Help choosing MacBook Pro?

[shadowr1ku]

Hello forum, 

 

I am familiar with how desktop performance work but not so much on laptops I am planning to get a mac for college (I already have a windows desktop gaming rig so I want to try something different ) and I just want to make sure I pick the right one. It's mainly going to be used for school in terms of notes, light video editing, light photo editing, and light gaming.

 

Now I guess what helps decide on which one I guess comes down to what games I play. I will only game on it very lightly (league of legends, left 4 dead 2) and I don't expect at all high graphical settings, just enough to have some smooth gameplay.

 

Thank you guys!

 

(PS. Sorry for another 'help me choose this thread', just want to make sure I don't get something thats overkill )

[Held657]

If you want any gpu performance you need a retina mac book. Best would be the 15" 2.5GHz Retina of course due to it's dedicated GPU. All other Mac Book Pros use integrated GPUs. But the Intel Iris Pro should be okay for light gaming on lower resolution, but don't expect much of it. If you really want to game here and then properly you need the 15" 2.5GHz Retina MacBook with the GT 750M. But I would highly recommend wating for the new MacBook coming at the end of this year if you want to go with the better 15", because the new one will most likely have the new Nvidia Maxwell mobile GPUs.

[shadowr1ku]

If you want any gpu performance you need a retina mac book. Best would be the 15" 2.5GHz Retina of course due to it's dedicated GPU. All other Mac Book Pros use integrated GPUs. But the Intel Iris Pro should be okay for light gaming on lower resolution, but don't expect much of it. If you really want to game here and then properly you need the 15" 2.5GHz Retina MacBook with the GT 750M. But I would highly recommend wating for the new MacBook coming at the end of this year if you want to go with the better 15", because the new one will most likely have the new Nvidia Maxwell mobile GPUs.

 

I heard that it won't get a refresh until Q2 of 2015? I probably heard wrong though haha. I mainly seen around on the web that this fall is mainly going to be about the iPhone and the wearables.

[EmotionalSloth]

I don't know about which exact model just make sure to spend the extra money on the new ones with the retina desplay, its amazing

[lufihengr]

If you want any gpu performance you need a retina mac book. Best would be the 15" 2.5GHz Retina of course due to it's dedicated GPU. All other Mac Book Pros use integrated GPUs. But the Intel Iris Pro should be okay for light gaming on lower resolution, but don't expect much of it. If you really want to game here and then properly you need the 15" 2.5GHz Retina MacBook with the GT 750M. But I would highly recommend wating for the new MacBook coming at the end of this year if you want to go with the better 15", because the new one will most likely have the new Nvidia Maxwell mobile GPUs.

 

I have played GMod and Dota 2 on my MBPR 13 inch at 1280x800 just fine. I know they are not very intensive but hey, the performance surprised me!

[Held657]

I heard that it won't get a refresh until Q2 of 2015? I probably heard wrong though haha. I mainly seen around on the web that this fall is mainly going to be about the iPhone and the wearables.

 

Yeah you're right. Q1 2014 it was said there would be a refresh with Maxwell Q3/Q4 2014. But it seems like they couldn't achive that. So there was just a "refresh" with slightly better CPUs and stuff. Maxwell will have to wait for Mid 2015. If you can wait that long it will probably be worth it. If not just get a current Retina one. 

 

Basically you only have to choose between the 2.5GHz 15" and the rest. It won't matter for light gaming if you have an i5 or i7, it really comes down to the dedicated GPU.

[Held657]

I have played GMod and Dota 2 on my MBPR 13 inch at 1280x800 just fine. I know they are not very intensive but hey, the performance surprised me!

 

Well what Mac Book Pro do you have?

[lufihengr]

I have played GMod and Dota 2 on my MBPR 13 inch at 1280x800 just fine. I know they are not very intensive but hey, the performance surprised me!

 

 

Well what Mac Book Pro do you have?

 

MacBook Pro Retina 13 inch. 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, i5-4258U ? Model number ME865

[zsanfusa]

save money, download linux.  Mac OS is just another *nix kernel.

