New 15-inch MacBook Pro: The difference is inside

TipsMake.com - The most prominent feature of the new MacBook Pro line is the new Core i5 and i7 chips, improved graphics and high-definition video chat.

The first point can be immediately stated: Apple's new MacBook Pro laptops, released last month and almost lost in rumors surrounding the launch of iPad 2, do not use the line. Sandy Bridge chip failed.

If you are a technology lover, you may still remember that in early January, Intel discovered a small flaw in Cougar Point chipsets that was part of the latest Core processor line. Intel stopped manufacturing, acknowledged the problem, and began repairing the chip in late February.

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Since then, notebook buyers - especially those interested in chip technology - have wondered if any of the first microprocessors were included in Apple's latest MacBook Pro. or not?

Now, when you don't have to worry about that, we can turn our attention to what the new MacBook Pro is, in which the most notable is the Core i5 and i7 quadcore processors. 15-inch and 17-inch models and dual-core chips in 13-inch models, an integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics processor (with separate AMD Radeon graphics chip in high-end models, some of which provide kit) 1GB RAM video memory) and perhaps most notable is the new high-speed I / O technology that Apple and Intel call Thunderbolt (formerly known as Light Peak).

It also has a new webcam, still placed on the black surround border around the screen, allowing you to make 720p high-definition video chat - using FaceTime.

In other words, almost all changes in the new MacBook Pro are inside. The latest generation MacBook Pro looks no different from previous versions: the unibody aluminum case, the black chicklet key with white letters, an LED-backlit screen with extremely high brightness, and still a host of familiar peripheral ports: Two USB ports, Thunderbolt ports as mentioned above (replacing Mini DisplayPort) and an SDXC memory card slot (17 inch solider version also includes an ExpressCard / 34 slot).

Obviously, Apple is more focused on functionality, instead of formality in this launch, but we still hope that the next generation will be thinner and more stylish like the MacBook Air in the fall. last year.

The current line

The configuration is extremely high, but the price of these two new MacBook Pro models is not cheap either. It has a 2.2GHz quad core Core i7 processor, although this speed varies depending on what you're doing. It also has an Intel graphics chip integrated with AMD Radeon HD discrete graphics processor 6750M for more intense work. You don't need to switch between these two integrations, the MacBook Pro will do it depending on what you're doing, such as surfing the web or playing a game that requires high graphics. It also comes with a slow hard drive (5,400 rpm) but 750 GB high storage capacity.

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The price for this model is $ 2,199, more than $ 400 compared to the 15-inch model with a slightly slower speed, and $ 300 less than the most expensive MacBook Pro model with a similar configuration to the screen. 17 inches. The current 17-inch model is priced at $ 2,499, more than $ 200 compared to the previous 17-inch model - a sign that Apple thinks the recession is actually over, at least for those who want to own it. a 17 inch MacBook Pro.

In addition, the product line features a 13-inch model for $ 1,199 with a 2.3GHz Core i5 dual-core chip, integrated graphics processor and a 320GB hard drive - which means there's a wide range of products. The MacBook Pro fits in different pockets.

All MacBook Pro models come with 4GB of RAM, although you can double up to 8GB for $ 200, and you can really turn your laptop into a 'monster' when changing hard drives. usually into an SSD.

Sandy Bridge

In the past, when the battle of MHz took place drastically, 5 or 10 years ago, users would be very proud to have a new computer with the latest and fastest chips. But the emergence of dual core processors, then quad core makes comparing chips on Mhz base is more difficult. This is why: You can handle data much faster with slow-speed multi-core processors.

For example, the Core i7 in the MacBook Pro usually runs at 2.2GHz if all four cores are active. But with Intel Turbo Boos technology, if only 2 cores are needed, those two cores will run at higher clock speeds. In this case, 3.3GHz. Four cores are 2.2GHz, two cores are 3.3GHz. That's why an i7 at 2.2GHz is much faster than the 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo processor in the old MacBook Pro.

However, there are more things to discuss with this new chip line, not just clock speed. The biggest advantage of this chip is that everything is integrated in one, integrated Intel graphics, memory controller and cache are integrated in the processor itself. That allows it to synthesize to work faster than many previous parts.

And Intel's Hyper-Threading technology also helps to speed things up further: It allows two jobs to be done simultaneously on four cores, essentially providing you with four actual processing cores and four processing cores. virtual. The computer will assume that it has eight cores, although in fact there are only four.

What this means? For everyday tasks like surfing the web, editing text and listening to iTunes, there won't be many occasions for them to show their speed. Browsing capability will still be limited by your Internet connection and browser. But if you're doing something like video encoding or audio format conversion, you'll see a big speed shock.

Thunderbolt

In the MacBook Pro improvements, the biggest change - the change that most users may not need or use immediately - is the application of Intel's Thunderbolt technology to connect peripherals. Think of Thunderbolt as a super-speed data transfer technology that most people haven't figured out how to use.

Thunderbolt basically works like USB on steroids (it's 20 times faster than USB 2.0, 12 times more than FireWire 800 and more than twice as much as USB 3.0) because it provides 10GB / s data transfer rate on both directions. It was a terrifying data transfer rate. And above all, you can connect a chain of peripheral devices to the same port, which means you can connect RAID technology, a digital camera, a high-definition screen and use them. At the same time without causing any effect. If you are constantly exposed to high-definition videos, this is really a useful technology for you.

Note: Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, which means you can plug in an external monitor and use the Mini Display Port, but will need a converter for other monitors if you want to use it.

