The MacBook Pro Review (13 & 15-inch): 2011 Brings Sandy Bridge
by Anand Lal Shimpi, Brian Klug & Vivek Gowri on March 10, 2011 4:17 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
- Mac
- Apple
- Intel
- MacBook Pro
- Sandy Bridge
6Gbps Performance
I installed the Intel SSD 510 in a 15-inch 2011 MacBook Pro as well as a 15-inch 2010 MacBook Pro to put together a 3Gbps vs. 6Gbps performance comparison. I turned to Xbench for some quick and dirty performance data:
SATA Performance—XBench 1.3 | |||||
Intel SSD 510 250GB | 3Gbps (2010 15-inch MBP) | 6Gbps (2011 15-inch MBP) | 6Gbps Advantage | ||
4KB Sequential Write | 157.8 MB/s | 192.2 MB/s | +21.8% | ||
256KB Sequential Write | 182.0 MB/s | 257.1 MB/s | +41.3% | ||
4KB Sequential Read | 32.5 MB/s | 32.7 MB/s | 0.0% | ||
256KB Sequential Read | 197.3 MB/s | 315.6 MB/s | +60.0% | ||
4KB Random Write | 47.8 MB/s | 49.0 MB/s | +2.5% | ||
256KB Random Write | 186.4 MB/s | 260.9 MB/s | +40.0% | ||
4KB Random Read | 14.5 MB/s | 13.4 MB/s | -7.6% | ||
256KB Random Read | 149.7 MB/s | 207.3 MB/s | +38.5% |
As you'd expect, there's no real benefit to the new 6Gbps interface for random operations (particularly at low queue depths). Sequential speeds are much improved however. Xbench shows up to a 60% increase in performance in sequential operations.
You'll note that the absolute numbers are pretty low to begin with. A 128KB sequential read of the Intel SSD 510 on our desktop Sandy Bridge SSD testbed pulls nearly 400MB/s. On the new MacBook Pro we can't get more than 320MB/s.
Our sequential Iometer tests are run at a queue depth of 1 so there's no advantage there. The only explanation I can come up with (assuming Xbench's test is accurate) is that Apple may be aggressively implementing SATA controller power management under OS X. Capping the link's performance or aggressively putting it to sleep could reduce performance at the benefit of increasing battery life.
The other thing I noticed was that performance on the 13-inch MBP using Xbench was a bit lower than the 15-inch MBP. Take a look at these numbers:
SATA Performance—XBench 1.3 | |||||
Intel SSD 510 250GB | 13-inch 2011 MBP | 15-inch 2011 MBP | |||
4KB Sequential Write | 155.3 MB/s | 192.2 MB/s | |||
256KB Sequential Write | 184.8 MB/s | 257.1 MB/s | |||
4KB Sequential Read | 30.4 MB/s | 32.7 MB/s | |||
256KB Sequential Read | 201.8 MB/s | 315.6 MB/s | |||
4KB Random Write | 49.6 MB/s | 49.0 MB/s | |||
256KB Random Write | 183.9 MB/s | 260.9 MB/s | |||
4KB Random Read | 13.9 MB/s | 13.4 MB/s | |||
256KB Random Read | 144.9 MB/s | 207.3 MB/s |
I only noticed this with the Intel SSD 510, the Crucial RealSSD C300 and Vertex 3 both performed identically between the 13 and 15-inch MBPs. I'm not sure what's going on here at all, although I suspect that it's somehow related to the issues users have been having with some of these drives (more on this below).
SSD Recommendations
Where does all of this discussion about SSDs leave us? Unfortunately recommending an SSD for the new MacBook Pro today is pretty difficult but I'll try my best.
If you're the conservative type and just wants something that for sure works with little to no concern about absolute performance, the Apple SSDs are probably the safest bet. You'll get a drive that's much faster than a hard drive, fully supported by Apple and with TRIM support. Yes, that's right, OS X finally has TRIM support but Apple only enables it on it's own branded SSDs. To Apple's credit, given the number of problems I've seen with SSDs over the past couple of years it makes sense to lock down and only support drives you've validated. On the flip side however, Apple should be validating and working with controller makers to ensure all drives work under OS X. Making as much money as Apple does, I don't buy the "we didn't have the time/resources" argument.
