Buying a MacBook Pro

Hey, I'm going to buy a MacBook Pro very soon, but I don't know which model to choose: the $1700 model or the $2000. In the $2000 model, I'll get the faster graphics card (9600M GT), a bigger HDD and a slightly faster processor, but it's still quite a lot to add $300. The most reason would be to get the better graphics card.

So, my real question, is the 9600M GT graphics card worth paying the extra money for?

Tags: card, graphics, mac, macbook, nvidia, pro

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Martyn McFarquhar on August 13, 2009 at 8:08am: Are you planning to play games or do anything intensive such as 3D modelling or large-batch photo processing? If not the 9400M is actually a very very capable chip. The difference would be negligible for most people apart from those doing 3D intensive tasks. If you want gaming get the dual-card machine, if not go with the standard 15".; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ulrik F. Damm on August 13, 2009 at 8:41am: I usually aren't playing really graphic intensive games, I am doing some 3D in Blender sometimes. And if Final Fantasy XIV is coming to Mac I'm going to get it, and the graphics in that game looks heavy...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Martyn McFarquhar on August 13, 2009 at 8:59am: I wouldn't hold out for FF XIV on the Mac, and with the $300 saving you could buy an Xbox 360 and get XIV on that now that it's been announced.

I also run Blender, and whilst I haven't done anything intensive it runs fine with the 9400M in my 13" MBP. I'd say the base-model 15" would be the better buy for your situation...but if that suggestion makes you feel a little unsure then spend the $300 extra just to be certain.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hector Bruce on September 20, 2009 at 9:36am: I'd say go with the $1700 model as you can spend the money you saved to buy a bigger HDD and install it yourself. Thats what i did with my entry model 13" MBP a couple of weeks ago. I do my photo work on the go with it (Photoshop/Bridge/Dreamweaver) and it seems to deal with it fine.

I'd say save your money as i don't think you'd notice the difference in processor speed and graphics card.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Menageryl on September 21, 2009 at 3:28am: ' I'd have to agree with everyone else's advice / opinions / thoughts so far - for the kind of usage you've described to us you would likely NEVER see any real difference worth the while...

' HOWEVER! I also have to add this caveat - which is advice I give to everyone and anyone making a laptop purchase: If you are unsure, and you DO HAVE the finances, you might want to seriously consider going with the more expensive and higher-specced machine... Remember that this is a laptop - she will ALWAYS be pretty much the way you get her initially - real upgrades etc. are just not possible like they are elsewhere. So the machine you buy today will have to keep you happy throughout it's useful life - think a little ahead to what you MIGHT do with it in the future too, instead of just your usage plans and patterns today. Buy with an eye to tomorrow, today.

~Menageryl; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Martyn McFarquhar on September 21, 2009 at 3:34am: +1

You could upgrade to 8GB RAM and an SSD in the future, these are the only real boosts you'll be able to give the machine.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by NiaNaia (Nia Bartolucci) on September 21, 2009 at 10:51am: What did you end up getting?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Canchola on October 7, 2009 at 3:58pm: I got the 17" MBP with the 500 GB, 7200 RPM HHD, and 8 GB of DDR 3 Ram. I went for the over powerful upgraded model to be able to stat a top performer longer as technology progresses. Also, with the discount you can get if you are a student, it really wasn't that bad. Personally, I felt that it was worth the money and the investment. I won't say that money wasn't tight while saving, and for a couple weeks after, but I've recovered form the hit and still loving my system. I game with my Mac, I render high end photos and graphics, I multi-task, and usually have tons of stuff open and running. I have had no complaints.

When it comes to advice, I usually will tell somebody that it is better to get more at the time of purchase, especially with the CPU since that cannot be upgraded once the system is built. In the end, your system will perform at the top of it's game longer, and have a better resale value when it comes time to sell it and buy your next MacBook Pro.

Now, with my gaming, I keep mine using the GT9400 GPU except for certain games that just look a bit better with the switch to the 9600. Call of Duty 4 is usually when I make the switch.

As more developers and programers make use of OpenCL, which allows programs that demand a lot from a CPU to send some of the processes over to the GPU to be processed allowing the GPU to act as a back-up CPU, then systems will run faster and better and do more.; ▶ Reply to This