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We were especially impressed by the words used to describe Thunderbolt at thunderbolt.com: " A Thunderbolt port with a data transfer rate of 10GB / s is enough to copy a DVD containing all your data in a few seconds, or backup on a full terabyte drive in minutes . and connect an LCD monitor with high resolution at the same time, while you're chatting with a high-definition Thunderbolt Webcame at resolution 1080 - and still have bandwidth to do some other things . '

But right now, not many MacBook Pro owners use those features. If you're working with videos, especially high-definition videos, and you want to be able to edit that video in the shortest time, Thunderbolt is the best solution for you. For the other person, it is still too early to say that it will quickly be useful for everyday tasks. In fact, it's not easy to find peripheral devices that use Thunderbolt so you can take advantage of its speed. For example, LaCie has a series of drives that support Thunderbolt - but it hasn't been released until this summer.

Apple's actions combined with technology and ignoring USB 3.0 are a bit risky. They are betting that their customers in the coming years will work more with things like high-definition video and find ways to transmit as much of their data in the shortest time possible. If they are right, Apple will go one step ahead of its competitors. If not, this could be a waste of technology with only a handful of users.

High definition FaceTime

What Apple promises to offer in the MacBook Pro includes a new integrated webcam. Apple has integrated webcams into its laptops for years, and increasing the camera's resolution is now a smart move. An encrypted hardware integration is part of an integrated graphics chip that makes HD videos have a basis to appear.

FaceTime, Apple's online conference application is doing very well: you can talk with friends in Brazil, as well as with colleagues and friends in the United States. The switch to high resolution, wide screen video - it displays at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, or 720p makes the experience become more and more realistic. The only problems are for both parties to chat in high definition, both must use a new MacBook Pro.

As you would expect, FaceTime on Mac integrates with FaceTime on iPad 2, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch, allowing you to make video chat with users of devices - as long as everyone has a connection on Wi- Fi. (Of course, you don't have to be on the same Wi-Fi network, but FaceTime chat over 3G networks hasn't been released yet, and it's never possible to meet the bandwidth requirements needed to make it work well.) ).

Facetime applications are available via the App Store Mac for 99 cents. The price is quite cheap if you use video chat a lot.

Performance and battery life

When announcing the new MacBook Pro, Apple stressed that the battery life is "up to 7 hours" after each charge. That number is less than the estimated battery life Apple uses to offer - not because of reduced battery life, but because Apple has changed the way it calculates battery drain. Apple is now based on what they call wireless Web testing using a script to mimic the way a laptop user will surf the web. It accesses the top 25 sites, views videos on them - including Flash videos - and performs searches. The same test applied to previous laptops also produced similar results, meaning you are getting significantly more experiences with new hardware without affecting battery life. .

For own battery testing, we downloaded and installed some recent Apple updates, transferred a 62.8MB movie to iMovie (then formatted it as 960-540-pixel movie), Use Safary to surf multiple websites, open iTunes and stream audio online (on W-Fi), and start evaluating. The MacBook Pro ran for 5 hours and 1 minute before the battery ran out - short of 2 hours compared to Apple's estimates, but that was very impressive.

Just like above, we tested using the same iMac-based Core i5 - the 2.66GHz version released at the end of 2009 - and found that the MacBook Pro and iMac performed tasks in the near future. identical. iMac formats movies in 1 minute and 5 seconds; The laptop needs another 9 seconds. (This process takes 2 minutes and 9 seconds on the old MacBook Pro.)

Next, we ran Xbench 1.3 for a quick benchmark test to compare this laptop with the old iMac and MacBook Pro. With different hardware configurations, it's not like a regular test: The new laptop has a slow 5400 rpm hard drive; The iMac has a 7,200-rpm hard drive and the old MacBook Pro has an SSD (which can lead to deviation in the final result because SDD is much faster).

The new MacBook Pro has unexpected results. It scored 218 points on Xbench - higher than expected, despite having slow hard drives. The old MacBook Pro scored 245 points, but its advantage comes from SSDs. For the iMac, it scored a score of 217, a lower score than the new MacBook Pro.

The new MacBook Pro also earned high marks in Macworld's battery benchmark tests.

Storage

As Xbench test results - and on the actual use - prove, the type and speed of computer storage devices make a big difference in the speed of completing basic tasks. CPU and graphics chip are only part of the equation.

The default drive in all MacBook Pro models is a 5,400 rpm hard drive. What is the advantage? Is it more storage space. As noted above, this laptop has three quarters of a terabyte of storage space for digital videos, media, files and projects. But if speed is something you care about, we'd recommend choosing drives with 7,200 rpm for 15-inch or 17-inch models.

You can still get a reasonable storage capacity - 500GB - and you'll notice the difference in daily use. And if you want fast speeds instead of large storage capacity, you may be blown away by the speed of an SSD.

However, there will be additional costs. SSDs are now much more popular than they were a few years ago, but still cost quite a bit for a really big capacity drive. A 128GB SSD will cost you an additional $ 100, a 256GB SSD is $ 500, and a 512GB SSD is $ 1,100 - not cheap.

Final

The latest generation of MacBook Pro laptops will be a solid step forward for Apple to turn its Mac line of products into a popular one. They are well-designed, solid, reliable, feature-rich with leading-edge technologies.

Sandy Bridge processors offer superior speeds compared to previous models, with the best improvements in battery life. The upgraded graphics system helps you optimize complex graphics tasks such as playing games or watching high-definition videos, and the appearance of Thunderbolt technology provides an optimistic view of the future. I / O technology - if you can take advantage of it - the computer in your hand will be a smart investment.