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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2006October 2011
Display
Screen size15.4″15.4″
Resolution1440 × 9001440 × 900
Brightness300 nits–
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeWidescreen TFT display with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1440 × 900 native resolution and millions of colours. Optional 1680 × 1050 high-resolution glossy or antiglare display. Panel technologies, refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple; higher-resolution screens remain in details rather than unverified panel variants.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core Duo 1.83 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006), Intel Core Duo 2 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) or Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006)Intel Core i7-2675QM, Intel Core i7-2760QM or Intel Core i7-2860QM
CPU cores24
CPU threads–8
GraphicsATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3) or ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)AMD Radeon HD 6750M (512 MB) or AMD Radeon HD 6770M (1 GB)
Memory512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB4 GB or 8 GB
Storage80 GB to 120 GB128 GB to 750 GB
CPUDual-core Intel Core Duo at 1.83 GHz or 2.0 GHz, with a 2.16 GHz build-to-order option restricted to the 2.0 GHz base. Each has 2 MB shared L2 cache and a 667 MHz frontside bus. The January-announced 1.67 GHz configuration was replaced before shipping and is excluded.Quad-core Intel Core i7 at 2.2 GHz or 2.4 GHz with 6 MB L3 cache; optional 2.5 GHz with 8 MB L3 cache. Exact i7-2675QM and i7-2860QM identities confirmed by EveryMac; i7-2760QM by Notebookcheck’s tested upper model. Optional 2.5 GHz rows retain the upper AMD graphics combination; unproven lower-GPU pairings omitted.
GPUATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3); ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3). GPU memory varies with processor configuration.Lower model: AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512 MB GDDR5. Upper model: AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1 GB GDDR5. Both also use Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384 MB DDR3 shared memory and automatic graphics switching.
Memory type667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 2 GB. Lower base has 512 MB; higher base has 1 GB.4 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 in two SO-DIMM slots; configurable to 8 GB.
Storage typeLower base has an 80 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive, configurable to 100 GB or 120 GB. Higher base has 100 GB and supports 120 GB; 100 GB was available at 5400 or 7200 rpm. Slot-loading 4× SuperDrive writes DVDs but does not write double-layer DVDs.Lower base: 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive; upper base: 750 GB 5400-rpm hard drive. Maker CTO options: 750 GB at 5400 or 7200 rpm, or 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB SSD. Configuration rows distinguish capacities and CPUs/GPUs; both 750 GB speeds share one capacity row. 8× slot-loading SuperDrive supports DVD±R DL, DVD±RW and CD-RW.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 4.5 hoursUp to 7 hours
Battery capacity60 Wh77.5 Wh
Weight2.54 kg2.54 kg
Thickness25.9 mm24.1 mm
Width × depth357 × 243 mm364 × 249 mm
Battery life detailRemovable 60 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 4.5 hours in Apple’s test. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Built-in 77.5 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 7 hours wireless web in Apple’s test. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger85 W MagSafe Power Adapter85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management
MaterialsAluminium enclosureAluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpad
ColoursSilverSilver
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe2 × USB-A, MagSafe, headphone jack, SD card slot, Ethernet, Thunderbolt
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme 802.11g802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.0 + EDR2.1 + EDR
WebcamBuilt-in iSight cameraFaceTime HD camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detail2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, dual-link DVI, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. VGA adapter included; composite/S-video adapter optional.One Thunderbolt port up to 10 Gb/s, two USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, one FireWire 800 port up to 800 Mb/s, Gigabit Ethernet, SDXC card slot, MagSafe, separate audio line-in and headphone/audio line-out ports, and Kensington lock slot. Thunderbolt provides native Mini DisplayPort output; DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI require separate adapters.
External displaysOne external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter.Built-in display plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both at millions of colours; dual display and video mirroring.
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; embedded numeric keypadFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys.
TrackpadScrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.Multi-Touch trackpad supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three- and four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and drag.
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersStereo speakers with subwoofers
MicrophonesBuilt-in omnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grilleOmnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grille
In the boxMacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Apple Remote and DVI-to-VGA adapter included. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and iLife ’06. Higher base began shipping during the week of 14 February 2006 and lower base the following week; exact first-sale day is unestablished.MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 85 W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord and documentation; OS X Lion and iLife.

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