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Why choose a workstation CPU?

429 Views 7 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  iSlayer, 
iSlayer
Now before you quit this thread because you don't have an exact answer, take the time to read this WHOLE thread, for i'm asking you to THINK, not type stuff into google and c/v.

I was thinking one day and I realized that my Macbook came with a T7300; A workstation CPU (HTT support/enabled + 4MB L2 cache). It seems odd that Apple would choose a more expensive CPU that would have no foreseeable benefits for anyone who isn't hardcore with what they do with a computer (Crysis/Fallout no dedicated GPU hardcore).

So, what do you think is the reason for Apple putting a more expensive CPU into the Macbook's from late' 07 instead of cutting costs at no price to the general consumer but the <5% who need that extra power? I'm certainly baffled as to why.
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W
I wouldn't myself classify it as a "workstation" cpu. And since it's a core2 chip it shouldn't have HT. It should be a true dual core chip.

As far as I know it's just a standard laptop cpu. Intel made a lot of different models with varying amounts of cache for a while for no apparent reason.

They may have picked that one since it's a 35w chip and the other series with lesser cache may have been 45w. And a big selling point for MacBooks has always been their battery life and they can get more life if they used a lower wattage cpu.

Or they could have just picked it just to be using the latest tech out there since they hit one of their refresh times or something.
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Tator Tot
Well
1.) The T7300 does not have Hyper Threading, or HTT (Hyper Transport)
2.) Mac computers are used for programing and Graphic Design. A T7300 is very beneficial for that.
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iSlayer
Quote:


Originally Posted by Tator Tot
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Well
1.) The T7300 does not have Hyper Threading, or HTT (Hyper Transport)
2.) Mac computers are used for programing and Graphic Design. A T7300 is very beneficial for that.

Most people who are programming/graphic designers go the MBP route because they are professionals.

Quote:


Originally Posted by WintersFury
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I wouldn't myself classify it as a "workstation" cpu. And since it's a core2 chip it shouldn't have HT. It should be a true dual core chip.

As far as I know it's just a standard laptop cpu. Intel made a lot of different models with varying amounts of cache for a while for no apparent reason.

They may have picked that one since it's a 35w chip and the other series with lesser cache may have been 45w. And a big selling point for MacBooks has always been their battery life and they can get more life if they used a lower wattage cpu.

Or they could have just picked it just to be using the latest tech out there since they hit one of their refresh times or something.

According to the full system report from Everest the T7300 supports and has HTT enabled.
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I'm thinking that Everest is messing up then.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLA45

Intel doesn't list it as a feature on their site.

Hard to say exactly why they do what they do. Perhaps they figure the prices on their computers are so high that they should put the best hardware in the system. Apple does things their own way.
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iSlayer
Quote:


Originally Posted by WintersFury
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I'm thinking that Everest is messing up then.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLA45

Intel doesn't list it as a feature on their site.

Hard to say exactly why they do what they do. Perhaps they figure the prices on their computers are so high that they should put the best hardware in the system. Apple does things their own way.

It came with an 80GB HD that died before 6 months of use. It also had one GB of DDR2 and it was $200 to upgrade to 4GB using Apple's 3rd party RAM or $40 to upgrade to 4GB of Transcend.
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Quote:


Originally Posted by iSlayer
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It came with an 80GB HD that died before 6 months of use. It also had one GB of DDR2 and it was $200 to upgrade to 4GB using Apple's 3rd party RAM or $40 to upgrade to 4GB of Transcend.

Kind of odd that it would even have a 2.0GHz cpu in it from 2007. They only come with a 2.26 in 2009 and that just got updated. Perhaps you just happened to get the wrong cpu put in your notebook or something.

Perhaps try CPU-Z to see if it reports the same CPU and features? I'm thinking Everest isn't correctly detecting your CPU.

Yeah, my MBP 13" that's not very old only came with a 160gb. Which in 2009 is weak. What "Pro" user doesn't need more space? Or more than 2gb of RAM?

Apple has always seemed to do some odd things. I just bought it cause it's the cheapest light small durable & good looking notebook out there. I really do hate the giant logo on the lid...
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iSlayer
Quote:

Originally Posted by WintersFury View Post
Kind of odd that it would even have a 2.0GHz cpu in it from 2007. They only come with a 2.26 in 2009 and that just got updated. Perhaps you just happened to get the wrong cpu put in your notebook or something.

Perhaps try CPU-Z to see if it reports the same CPU and features? I'm thinking Everest isn't correctly detecting your CPU.

Yeah, my MBP 13" that's not very old only came with a 160gb. Which in 2009 is weak. What "Pro" user doesn't need more space? Or more than 2gb of RAM?

Apple has always seemed to do some odd things. I just bought it cause it's the cheapest light small durable & good looking notebook out there. I really do hate the giant logo on the lid...
Nope, I originally found it was a T7300 from CPU-z, and Speedfan also confirmed it.

I'm K with the logo, It doesn't really change anything...

CPU was a a T7300 back in late '07, Wiki has confirmed that.
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