You still get an Intel HD 3000 GPU (12 EUs) but the max turbo moves from 1.3GHz down to 1.2GHz. If for whatever reason you're comparing to an early 2011 2.2GHz model, you'll see a slight regression in CPU bound performance. If you didn't have a 2.2GHz early 2011 15-inch MacBook Pro, these differences likely don't mean anything. The two, three and four core turbo limits are also down by 200MHz compared to what they were in early 2011. It was 3.3GHz on the 2720, but now it's 3.1GHz. What's the difference between the two? Not a whole lot. The original 2.2GHz option was a Core i7 2720QM. Be warned, this isn't the same 2.2GHz model that was available as an upgrade earlier this year though.Ī quick run of Cinebench points out that the 2.2GHz i7 in our system may be a Core i7 2675QM. The $1799 configuration goes from a 2.0GHz i7 to a 2.2GHz model. Just as before the 15-inch MacBook Pro is only available with a quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU (codename Sandy Bridge). System pricing hasn't changed, but CPU speeds have all gone up. We'll start with the CPU, the lesser updated chip in the new MacBook Pro. As the Mac business is a relatively mature one, we can expect a slower pace of chassis and design upgrades compared to the iPhone/iPad businesses for example. The focus of Apple's late 2011 update, despite rumors to the contrary, was on the silicon inside the platform. As this is still a fairly minor upgrade, be sure to read our original review of the platform for a deeper dive into all of the aspects of the system. We got our hands on the new base 15-inch MacBook Pro configuration, which received one of the more substantial upgrades over the previous model. Late last month, Apple updated its 2011 MacBook Pro lineup - likely the first and last update before Apple adopts Ivy Bridge in Q2 next year. With the exception of lackluster Quick Sync adoption by Apple and obviously limited GPU options, I have very few major complaints. It's this very combination that I've been using, partially since the introduction of the Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro earlier this year (the Thunderbolt Display didn't arrive until later). Apple gets the mobile revolution in more ways than one, and its MacBook Pro/ Thunderbolt Display combo is the perfect example of that. Only using quad-core CPUs on the 15 and 17-inch models, and offering an optional Thunderbolt Display that can act as a modern day dock makes this platform, particularly the 15-inch model, the perfect candidate for users who want the power and flexibility of a desktop with the portability of a notebook. The early 2011 MacBook Pro is honestly Apple's best effort to date.

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