If you are going down the Apple SSD path, at least the 128GB drive isn't super ridiculously priced, although I'm less comfortable recommending the 256GB version unless you can get it at $500.
Now if you want to get a faster SSD or actually take advantage of the 6Gbps interface, things get more complicated. I've heard reports of users having issues with the Intel SSD 510 and Crucial RealSSD C300. I've tested both drives as well as the OCZ Vertex 3 in three different MacBook Pros, and in all cases the drives worked perfectly. They were all detected as 6Gbps drives and all performed well. I should note that while I couldn't get the Vertex 3 Pro to work in the 2010 MacBook Pro, the Vertex 3 worked just fine in the 2011 MacBook Pro.
SATA Performance—XBench 1.3 | ||||||
13-inch 2011 MBP | Crucial C300 256GB | Intel SSD 510 250GB | OCZ Vertex 3 240GB | |||
4KB Sequential Write | 239.0 MB/s | 155.3 MB/s | 319.9 MB/s | |||
256KB Sequential Write | 217.2 MB/s | 184.8 MB/s | 257.8 MB/s | |||
4KB Sequential Read | 35.1 MB/s | 30.4 MB/s | 33.3 MB/s | |||
256KB Sequential Read | 248.3 MB/s | 201.8 MB/s | 311.8 MB/s | |||
4KB Random Write | 175.0 MB/s | 49.6 MB/s | 247.8 MB/s | |||
256KB Random Write | 226.6 MB/s | 183.9 MB/s | 290.0 MB/s | |||
4KB Random Read | 19.1 MB/s | 13.9 MB/s | 21.1 MB/s | |||
256KB Random Read | 239.0 MB/s | 144.9 MB/s | 304.0 MB/s |
SATA Performance—XBench 1.3 | ||||||
15-inch 2011 MBP | Crucial C300 256GB | Intel SSD 510 250GB | OCZ Vertex 3 240GB | |||
4KB Sequential Write | 239.3 MB/s | 192.2 MB/s | 316.5 MB/s | |||
256KB Sequential Write | 218.8 MB/s | 257.1 MB/s | 282.0 MB/s | |||
4KB Sequential Read | 34.8 MB/s | 32.7 MB/s | 34.2 MB/s | |||
256KB Sequential Read | 245.1 MB/s | 315.6 MB/s | 306.7 MB/s | |||
4KB Random Write | 160.5 MB/s | 49.0 MB/s | 240.5 MB/s | |||
256KB Random Write | 227.5 MB/s | 260.9 MB/s | 311.3 MB/s | |||
4KB Random Read | 18.7 MB/s | 13.4 MB/s | 20.9 MB/s | |||
256KB Random Read | 238.2 MB/s | 207.3 MB/s | 303 MB/s |
The Vertex 3 is the fastest drive out of the aforementioned three, but its availability and firmware maturity are both unknowns at this point. If you have to buy today and are ok with the chance that the drive may not work (given other experiences online, although I haven't seen problems), Intel's SSD 510 is likely a good runner up (at least for the 15-inch, the C300 seems to perform better on the 13).
As far as the reports of incompatibilities with these drives are concerned, I'm not really sure what's going on. I've been hammering on all of the drives, putting the system to sleep/waking it up, and haven't encountered any failures or high latency IO operations (stuttering) yet. That's not to say that these problems won't appear over time (I'm currently doing long term testing to figure that out now), but just that I haven't seen them yet.
If you are having issues with the Intel SSD 510, Crucial RealSSD C300 or anything else please email me (link at the top of the page) the following information:
1) What are the full specs of your MBP? Any upgrades?
2) Tell me about your SSD. Is it new out of box? Have you done anything to the drive? What model, firmware revision, etc...
3) Describe the symptoms of the issue—beachballs, data corruption, etc...? What do you have to do create the issue?
4) Is the drive detected as a 6Gbps drive or a 3Gbps drive?
5) Take me through your drive installation procedure, did you just pop it in, partition and install OS X?
