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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2011October 2008
Display
Screen size15.4″15.4″
Resolution1440 × 9001440 × 900
PanelTN LCD–
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeLED-backlit glossy widescreen LCD, millions of colours; TN panel explicitly confirmed by Notebookcheck's exact Early 2011 2.0 GHz glossy review. Apple does not publish refresh rate or brightness.Glossy LED-backlit widescreen LCD with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.
Screen finishBase glossy 1440 × 900; optional 1680 × 1050 high-resolution glossy or antiglare displays. Higher-resolution options are described here rather than assigned an unverified panel type in the configuration rows.–
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i7-2635QM, Intel Core i7-2720QM or Intel Core i7-2820QMIntel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008)
CPU cores42
CPU threads8–
GraphicsAMD Radeon HD 6490M or AMD Radeon HD 6750MNVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M or NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M
Memory4 GB or 8 GB2 GB or 4 GB
Storage128 GB to 750 GB128 GB to 320 GB
CPUQuad-core Intel Core i7-2635QM at 2.0 GHz or Core i7-2720QM at 2.2 GHz, with 6 MB shared L3 cache. The 2.2 GHz base is configurable to Core i7-2820QM at 2.3 GHz with 8 MB cache. Exact identities are confirmed by Notebookcheck; Macworld confirms the faster processor is an upgrade of the higher base.Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz with 3 MB shared L2 cache or 2.53 GHz with 6 MB; 2.8 GHz with 6 MB is configurable only from the upper base, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear. 1066 MHz frontside bus; clock records avoid unverified Intel SKU assumptions.
GPUAutomatic switching between Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384 MB shared main memory and AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256 MB GDDR5 on the 2.0 GHz base, or Radeon HD 6750M with 1 GB GDDR5 on the 2.2 GHz base and its 2.3 GHz upgradeNVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M; NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M. GPU memory varies with processor configuration. The integrated GeForce 9400M and discrete GeForce 9600M GT are selectable alternatives; changing GPU requires logout, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear.
Memory type4 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3, two 2 GB SO-DIMMs; two slots support up to 8 GB1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 4 GB. Lower base starts with 2 GB; higher has 4 GB.
Storage typeCore i7-2635QM base has a 500 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive; Core i7-2720QM base has a 750 GB 5400-rpm drive. Both bases support 750 GB 5400-rpm or 500 GB 7200-rpm hard drive, or 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB SSD. The 500 GB row on the lower base includes its standard 5400-rpm and optional 7200-rpm drives; on the higher base and its processor upgrade it represents the 7200-rpm option. Memory and storage upgrades apply to either base. 8× slot-loading SuperDrive supports DVD±R DL, DVD±RW and CD-RW.Lower base has a 250 GB and higher a 320 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive. Maker configurable options include 250 GB or 320 GB 7200-rpm drives, or a 128 GB SSD. All 128 GB rows are SSD configurations; higher-base 250 GB rows represent the faster configurable hard drive. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 7 hours–
Battery capacity77.5 Wh–
Weight2.54 kg2.49 kg
Thickness24.1 mm–
Width × depth364 × 249 mm–
Battery life detailBuilt-in 77.5 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 7 hours wireless web under Apple's test conditions. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Removable lithium-polymer battery; capacity and battery-life hours omitted because the surviving maker sources read do not publish them. Apple lists 5.5 lb; the main 2.49 kg reference weight is explicitly published by Ars Technica. Ars lists enclosure dimensions 14.35 × 9.82 × 0.95 inches; metric dimensions omitted.
Charger85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management85 W MagSafe Power Adapter
MaterialsAluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpadAluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpad
ColoursSilverSilver
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Thunderbolt, MagSafe, headphone jack, SD card slot, Ethernet2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
Wi-Fi802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/gAirPort Extreme 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR2.1 + EDR
Webcam720p FaceTime HD (Macworld)Built-in iSight camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailTwo USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, Thunderbolt up to 10 Gb/s, FireWire 800 up to 800 Mb/s, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet, SDXC card slot, MagSafe, separate digital/analogue audio line input and line output/headphone minijacks, and Kensington lock slot. Native Mini DisplayPort output; DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI audio/video through separate adapters.2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini DisplayPort, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. Display adapters sold separately.
External displaysBuilt-in screen plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both with millions of colours; dual display and video mirroringMini DisplayPort supports an external display up to 30 inches; separate DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters required. A numeric external resolution is omitted because it is not stated in the surviving maker sources read.
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keysFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys
TrackpadGlass Multi-Touch trackpad with inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and dragGlass Multi-Touch trackpad with integrated button; scrolling, pinch, rotate and three-finger/four-finger swipes.
SpeakersStereo speakers with subwoofersBuilt-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesOmnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grilleBuilt-in microphone above the Escape key
In the boxMacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, software DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife ’11MacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08; Apple Remote and display adapters sold separately. The former SP499 specification URL is no longer available; maker launch notice and exact user guide supply core facts.

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