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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finbarqs - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
The feel of a solid piece of aluminum is unrivaled. I have a MBP and an HP Envy and a 15" Dell XPS 15z to compare to. The Build quality, MBP easily bests all the other manufacturers. Is it worth it? probably not. I can't play starcraft on my 13" MBP, like I can on ly dell xps 15z and my hp envy 14.HP Envy 14 (non radiance screen) sitting next to the MBP is clearly a sign on how much the screen on the MBP is superior. I've yet to see the radiance screen, but they sure did not mess around when they constructed the MBP. Plus apple has the patented mag-safe connector, which stands out of the bunch.
If I want an end all be all laptop, I'd get the high end 15" MBP. Gaming, build quality, style is all there. The only thing I can't bring myself to gather is the funds. This is a personal decision, and I would rather spend the money on other things.
Goodness I wish they would push the 15" GPU in the 13", and my problems would be solved!
solipsism - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Did HP ever resolved the horrible trackpad drivers in the Envys? If so, how does it's large multitouch trackpad compare with Mac OS X on the MBP?Phanbot1 - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
As nice as the 15" MBP is, it'll never hold a candle to my Malibal Lotus P150HM.JarredWalton - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
"Hold a candle" in what way? Raw performance, sure. Battery life, build quality, keyboard layout? Clevo's P150HM won't win any awards in those areas, that's for certain. But yes, if you want performance Apple definitely isn't a great choice, particularly if you're going to run Win7.rscoot - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Are you sure they're 5400 RPM and not 7200 RPM?loox - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
YES. 5400RPM... but.. somehow on my Early 2011 MBP 15" (high-end, as we're calling them here) I was stumped on that spec... it was almost a dealbreaker for me.But, I bought in home a few months ago, ran a few benchmarks in OS X and Win7, and it performed *THE SAME* as a Momentus XT Hybrid that I installed in my Dell Studio a few months back.
I also game on it and I can confirm that the Hard Drive is not the bottleneck. It is also not a bottleneck when transcoding high def. video from one folder on the 5400 RPM drive to another folder on the same drive, as all CPU (or GPU, depending) cores are maxed.
I don't know how they did it, but drive performance is shockingly not an issue for me.
vision33r - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
If Anand gets to play or even own the most powerful Windows notebook and reviews them.Why is he using a Macbook? I think people that hate them have issues looking past the brand.
KoolAidMan1 - Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - link
Most people bashing Macs have an issue looking past the brand. There are legit gripes with the hardware, but there are legit gripes with hardware from any manufacturer. It's all about where your priorities lie. IMHO Macs get more things right than others in terms of laptops. Unfortunately most notebooks are garbage.Scubagee - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
I can't understand the hate the anti-Apple crowd have. I am not an idiot nor am I technically challenged. I have made a good living from IT, I remember the days when we had to manually manage memory in DOS. I have used many OSes both personally and professionally, including most flavours of Windows (desktop & server), Unix, Linux, OSx and even Warp OS2!No one tells me that I'm a moron because I have an Audi S4. Yes a Ford Focus can get me from A to B just the same, and it costs a lot less but I didn't want a Focus. I like my Audi and was willing to pay my money to get it. I have a nice house, filled with nice things. No one challenged my right to buy a harmon/kardon entertainment system when I can buy a no-name chinese DVD player for a few bucks.
The same choice applies to my personal computing requirements. I use a MBP, I researched it, I liked it so I spent my money on it. It does everything I need. Why should I be vilified because I made an educated, informed purchasing decision that may have differed from what someone else may have made.
People call us iSheep or snobs. I didn't but a Mac because I think it's cool. For god's sake I'm a professional geek...I have never been "cool". I don't look down my nose at people who buy other laptops, again the geek in me comes out and I like to have a play. I'm not evangelical about Apple products, if people ask for purchasing advice I listen to their requirements before making a recommendation.
Why should the buying decisions of others raise so many peoples' hackles? It's my money, why can't I spend it where I want without being challenged by others? I value design and aesthetics, I like the design of the MBP, maybe you don't, that's fine...feel free to spend your money on something else. But please, do not for one moment think that buying some cheaper model somehow makes you more intelligent or morally superior to me.
KoolAidMan1 - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
"Why should the buying decisions of others raise so many peoples' hackles? It's my money, why can't I spend it where I want without being challenged by others?"Because some users are insecure and hostile for some bizarre reason. No idea why.