6) Any visible damage to the SATA flex cable when you installed the drive?
7) Have you tried exchanging the SSD or MBP? Any difference in behavior?
We haven't seen any issues on three different 2011 models that we've been testing here extensively with the Intel SSD 510, Crucial RealSSD C300, OCZ Vertex 3 and OCZ Vertex 2. I realize a number of you are having issues so the more details I can get the better.
198 Comments
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iwod - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
iPad is only just starting to sell and iPhone still has lots of space to grow. The trend is Apple are making more units and more money from ARM specific products.Nvidia has just recently stated that Project Denver will be ARM 64 bit. And aiming at HPC and Desktop. Full Compatible with current ARM instruction set.
Currently Apple must have a ARM version of Lion testing, and few years down the road, they could switch their Mac over to ARM 64 bit. Using a single Instructions Set for their whole product line.
For some reason i have been thinking that Apple and Intel aren't doing too well together like anand has felt. I dont think Thunderbolt is any indication of their current relationship. it is merely they have been working on it for such a long time, no one wants to lose our at the end.
Of coz it could have been the other way round x86 moving into iPhone, although that depends how much intel is willing to bend towards apple.
jbh129 - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
Anand,Can you guys run your high-end 15 through the Windoze tests that were used on the 13?
Thanks
tajmahal42 - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
Hello guys!First, I have to say this review is really awesome, as usual! Just what I was hoping for. The thoroughness and practical sense of your reviews continues to amaze me every single time.
For the 13" MBP, you mention "bouts of instability". Can you elaborate on that? Stuttering? Crashes? In what way do you notice that instability? I'm a little concerned now.
tno - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
+1alent1234 - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
my wife has been bugging me about our wifi since we moved and get a poor signal in a lot of the new apartment. told her i can get a new router with 3 antennas but we will also need a new laptop as well with the antennas to take advantage of it.which brings me to my question. i know the 15" model has the 3 antennas. does the 13" do MIMO as well?
tipoo - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
They all use the new card.By the way, have you tried switching wifi channels, or installing DD-WRT and boosting signal? Even so, you don't need a new laptop after getting a new router if signal strength was the only problem.
alent1234 - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
i'll try that, thxa lot of wifi around me these days. we only have work laptops now so that would be our only personal computer if we bought one. i was looking for the cheap SB models when they come out
name99 - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
"told her i can get a new router with 3 antennas but we will also need a new laptop as well with the antennas to take advantage of it."This is not completely true. A base station with multiple antennas CAN do the equivalent of phase-array beam steering to direct most of the output power towards the target laptop. The laptop will thus see a stronger signal, and one of the better modulation schemes (eg 64-QAM 5/6) can be used rather than one of the weaker schemes. Thus your laptop, even if it has only one (or two) antennas can still see better performance.
Note, this is a theoretical possibility. I do not know the current state of the art in how well base stations utilize the various forms of transmit diversity that are available. And no review ever seems to talk about this stuff, either by testing how well the kit works with a single antenna device, or by talking to the manufacturer about what's in their product.
Brian Klug - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
The 13" does have 3x3 MIMO as well, the exact same broadcom solution as the 15" I tested extensively.-Brian
7Enigma - Friday, March 11, 2011 - link
Anand and crew,I am very disappointed with the battery life numbers in this review. This is the first review of a laptop where it appears you have used a 3rd party app (Cody Krieger's gfxCardStatus tool) to significantly inflate the numbers of the new 2011 systems. 35-60% by your own numbers back on the discrete GPU battery life page, which you then fail to report in the battery life tables later on!
When you are tasked to review a system (especially an Apple product I might add) it should be reviewed as is, with no tweaking or 3rd party add-ons to boost performance/benchmarks. When have you EVER installed an add-on for a Windows-based laptop to improve performance/life? I can't think of one.
At best this was a simple oversight where you have benchmark numbers WITHOUT the gfxcardstatus, at worst this was a cover-up job which I have always argued in the forums against and on your site's behalf.
Please update the tables to show what a stock newly-purchased laptop at the Mac Store would deliver.
I am very disappointed in this coverage.