macbook: 2.16 core duo vs 2.33 core 2 duo

[numrologst]

How much of a difference are we talking here in these 2 models??

I really want the maxxed out big boy... The 17" 2.33 w/ 3 gigs of ram. But we know this goes for $3000

On the other hand I can get a 15" 2.16 w/2 gigs of ram... But it's the regular core duo. It also has applecare already. My friend will sell it to me for $1750...

So now we are talking almost double the price.

What do you guys think? Is the difference in these 2 models HUGE?

Is the difference worth $1250 for me.

I tend to think not, but of course I am a gearslut, so i think with my slutty mind.

Let me know what you guys think

[numrologst]

this won't be my main computer either.

This will be 50% for personal use... 50% for mobile and location recording...

I'll still be doing my big sessions in the studio on my desktop... But outside the studio, I will be using this for tracking mainly. 96k sessions always.

I don't do too much mixing itb, but I am going to be on the road more in the the next months to a year, so I might be doing some mixing on it too. But nothing too intensive.

And I will be using a raptor for my audio drive, via esata express card.

[tsvisser]

I use the 17" C2D, but for tracking, both machines should be relatively equivelant... the important thing is that you are addressing the main bottleneck, the drive system.

C2D at 2.33 vs CD 2.16 will probably run at about the same temp, with the C2D 2.33 running slightly faster. you'd probably notice the difference running benchmarks and a stopwatch, but not likely really notice a day to day operational speed difference.

just be aware that there were some build problems with early CD machines - so check it out before purchasing.

nice advantage of the 15" is its portability and more options for hardshell cases, etc...

[numrologst]

thanks for the reply... Can you elaborate on the build problems?

[tsvisser]

the main thing i recall was problems with heat - some of the units seemed to have either a problem with the motherboard or with the thermal compound used to couple the processor to the heat sink. the other problem, which also seemed to be motherboard related was extraneous noises... some sort of whine and "moo" sound. i remember following reports of these problems, because it was right when i was thinking buying a new computer and ended up waiting long enough for the C2D refresh to come out.

[zaczac]

I'm using the 2.16ghz with 2gig, and have been running 16 channels at 48k smoothly (digital performer). How many channels are you going to need for portable work?

[numrologst]

are you saying tracking 16 channels at 48k, or just 16 in all?

I need to be able to track 24 tracks at 96k...

As far as mixing goes... I don't do any final mixes on the go or anything... Those get done at the studio... But I may be away from the studio for 3 month periods, so I am going to need to be able to process 48 tracks at 96k w. a medium plugin content.

I do also travel with a dual 2.2ghz pc that is racked...I have never come close to maxxing out that computer.

I figure if the macbook pro can perform similar to my dual 2.2 pc, then I will be in the clear.

But I work exclusively at 88.2 or 96k.


Also, I guess the other option is the 2.16ghz core 2 duo, which i can probably find a good deal on ebay.

I just get really anal when it comes time to pick out a computer... Because every computer I have ever bought, i have always wondered what would have happened if I just got the one step faster processor.

But as always, if I am just pulling hairs, then I'll roll with the cheaper way

[numrologst]

okay so the core duo is out of the question. I'll just buy a new one.

So, now what do you say?

The 2.16 vs the 2.33 vs. the 17" 2.33?

I would guess the 15" 2.33 or the 17" 2.33 would be the way to go

[neilio]

check out amazon, sometimes you can find brand new one with a couple of hundred knocked off the price

or, if you know anyone in college they can get the student discount with is usually a coupla hundred off...

[numrologst]

My girlfriend is in school, she could get me the discount.

That's a great idea that I totally forgot about... Applecare is also much cheaper...

But I guess the main question is what can i expect out of it?

I am not a computer expert, but it seems that the core 2 duo, should be somewhat comparable to an athlon 64 x2.

I have a dual 2.2 amd pc that I run nuendo on and I can roll 100+ tracks on it without plugins...

So, I would think that I could run at least 50 tracks at 96k w. plugins...

But I could be assuming wrong.

The only difference would be pci vs firewire interface, but I don't think that would make a big difference as far as playback performance goes...

[mrbowes]

I wouldn't consider the impact of 2.16 vs 2.33. I would only upgrade to the 2.33 if the price difference was $100 or less.

Make sure you get a fast hard drive (7200 RPM) and plenty of memory (2GB or more). These two factors will impact your performance significantly. The processor will not be the bottleneck.

