MacBook Pro CPU, GPU, Hard Drive Specs Bumped
by Andrew Cunningham on October 24, 2011 9:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Apple
- MacBook Pro
- Laptops
Apple has very quietly bumped the specs on its Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro lineup ahead of the holiday shopping season - all models see small clock speed bumps (0.1 GHz in the 13" and 0.2 GHz in the 15" and 17" models), while the 13" models get bigger hard drives and the 15" and 17" models get a GPU upgrade. Base prices remain the same for all configurations - see the updated spec table below for details.
| Late 2011 MacBook Pro Lineup | |||||||
| 13-inch (low end) | 13-inch (high end) | 15-inch (low end) | 15-inch (high end) | 17-inch | |||
| Dimensions | 0.95 H x 12.78 W x 8.94 D | 0.95 H x 12.78 W x 8.94 D | 0.95 H x 14.35 W x 9.82 D | 0.95 H x 14.35 W x 9.82 D | 0.98 H x 15.47 W x 10.51 D | ||
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 5.6 lbs (2.54 kg) | 5.6 lbs (2.54 kg) | 6.6 lbs (2.99 kg) | ||
| CPU | 2.4 GHz dual-core Core i5 | 2.8 GHz dual-core Core i7 | 2.2 GHz quad-core Core i7 | 2.4 GHz quad-core Core i7 | 2.4 GHz quad-core Core i7 | ||
| GPU | Intel HD 3000 Graphics | Intel HD 3000 Graphics | Intel HD 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6750M (512MB) | Intel HD 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6770M (1GB) | Intel HD 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6770M (1GB) | ||
| RAM | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (8GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (8GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (8GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (8GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (8GB max) | ||
| HDD | 500GB 5400 RPM | 750GB 5400 RPM | 500GB 5400 RPM | 750GB 5400 RPM | 750GB 5400 RPM | ||
| Display Resolution | 1280x800 | 1280x800 | 1440x900 (1680x1050 optional) | 1440x900 (1680x1050 optional) | 1920x1200 | ||
| Ports | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 2x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, combined audio in/out jack | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 2x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, combined audio in/out jack | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 2x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, separate audio in/out jacks | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 2x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, separate audio in/out jacks | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 3x USB 2.0, separate audio in/out jacks, ExpressCard 34 slot | ||
| Price | $1,199 | $1,499 | $1,799 | $2,199 | $2,499 | ||
The refresh also replaces the AMD Radeon HD 6750M in the high-end 15" and the 17" MacBook Pros with the 6770M, which has the same number of shaders but faster core and memory clock speeds (Notebookcheck.net says that the core/memory speeds are 725MHz and 1600MHz, compared to the 600MHz and 900MHz of the 6750M, though Apple's clocks may differ slightly). The 256MB 6490M in the low-end 15" configuration has now been replaced with the 6750M, as well.
Those looking for a more substantial upgrade to the lineup will likely have to wait until next year, when in all likelihood the laptops will receive Intel's forthcoming Ivy Bridge CPUs and chipsets.
Source: Apple
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soliozuz - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
He's just making an obvious but a certainly the most important point that the article failed to mention. Those prices are ludicrous even for someone who is even remotely considering buying a MacBook Pro would feel taken advantage of.Here's why, for what you would pay for in the 15" high-end Mac, you can get a:
HP DV6T Quad-Core with a much better configuration and even if you are an only-Mac OSX user, you can buy the software separately and still save over $500.
dcaxax - Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - link
Or he could, you know... Express his opinion as is his RIGHT and which is the purpose of this forum. And you could STFU and don't read it or reply to him. Who is holding a gun to your head to be here?ananduser - Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - link
What a stinkin' attitude you have there... at least provide some arguments instead of your "STFU" comment.dacramer - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
Still, there is something to be said about customer service with pricing.Just because its good financial practice to charge what the market bears, does not make it good customer service.
drgigolo - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
The GPU bump is actually worth something here. The old GPU was hardly worth having in the system on account of it already having HD3000 onboard.These things are expensive, but they also obviously, aren´t targeted at you.
I get really tired of people comparing specs vs. price vs. PC on macs. People who want a Mac will get a Mac. Don`t like Macs and their price premium and quality? Don`t buy one.
inplainview - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Exactlyquiksilvr - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Going from a 6750 to a 6770 (the low and high 15") is NOT worth something.And they aren't targeted at me. They are targeted at uninformed and/or delusional consumers that think just because something is made out of aluminum it means its worth 2-3x the price of PC alternatives. These laptops have very poor heat distribution and inadequate vents. The batteries are not powerful enough to run the system at 100%; you need to plug in the ac adapter in order to get 100%.
This isn't quality. This is cutting corners in all the wrong places. Give me a well ventilated plastic laptop with a full sized battery and ac adapter.
And if you want quality and not plastic, get a Vaio or an Envy.
sigmatau - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Bingo! If the Apple lemmings don't like people pointing out the several flaws of their computers then they can go elsewhere! Who the hell are they to tell anyone to stfu or go away? Arrogant twits.The 6770 is not a high end graphics solution. Nvidia should have been used here with their superior Optimis (sp?) technology. A minimum of a 560m should have been included in a Macbook Pro.
LOL at people telling us that "People who want a Mac will get a Mac." It makes me wonder why almost all of them then turn around and load Windows 7 on them. That's an extra $200+ on top of their shiny, underwhelming paper weight.
FITCamaro - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
The 6750 may not be the highest end chip but it is quick to be sure. I run The Old Republic beta on this laptop.name99 - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
"t makes me wonder why almost all of them then turn around and load Windows 7 on them. That's an extra $200+ on top of their shiny, underwhelming paper weight."Proof for this claim? I call bullshit.