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New Retina MacBook Pro Processor Bumps Offer Minor 3-5% Performance Improvements

Friday February 22, 2013 6:41 am PST by Eric Slivka
Following last week's introduction of new processors for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Primate Labs has analyzed benchmarks coming in from the new machines through the company's popular Geekbench 2 software.

Unsurprisingly, the benchmarks reveal a roughly 3-5% increase in Geekbench scores for each of the processor bumps. For the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Apple bumped each of the three available processors by 100 MHz, accounting for the minor benchmark improvements.

geekbench_retina_mbp_early_2013_15
One thing to note is that the new mid-range Retina MacBook Pro has the same speed processor as the old high-end Retina MacBook Pro. However, the new mid-range model is slightly slower than the old high-end model. While this seems surprising at first, the difference is easily explained by comparing the two processors: the old high-end processor has more cache than the new mid-range processor.
For the 13-inch lineup, the 100 MHz speed bumps were limited to machines based on the high-end stock configuration starting at 256 GB of storage, with those machines also seeing a 3-5% improvement in Geekbench scores.
geekbench_retina_mbp_early_2013_13
Aside from the processor improvements for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Apple also reduced pricing on the 13-inch models by $200-$300, increased RAM on the high-end 15-inch stock configuration, and reduced pricing on storage options.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Don't Buy)
[ 63 comments ]


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barkmonster
81 months ago

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.


But they're a computer company first and a gadget company second, it's just the gadgets are available for far less than a Mac and sell in far higher quantity. They've been offering very slim laptops with decent enough specs for quite some years before the Windows Ultrabook/Google Chromebook systems came out to "try" and compete with them and only beat them on cost.
Rating: 15 Votes
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barkmonster
81 months ago

still, macbooks are a waste of money.

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Yes it would be because then they wouldn't look like they're totally incompetent. 3-5% boost? really?


Based on what? The opinion of someone who just uses facebook and plays angry birds?

There's loads of uses for a Macbook that couldn't be done with some tablet toy or lousy netbook/chromebook that's only geared up as a glorified browser/email client. Think on-location video editing, DJs/EDM Producers, people in the design industry who need a decent system and OS to use with robust system-wide colour management and accurate font-rendering or people who simply want the option of not running Windows as their OS of choice and don't want to get all geeky and opt for a compromising nightmare of open source nonsense.
Rating: 13 Votes
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lunarworks
81 months ago

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.


Well, they could have simply not bumped the processors... would that have been better?
Rating: 11 Votes
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alsec
81 months ago

Stick to phones and tablets Apple.


I hope they don't just stick to phones and tablets. Apple's computers are awesome, especially considering the need for bootcamp. Makes my work life a lot easier!
Rating: 11 Votes
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Imory
81 months ago

I'm pretty sure that's what they are currently doing. There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months. I know I will not be buying an Apple laptop / desktop again unless they do a major overhaul in their approach at conducting business.


Not a single update in over 4 months? Is that considered a long time? Apple has pretty much always released a major overhaul/change once every year, and I don't see why that has to change when it comes to their laptops.
Rating: 10 Votes
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WestonHarvey1
81 months ago
Sounds like most people here are confused. Apple does not make the CPU.
Rating: 10 Votes
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G4DP
81 months ago

I'm pretty sure that's what they are currently doing. There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months. I know I will not be buying an Apple laptop / desktop again unless they do a major overhaul in their approach at conducting business.


Bo bl***y ho, no update in 4 months try waiting 2 years to buy an updated damn computer.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Aluminum213
81 months ago
Never buy first generation apple hardware, so many flaws with rMBP, even worse with the 13"

Can't wait to get gen 2 15"retina this fall though :)
Rating: 3 Votes
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centauratlas
81 months ago
Just don't sell them in Brazil....
Rating: 3 Votes
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InuNacho
81 months ago

Apple is a phone tablet company first. Dont even get me started on the mac pro abandonment.


I actually like the Mac Pro abadonment, it means that my 09 Quad 3.33 is just as good as the current base Quad 3.2. Four years old and still on the cutting edge.
Rating: 2 Votes

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