Forced to buy macbook pro for work. i5+nvidia or i7+intel iris graphics (For Graphics Design)

El_Wray

Distinguished
Mar 2, 2009
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Hello
So I have to buy a macbook pro for someone at work.
She is a graphic designer and the new laptop is on the company budget.
So I'm in charge of picking them. But I now very little about mac computers. I think they're overpriced.

Now I have to choose between a macbook pro with an i5 processor and a 650m nvidia card
or an i7 processor with intel iris pro graphics.

What gets me more bang for my buck for a graphic designer?

Thanks
 

dwatterworth

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Dec 5, 2012
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What programs is she using? illustrator and other similar titles? If the programs have good support for hardware acceleration, the 650m will be the way to go I believe as even though the iris pro graphics are a great iteration on the Intel integrated graphics, the developer relations for the hardware specific stuff from nvidia just can't be achieved with the intel solutions. Also, the increased battery life if the optimus software is working correctly (I assume the macs support GPU hardware switching) might see some better portability in that regard.

What are the CPU models and what are the prices of the two different systems?