As far as anything do it yourself with a computer, i won't even try that-I am bound to do something wrong. Loading software is about the extent of my computer knowledge :) |
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Keith Simonian, Photographer
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Martinez | CA | USA | Posted: 12:36 AM on 05.07.11 |
->> Debra,
Over the past year I've run a Photoshop CPU benchmark speed test on my blog. You can view the results of all the reader submitted tests times in this post.
http://tiny.cc/photoshop-benchmark
At the very bottom of the post you can view the results of overclocking on a single machine to get a better idea of how increased CPU times effect the results.
The test times will give you a general idea on how a faster CPU will perform CPU intensive tasks. Most things that go on in Photoshop don't
really tax the CPU for a great deal of time.
Not sure if any of the CPUs Apple puts in the MacBook Pro have Intel's turbo boost feature, but that certainly adds more bang for your buck. |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 5:18 PM on 05.07.11 |
->> Debra, since you're upgrading from a Powerbook and a Hackintosh, the 2.3 GHZ and the 2.7 GHZ will both do fine for your needs. The 2.7 GHZ will have a little more longevity.
Get the 8GB of RAM that Jim mentioned and a little down the line purchase the SSD. I assure you both those installs are easy and you won't screw it up. If you have the patience to make a Hackintosh, you'll excel at the install of RAM and SSD. |
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Steve King, Photographer
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Ann Arbor | MI | USA | Posted: 8:12 PM on 05.07.11 |
->> Debra,
I will second the extra RAM and better speed on the hard drive option that Jim recommended, it makes a difference.
I had that i7 version of the MacBook Pro and the extra RAM helped a lot. I just got the new generation of the MacBook with quadcore 2.2Ghz and the same RAM and faster disk, 7200 RPM and its even faster too.
I'm sure you're a PPA member, so talk to someone at the Mac Store and they'll give you an additional discount due to that membership. Every little bit helps. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:20 PM on 05.07.11 |
| ->> what is the advantage of the SSD over the regular drive? |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 12:32 AM on 05.08.11 |
->> SSD's aren't as affected by shock, primarily. They also don't have as much delay between when the processor asks for a file and when it's delivered, making your computer much snappier.
I'd go with the i7 and the smaller hard drive and less ram, then upgrade it yourself when you need it as Jim suggested. RAM and drive space are much cheaper when you don't have to get it from Apple. |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 2:14 AM on 05.08.11 |
->> Snappier refers to boot up times in 28 seconds. Example >> (http://eshop.macsales.com/Video/SSD/Performance_Test)
Photoshop CS 5 opening in 4 seconds, Aperture in 3 seconds, among other programs.
Shutting down is equally as fast.
Power consumption is lower as well.
I'm running SSD's in my MacPro and MacBook. Both are very quick and both from OWC. |
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Steve King, Photographer
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Ann Arbor | MI | USA | Posted: 6:46 PM on 05.09.11 |
| ->> SSDs (solid state disk) are as close as RAM as you can get, regular disks have to spin to find the data stored on them. They will also fail much more often (but still last for many years) due to that mechanical technology. If you want the speed of RAM then go with SSD, that is if you have the cash to afford them too. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:26 PM on 05.11.11 |
| ->> IM now leaning toward the Mac Air with the SSD |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 10:53 PM on 05.11.11 |
| ->> If you decide to order a Macbook Air, Make sure to buy the one with the most ram (4GB is the max). It is not upgradable since the chips are soldered on. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:10 PM on 05.11.11 |
| ->> IM looking at 4 gigs of RAM and will most likely get the 13 inch with the 256 gb SSD. Will have to see the size difference but since I don't plan on keeping images on it, the 11 inch may work too. The deciding factor will be the weight and space in my bag-will the larger one fit. Will definitely max out the ram at 4 gigs |
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David Honl, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 11:48 PM on 05.11.11 |
| ->> I'm using an 11" MacBook Air with 4gb ram in Afghanistan right now and the weight and size savings is a real plus. Running Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5. I am shooting all RAW. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 1:09 AM on 05.12.11 |
->> David...do you like it? Love it? regret buying it? Or would you buy it again?
I would be running Photo Mechanic, CS5, opening RAW and most likely would never need to get more than 50 images out right away.
Do you have the SSD version? |
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David Honl, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 8:00 PM on 05.12.11 |
| ->> It's working great for me, no regrets at all. SSD isn't available on the Airs- they have flash storage, but same concept. |
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