Choosing a MacBook Pro Retina Configuration (IMPORTANT!)

2012-06-20 • SEND FEEDBACK •
Related: laptop, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Macs, memory

Key considerations

All comments as of the June 2012 release date.

Don’t buy one without thinking through these key points:

• Memory is not upgradable. It is unwise to order any model with the 8GB memory option; get 16GB no matter what, because the MacBook Pro Retina cannot be upgraded later.
• While the 2.3 GHz CPU is still quite fast, the maximum drive size is 256GB, so that rules it out for anyone needing more internal storage. CPU is not upgradable.
• The 2.7 GHz (vs 2.6 GHz) CPU option is very expensive for the marginal speed increase it provides*. If budget is a consideration, save that money, or use it to upgrade the memory to 16GB, or storage to a larger size.
• Storage probably will be upgradeable (e.g., via OWC SSD).

Recommended config for photographers

Easy: 16GB memory, 2.6 GHz, 512GB storage.

Upgrade to 2.7 GHz and 768GB storage if appropriate for your needs.

Recommended config for videographers

16GB memory, 2.7 GHz, 768GB storage.

The 2.7 GHz CPU option

The 2.7 GHz CPU option adds a < 4% increase in clock speed along with an 8MB on-chip cache vs 6MB.

In most cases, this will be a barely-noticeable difference. Users with any budget limits are far better off putting that money into 16GB memory and/or more storage.

Configuration options

The Retina display models are 15" screen only. Configurations include:

• 2.3 GHz / 8GB or 16GB / 256GB
• 2.6 GHz / 8GB or 16GB / 512GB or 768GB.
• 2.7 GHz / 8GB or 16GB / 512GB or 768GB.

Be sure to get the 16GB memory option, as the MBP Retina cannot upgrade its memory.

The 2.3 GHz model would be fine for speed, but the 256GB flash is very limiting for many photographers.