Advice on MacBook pro

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JaseNZ

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#243102 26-Nov-2018 19:23

Sooooo after a long run with windows (currently using a surface pro 4) I am changing over to apple and am looking at the following macbook pro.

Apple 15" Macbook Pro (2018 - Space Grey) Touch Bar 2.2GHz 6 core(8th Gen.Intel i7) Turbo boost up to 4.1Ghz 16GB Ram 256GB SSD- Radeon Pro 555 X with 4GB Memory

It would be my daily driver and be going to and from work. Nothing I do is graphics intensive and just your main stream office and stuff.

Question is would it be worth spending the little extra on getting the Radeon Pro 560 or would the 555 x be just fine.

It's a big step for me and I know its a pretty hefty price tag I just want to make sure I am getting something to last me the next at least 3 years.

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#2134901 26-Nov-2018 20:28

I recommend getting the 560 version if you need 512GB of storage.

Remember you can't upgrade the storage later.

If you don't need the extra storage then just stick to the base 15" model.

kiwigander

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#2134906 26-Nov-2018 21:13

You can upgrade storage later. I speak from experience, having upgraded my late 2014 MBP from a 256 GB SSD to a 1 TB SSD. Upgrades are available from Other World Computing (owc.com). The procedure is surprisingly easy.

That being said, if you reckon that you are going to want more than 256 GB of storage within the next couple of years, why not get it now and save yourself a surgical procedure.

gehenna

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#2134907 26-Nov-2018 21:26

kiwigander:

You can upgrade storage later.

Nope, models after 2016 have SSD baked into the logic board. Not user upgradeable.

re: GPU - I've had the 2016 MBP and 2017 Touch Bar MBP, both with stock GPU. I never ran into any issues with performance. I don't run games on my Mac's, but I do some basic photo editing and video (transcoding and encoding from time to time). Never had any performance worries with the stock GPU. I also run a Windows 10 VM most of the day for work, and it's always been super quick to use both Windows and MacOS at the same time.

If your use case is similar, you'll be fine with the stock GPU. If you want to play games, or do intensive graphics type activities, go with the upgraded GPU.

antoniosk

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#2134920 26-Nov-2018 21:48

gehenna:

kiwigander:

You can upgrade storage later.

Nope, models after 2016 have SSD baked into the logic board. Not user upgradeable.

re: GPU - I've had the 2016 MBP and 2017 Touch Bar MBP, both with stock GPU. I never ran into any issues with performance. I don't run games on my Mac's, but I do some basic photo editing and video (transcoding and encoding from time to time). Never had any performance worries with the stock GPU. I also run a Windows 10 VM most of the day for work, and it's always been super quick to use both Windows and MacOS at the same time.

If your use case is similar, you'll be fine with the stock GPU. If you want to play games, or do intensive graphics type activities, go with the upgraded GPU.

I agree; get as much ram and storage you can, you WILL regret it later and for a current model absolutely NOTHING can be user upgraded.

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JaseNZ

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#2134923 26-Nov-2018 21:58

Yeah won't be gaming on it , My surface pro is a 256gb version and has 130gb free.

I think for the amount its going to cost me I might as well spend the extra couple of hundred and get the 512gb model. Happy to stay with stock gpu by the looks of it.

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kiwigander

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#2134932 26-Nov-2018 22:23

gehenna:

kiwigander:

You can upgrade storage later.

Nope, models after 2016 have SSD baked into the logic board. Not user upgradeable.

Ouch! My erroneous assumption. And thank you for the warning.

lxsw20

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#2134941 26-Nov-2018 23:03

Considered refurbished from Apple? I just got a referb of the 2018 with 512gb drive, and 560x.

The only difference I can see is the box isn't as flash, they still are packaged and look brand new. This was to replace my 2013 referb thats had zero issues. Same warranty, can still put Apple Care on it....I personally don't see any down sides to their referb stuff.

https://www.apple.com/nz/shop/refurbished/mac/15-inch-macbook-pro

That is a mix of MacBook Pro from 2016/17/18, so make sure you pick one with the 6 core processor to get a 2018.

I daily drive a 2016 for work, and the keyboard is much nicer on the 2018 IMO.

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JaseNZ

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#2135012 27-Nov-2018 08:45

lxsw20:

Considered refurbished from Apple? I just got a referb of the 2018 with 512gb drive, and 560x.

The only difference I can see is the box isn't as flash, they still are packaged and look brand new. This was to replace my 2013 referb thats had zero issues. Same warranty, can still put Apple Care on it....I personally don't see any down sides to their referb stuff.

https://www.apple.com/nz/shop/refurbished/mac/15-inch-macbook-pro

That is a mix of MacBook Pro from 2016/17/18, so make sure you pick one with the 6 core processor to get a 2018.

I daily drive a 2016 for work, and the keyboard is much nicer on the 2018 IMO.

Great idea for the same price as I was looking for the 256gb I can get the 500gb and if it has already had an issue then its been resolved.

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JaseNZ

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#2135013 27-Nov-2018 08:49

Just to make sure I am right this is the exact 2018 model except been refurbished ??

As this is what I would look at getting

https://www.apple.com/nz/shop/product/FR942X/A/Refurbished-154-inch-MacBook-Pro-26GHz-6-core-Intel-Core-i7-with-Retina-display-Space-Gray?fnode=b74dfecc73d5e5ce8602a4c163fb15207798f9c7ec9221635773dd04c2f1cdae3902a6fa2d22d26edbc50a0efad227905263aebe8f11cfb833aa4d0a04f55224a7ec4b6d75221973f0c1f9aa538db488

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gehenna

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#2135014 27-Nov-2018 08:49

Refurbs have always been a great option. They are basically new, as the faulty part is replaced and the device goes through a rigorous QA before it can be sold again. I've bought 3 or 4 refurbs over the years and never had an issue with them. They also come with the same standard 12 month AppleCare, which can be extended to 3 years by buying the AppleCare Protection Plan - if you so choose. Not necessary in NZ given the CGA but it does expedite and simplify things.

SpartanVXL

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#2135018 27-Nov-2018 08:58

Just be aware you'll almost never get 4.1GHz boost clocks. If you're lucky maybe 3.4-3.6, they run hot and and will throttle to keep themselves cool.

JaseNZ

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#2135022 27-Nov-2018 09:05

SpartanVXL: Just be aware you'll almost never get 4.1GHz boost clocks. If you're lucky maybe 3.4-3.6, they run hot and and will throttle to keep themselves cool.

Not to worried about that as won't be doing anything to intensive.

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