Which Macbook is Better?

[hifive]

I work for a graphic design firm that is planning to upgrade all computers to MBPs. As a result, they're letting us take home their current lot of Macbooks at discount prices.

I have the option of taking one of these. Which one is better?

Late 2008 Model - $750

2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo

2 GB Ram

180 GB Hard Drive

Intel GMA X3100 Chipset

Late 2008 Model - $830

2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo

4 GB Ram

320 GB Hard Drive

Nvidia 9400M Chipset

Thanks!

Edited July 3, 2009 by hifive

[ultimate99]

I think the early 2009 one would be a better choice due more ram and better graphics card, despite the 400mhz difference in speed.

[Guest]

I would go for the second one, more ram, bigger hard disk and better integrated graphic chip.

[hifive]

Ram is cheap and I can upgrade the 2008 model for about $40. That means the difference in price is about $40 for a slower clock speed, but more hard drive space and external graphics card. Is it still the better choice?

[dt]

Is that second model the "unibody" Macbook or still the white plastic model?

[RAID 0]

Easily the 2nd one. Despite the difference in clock speed I think the 2009 model is more likely to have a 'newer generation' Core 2 Duo chip in it. Also it has better graphics, more ram, bigger hdd, so what's not to love? :p

"Easily the second one" is correct.

[REM2000]

2nd one mainly because of the graphics chip. Apart from the CPU the rest can easily be upgraded

[Vice]

2nd one the 9400M is a lot better then the Intel X3100

[Brian M. Veteran]

the X3100 -> 9400M upgrade is worth that difference alone, and you won't notice the drop from 2.4Ghz to 2.0GHz under everyday usage.

[null_]

Go for the Early 2009 model, it's better in every way. You won't notice the lack of 400 MHz over the first one, but you'll gain performance with the GeForce 9400M and double the RAM.

[Ci7]

go with 2nd (Y)

[hifive]

Great! seems pretty definitive.

[PyX]

You'll be most satisfied with the second one. (if it's a unibody you'll scream joy in the house)

Btw your 2nd one is a Late 2008 and your first one is like an Early 2008 or so. There's no 2009 in this, because it would be at least 2.13GHz.

[Brian M. Veteran]

Wern't the early 2009 Unibody MacBook's 2.0GHz? or were they still called late 2008?

[the_architect]

I would go for the second one too!

Which one did you end up getting?