Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo - 2.16 GHz or 2.33 GHz?

coolhandpete

Financially, I need to purchase the "best" machine for the money, figuring in (primarily) the time-to-obsolescence. I bought my Powerbook G4-800 in 2002, and it's just now getting a little slow for my taste. I'm amazed and elated that I've been able to use this computer for that long.



My question: what is the advantage of getting a 2.33 GHz Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo over a 2.16 GHz? I would get the same hard drive, and 2 GB RAM.



Seriously, is there any real difference? In terms of time until it becomes obsolete, will the extra .17 GHz extend its life? If not, then why the differential?



I'm glad to be getting back into the game again - you all were EXTREMELY helpful to me the first time around when I was researching TiBooks, and I'm grateful you're still here to help.



Best,

Peter

jeffdm

Usually the top end is the worst on bang-for-the-buck, go down a step or two and it's a lot better. It's because the people that absolutely need the best/fastest are the ones that are most likely to pay any price to get it, and the faster chips are often rarer because of the way chip fabrication and rating goes.



I don't think that little bit different in speed will help its service life. It only speeds up the main chip, everything else in the computer is the same speed. All the C2D models are very powerful, I don't think the extra few percent in speed would be noticed enough to make it worth the extra cost.

smax

I think the extra 128 MB of video RAM would help extend its life more than the extra CPU speed. What exactly are you going to be using this for?

kfdan

Anything having to do with video production, graphic design then go for the power and fast hard drive otherwise get a C2D one step down. As has been said, you won't notice the difference. High Definition editing requires at least a 2.3.3 CPU.