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Apple quietly updates MacBook Pro lineup with faster CPUs, graphics

With no mention of the update, Apple on Monday improved its MacBook Pro lineup with slightly faster Intel processors, as well as new graphics processors and larger hard drives in some models.

The new entry-level MacBook Pro now sports a 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU. It also features a larger 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive at the same cost of $1,199.

The faster 13-inch MacBook Pro now boasts a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, and its hard drive has also been upgraded to 750GB. It sells for $1,499.

For the 15-inch models, both feature quad-core Intel Core i7 processors. The low-end 15-inch has a clock speed of 2.2GHz and a 500GB hard drive, plus a faster AMD Radeon HD 6750M discrete graphics card with 512MB of GDDR5. The faster 15-inch runs at 2.4GHz with a 750GB hard drive and features the AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of GDDR5.

And the updated 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with a 750GB hard drive, along with the AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of GDDR5. All MacBook Pro models come with 4GB of RAM clocked at 1333MHz standard.

Apple's top-of-the-line build-to-order 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 for an additional $250, while the RAM can be upgraded to 8GB for another $200. All MacBook Pro models can also have their hard drives upgraded to solid state capacities up to 512GB for as much as $1,200.

All of the new MacBook Pros are listed as in stock, and come with free shipping. Monday's upgrade was done silently by Apple, as the company didn't even list the updated notebooks as being "new" to the store. As of Monday morning, the iPhone 4S was still listed as Apple's newest product.

AppleInsider first reported in September that Apple was set to surprise with a late 2011 MacBook Pro refresh. The relatively minor upgrades are expected to allow the professional line of notebooks to remain competitive until Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge chips launch in the Spring of 2012.



74 Comments

geekdad 15 Years · 1126 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips

All nice upgrades.

Yep...just in time for the holidays. Expect another sales breaking season from Apple!

cxjx 13 Years · 1 comment

I've been checking daily and waiting to drop my order as soon as they were introduced so it was a nice discovery a couple of hours ago... (hence the email).

What I forgot to mention was there is also a drop in the price of the Hi-Res Anti Glare screen - on the 15" its down from AUD240.00 (from memory) to AUD165.00

Cheers,
Chris

conradjoe 13 Years · 1887 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

With no mention of the update, Apple on Monday improved its MacBook Pro lineup with slightly faster Intel processors, as well as new graphics processors and larger hard drives in some models.

Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone? The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.

geekdad 15 Years · 1126 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe

Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone? The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.

Its not that big a spec bump to warrant a huge release party....c'mon...does every vendor have that for all of their upgrades? No they don't.......