[Held657]

MacBook Pro Retina 13 inch. 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, i5-4258U ? Model number ME865

 

It's not the current one of course (the refresh was yesterday if I got it right). But basically the same, only the CPU is clocked 200MHz lower. So like I said the Intel Iris Pro GPU (like in you mac book) is good for light gaming in lower resolutions (like 1280x800). For anything more you need the 15" 2.5GHz with the dedicated GPU.

[shadowr1ku]

It's not the current one of course (the refresh was yesterday if I got it right). But basically the same, only the CPU is clocked 200MHz lower. So like I said the Intel Iris Pro GPU (like in you mac book) is good for light gaming in lower resolutions (like 1280x800). For anything more you need the 15" 2.5GHz with the dedicated GPU.

 

 

I have played GMod and Dota 2 on my MBPR 13 inch at 1280x800 just fine. I know they are not very intensive but hey, the performance surprised me!

 

I was trying to see if going the one before the dedicated GPU would pass by, but I am doubtful myself as well Hence why I asked here!

[lufihengr]

It's not the current one of course (the refresh was yesterday if I got it right). But basically the same, only the CPU is clocked 200MHz lower. So like I said the Intel Iris Pro GPU (like in you mac book) is good for light gaming in lower resolutions (like 1280x800). For anything more you need the 15" 2.5GHz with the dedicated GPU.

 

Yes, this is the Late 2013 model

[Held657]

I was trying to see if going the one before the dedicated GPU would pass by, but I am doubtful myself as well Hence why I asked here!

 

It really depends on what you expect to game and on what settings. The Iris Pro version will be fine for everything on low/med settings @ 800p. Here take a look at this benchmarks: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6993/intel-iris-pro-5200-graphics-review-core-i74950hq-tested/6

 

The GT 750M will perform A LOT better though.

[mattias1172]

Although i don't have much against apple (iPhone user 4 life), with the amount your going to be spending, i think i have to agree with zsanfusa in getting a windows computer and putting linux on it (if you still wanna try something different).  You will get the perfomance your looking for, and its kinda like having a jailbroken osx.  I recommend the msi gs60 ghost pro series or the gs70 stealth pro series.  I've heard good and bad reviews on the razor 2014 as well.  If you have to get a macbook, you will need the high end 15' pro with the dedicated gpu if you really wanna do any gaming.  I had a macbook pro for 5 years before replacing it with the msi gs70 stealth pro.  Its been amazing so far (have not ventured into linux with it though, might soon, 8.1 sucks...) 

[shadowr1ku]

Although i don't have much against apple (iPhone user 4 life), with the amount your going to be spending, i think i have to agree with zsanfusa in getting a windows computer and putting linux on it (if you still wanna try something different).  You will get the perfomance your looking for, and its kinda like having a jailbroken osx.  I recommend the msi gs60 ghost pro series or the gs70 stealth pro series.  I've heard good and bad reviews on the razor 2014 as well.  If you have to get a macbook, you will need the high end 15' pro with the dedicated gpu if you really wanna do any gaming.  I had a macbook pro for 5 years before replacing it with the msi gs70 stealth pro.  Its been amazing so far (have not ventured into linux with it though, might soon, 8.1 sucks...) 

 

Yeah I never tried linux before either, and I guess the only reason Mac is in my scope is because they offer education pricing/financing directly from their website is what I mean.

[ZacDaMan72]

I heard that it won't get a refresh until Q2 of 2015? I probably heard wrong though haha. I mainly seen around on the web that this fall is mainly going to be about the iPhone and the wearables.

There has very recently been a new update: http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook-pro?aid=www-k2-macbook%C2%A0pro+retina+-+index-n%40p&cp=k2-macbook%C2%A0pro+retina+-n%40p 

 

If you're gaming, you'll have to pay out of your ass to get the 15" with a 750M but if you're going to do very light gaming, the 13" Retina would be fine. I'd recommend the 13" Retina with the 256GB SSD + AppleCare. AppleCare is basically a better warranty than the standard one (which is still okay), but also check with your insurance company to see of your plan covers the MacBook. 

[davidvu396]

There is also an external GPU solution you know... 

Needs a bit of work though. Then pack a 780Ti in that. All is well.

Thunderbolt is there for a reason.