Base model versus upgraded for this useage

[Marmot]

Hi there,

My partner is replacing her aging MacBook Pro with a new one, and is pondering whether to opt for the base model or pay an arm and a leg for upgrades.

Yes, I know there's an Apple section, and I'm sure she would receive better bang for the buck buying a windows laptop, but there we are. She's obviously keen to keep the cost as low as possible and would therefore prefer to not upgrade unnecessarily.

She claims to use Autocad, Archicad, Photoshop, Indesign, Gimp, Rhino, Sketchup, Sketchbook Pro, Maya and Blender regularly.

Would these programs benefit more from a faster processor or more RAM?

Here are the laptop base specs:
128 GB Storage
2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 memory


Upgraded with RAM
128 GB Storage
2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
16GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 memory
+£160

Upgraded with CPU
128 GB Storage
2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
8GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
+£80

Personally I think it's scandalous to charge an extra £160 for 8GB more RAM, but that's Apple for you.

Anyone familiar with the programs above able to advise?

Thanks

 

[ExRayTed]

Jesus - that's a whole new level of rip-off

I'd say that all those programs will benefit from an extra 8gb of RAM, and if she's working with them all the time then the extra outlay will be worth it.

 

[fobose]

Can you not use crucial's website to scan to see whats compatible and buy 2x 8gb from there?

I've actually got a faulty mac book pro in bits next to me and when googling the 4gb module, it ends up on a particular rain forest website that then "recommends" others and there is crucial ram 8GB modules for £35 each. I am sure if you use the crucial adviser tool you will come up trumps?

 

[Marmot]

Jesus - that's a whole new level of rip-off

I'd say that all those programs will benefit from an extra 8gb of RAM, and if she's working with them all the time then the extra outlay will be worth it.

I know, it's ridiculous! Also, to boot...

Can you not use crucial's website to scan to see whats compatible and buy 2x 8gb from there?

I've actually got a faulty mac book pro in bits next to me and when googling the 4gb module, it ends up on a particular rain forest website that then "recommends" others and there is crucial ram 8GB modules for £35 each. I am sure if you use the crucial adviser tool you will come up trumps?

I believe that the RAM which comes with MacBook's these days is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be replaced. Likewise there is no opportunity to upgrade at a later date. If you think you might one day need more, then you buy it on day one.

Guess it might be a good idea