MacBooks

17" MacBook Pro (Penryn)

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• Tiger List is for those using Mac OS X 10.4.
• Leopard List is for those using Mac OS X 10.5.

Overview

Details

• introduced 2008.02.26 at US$2,799; 2.6 GHz build-to-order option $250 additional; refreshed with 4 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive, and 1920 x 1200 display standard 2008.10.14
• requires Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, soldered in place, no upgrade options
• bus: 800 MHz
• performance: Geekbench 2 (Leopard): 3228 (2.5 GHz), 3047 (2.4 GHz)
• RAM: 2/4 GB, expandable to 6 GB using PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM
• Level 2 cache: 6 MB shared cache on CPU
• Video: nVidia GeForce 8600M GT on PCI Express with dual-link DVI support, faster GPU speed than Core Duo model
• VRAM: 512 MB
• Video out: DVI connector (VGA supported with included adapter; S-video and composite video supported with optional adapters)
• display: 17" (43 cm) 18-bit 1680 x 1050 color active matrix
• optional display: 17" (43 cm) 18-bit 1920 x 1200 color active matrix
• supports 1680 x 1050, 1280 x 800, 1152 x 720, 1024 x 768, 1024 x 640, 800 x 600, 720 x 480, and 640 x 480 pixels at 5:4 aspect ratio; 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, and 640 x 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 x 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio
• allows mirroring to external display or extended desktop mode
• hard drive: 250/320 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA; optional 200 GB 7200 rpm, 300 GB 4200 rpm, and 320 GB 7200 rpm drives
• optical drive: 8x dual-layer SuperDrive writes DVD±R at up to 8x, DVD±RW at up to 4x; reads DVDs at 8x (double-layer at 6x), writes CD-R at 24x, writes CD-RW at 10x, reads CDs at 24x
• floppy drive: external USB only
• expansions bays: none
• USB: 3 USB 2.0 ports, only 1 high-powered device device allowed
• FireWire: 1 FW400 port, 1 FW800 port
• IR port: none
• IR receiver: supports Apple Remote
• ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
• modem: optional v.92 56k external USB modem
• WiFi: 802.11n AirPort Extreme built in
• Bluetooth: BT 2.1 built in
• ExpressCard/34: 1 slot
• size: 10.4 x 15.4 x 1.0" (265 x 392 x 25.9 mm)
• weight: 6.8 pounds (3.08 kg)
• Part no.: MB166 (original), MB766 (Oct. 2008)

Online Resources

• Best online 17" MacBook Pro deals, updated biweekly.
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• Comparing Apples to Apples: When is Macintel faster? When does PowerPC make more sense?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.01.29. Benchmarks show the Intel Core Duo flies through native code but plods through PowerPC programs. Will PowerPC or Intel give you the more productive workflow?
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