[Spectacle]

The direct comparison on the Apple website has the 2.33 Core2Duo as about 35-45% more powerful than the 2.16 CoreDuo. And for Logic, we're talking about a 240 reverb plugs at once vs. 165. That's a pretty major increase in power/performance.

Here's the link:
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/intel.html

I love my 2.33 Core2Duo. And get the 15", NOT the 17". The bigger one is just a little too big to be truly portable. If you need more screen real estate when you're at home or in the studio, get a cheap external display. This way, you can get your new MBPro for only $2344, and you have a truly portable laptop with no sacrifice in power.

How's that for splitting the difference between your two options?

[numrologst]

Originally Posted by Spectacle

How's that for splitting the difference between your two options?

I like that idea. I have a 42" lcd in the studio. And it doesn't support the higher resolution in the 17"...

SO it seems like the 2.16 15" will be quite nice for me... I will upgrade the ram too

Does anyone know about this ram from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2GB-DDR2-RAM-MEM...QQcmdZViewItem

Seems like people have tons of good things to say about it.

Also how's the video card difference... I don't do much video... But from time to time, i do video's for our website and a few other things...

Oh and I will also be using a raptor for my audio record drive via esata

[tsvisser]

Originally Posted by Spectacle

The direct comparison on the Apple website has the 2.33 Core2Duo as about 35-45% more powerful than the 2.16 CoreDuo. And for Logic, we're talking about a 240 reverb plugs at once vs. 165. That's a pretty major increase in power/performance.

Here's the link:
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/intel.html

I love my 2.33 Core2Duo. And get the 15", NOT the 17". The bigger one is just a little too big to be truly portable. If you need more screen real estate when you're at home or in the studio, get a cheap external display. This way, you can get your new MBPro for only $2344, and you have a truly portable laptop with no sacrifice in power.

How's that for splitting the difference between your two options?

however, the 35-45% difference is only theoretic based on processor behavior - this will not translate directly to application performance.

i have the 17" C2D, only because i use this machine away from my desk more often than not, but on the desk is a 30" WUXGA - which of course the 15" would be just as competent. look at the physical specs of the 17" vs 15"... its not a big difference. they are both the same thickness.... if they both fit in your bag or attache, whats the difference regarding the length/width anyways?

[Spectacle]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

however, the 35-45% difference is only theoretic based on processor behavior - this will not translate directly to application performance.

i have the 17" C2D, only because i use this machine away from my desk more often than not, but on the desk is a 30" WUXGA - which of course the 15" would be just as competent. look at the physical specs of the 17" vs 15"... its not a big difference. they are both the same thickness.... if they both fit in your bag or attache, whats the difference regarding the length/width anyways?

I say again: Logic performance difference between 2.33 C2D and 2.16 CD = 240 reverb plug-ins vs. 165. This is a real world, application-based 45% increase in performance.

I know a few people who have had both a CoreDuo and a Core2Duo and it definitely is a major upgrade, particularly when you are talking about the move from any of the CoreDuo models to the C2D 2.33.

And again, the 15" is the way to go for your case (or anyone other than those who simply love that 17" size in a laptop -- and the 15" is big enough for me even away from the external display, on anything I'm doing away from home). You pay for that 17" screen with an extra 1.2 pounds of weight, and another inch one way by an extra inch and a half another. It doesn't seem like much, but this makes it just big enough to not fit in a number of places, and to require a bigger bag than the standard school-sized backpack. Trust me, I tried all this out when I was looking for myself. Plus, the 15" is cheaper, which was a concern you stated at the outset.

Summary: buy the 15" Core 2 Duo new, don't buy the one from your friend. The difference is well worth it.*

*also, so you know, your friend's Core Duo won't have a FW800 port.

[numrologst]

thanks for the info guys... The 15" c2d it is for me...

What do you guys say about the ram situation? Seems like that ram should be okay, but Ive never heard of it

[adamcal]

I recently went away on tour with my 17" MBP and also took a 15" as a back up, the difference in "portability" is nothing much, both still have to be in a laptop bag, and as I had 2 bags the same, buy the time you also put in power supplies/mice and whatever I didnt really know which was which until I opened them.

of course the 17" screen is much nicer to work with.

[zaczac]

Originally Posted by numrologst

are you saying tracking 16 channels at 48k, or just 16 in all?

Sorry just got back online. 16 channels at 48k. Haven't tried at 96k yet so I don't think I can offer any more info.