New C2D Macbooks: cache size = performance?

krank · Post by **krank** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:33 am

I'm wondering if the 2.0GHz model is worth the extra cost. The 1GB RAM is nice, but I'm going to get 2GB eventually anyway. The higher processor speed is a marginal factor. 80GB HD and DVD R/W isn't that big a deal for me.

Cache might tip the scales if there's any link to performance with audio apps.

Input much appreciated.

djmyke · Post by **djmyke** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:55 am

if you own a macbook 1st gen ryt now....

scratch the itch.... no need to get one...

if youre coming from a ppc.... then go get one=)

stale bread · Post by **stale bread** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:44 pm

I'd like to know how significan't the cache upgrade is too

EvilEvilEvilEvilEvil · Post by **EvilEvilEvilEvilEvil** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:27 pm

yeah, i'm in the market too. it would be nice to know what the diffy is between the updated cache and the older, evil one.

djmyke · Post by **djmyke** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:50 am

EvilEvilEvilEvilEvil wrote:yeah, i'm in the market too. it would be nice to know what the diffy is between the updated cache and the older, evil one.

you can read lotsa reviews bout the c2d...

in my opinion.. if ever i hav the 1st gen mbp.... i wouldt bother to upgrade to the c2d....

id wait for leopard to be released ad get the future mbp releases next year.... maybe a quadcore.. =) that would be a nicer feeling...=)

krank · Post by **krank** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:52 pm

I spent hours googling this the other day - there's very little info available, since almost all tests involving the new Macbooks compare CoreDuo with Core2Duo.

The closest was a test by Anandtech (can't remember the link though) comparing the impact of 4mb vs. 2mb cache with similar C2D CPU speeds irt. different types of apps, yet no DAWs were included. The closest was iTunes, which showed performance increase of 9%. Other sources claimed a high L2 cache would be counterproductive in some cases.

I've gone ahead and ordered the 2.0GHz model anyway.

djmyke · Post by **djmyke** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:00 pm

yup go get the c2d=)

EgAD · Post by **EgAD** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:53 pm

qbical · Post by **qbical** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:27 pm

Cache is the memory closest to the CPU, so the more memory the more data can be stored near the CPU so, that means that the CPU can handle more data quicker.

So the more the better

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:34 pm

krank wrote:The closest was a test by Anandtech (can't remember the link though) comparing the impact of 4mb vs. 2mb cache with similar C2D CPU speeds irt. different types of apps, yet no DAWs were included. The closest was iTunes, which showed performance increase of 9%. Other sources claimed a high L2 cache would be counterproductive in some cases.

Link http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2795&p=4

10% for doing encoding (DivX). Not bad if you ask me.

corneliusw · Post by **corneliusw** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:32 pm

I've found a significant difference in performance between the two. In Live it ranges between 10% - 30% performance increase from the CoreDuo 2.0 to the Core2Duo 2.0. Not bad if you ask me. My recent live set would average at 45% of the CPU on my 2.0 CD Macbook. On my new Machine it hovers around 33%!

To top it off it gets nowhere near as hot and the battery seems to got that little bit longer and my Airport doesn't stop disconnecting!

drumroll57 · Post by **drumroll57** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:12 am

Just got one, and it feels really cool compared the the MacBook Pros I have tried.
The 2nd-gen laptops feel like pretty solid machines (so far). Just on the account that they don't seem to suffer from the random shutdown, I'd go with that and sell the old one...

D.

djmyke · Post by **djmyke** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:57 am

drumroll57 wrote:Just got one, and it feels really cool compared the the MacBook Pros I have tried.
The 2nd-gen laptops feel like pretty solid machines (so far). Just on the account that they don't seem to suffer from the random shutdown, I'd go with that and sell the old one...

D.

well pretty hard to sell it... considering the value drop of your current 1st gen...

i wouldnt sacrifice more than 200$-250$ price drop for the resale of my current machine for a new c2d...

unles you got deep pockets...=)

tricil · Post by **tricil** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:31 am

apple is doing a 101 dollar off sale on the macbooks today only at the apple store.

you can get this 1299 macbook tax-free, basically.

nfms · Post by **nfms** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:36 pm

getting my macbook today!

can't wait