15-Inch Mid 2014 Retina MacBook Pro Benchmark Shows Decent Entry-Level Speed Gains

Apple's newly refreshed Retina MacBook Pros, released this morning, have already begun showing up in Geekbench benchmarks, offering a look at the performance boost of the updated machines compared to their predecessors.

A GeekBench 3 result for the entry-level 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro indicates that the new machine is eight percent faster than the entry-level 2013 Retina MacBook Pro, and only two percent slower than the mid-level Retina MacBook Pro released in 2013.

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Single-Core performance for the machine came in at 3050, up from 2811 for the similar 2013 model, while Multi-Core performance was also impressive, at 11586 vs. 10730.

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The new Retina MacBook Pros feature upgraded Haswell processors in 2.6 and 2.8 GHz dual-core configurations for the 13-inch versions, and 2.2 and 2.5 GHz quad-core configurations for the 15-inch models, with build-to-order options featuring a 3.0 GHz dual-core processor available for the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and a 2.8 GHz quad-core processor available for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro.

All of Apple's 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros now come with 8 GB of RAM standard (upgradeable to 16 GB), while 15-inch models come with 16 GB standard. The high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro has seen a $100 price cut, and buyers now have the option to upgrade to 1 TB of flash storage on both 13 and 15-inch models.

As noted by John Poole of Primate Labs, with the newly refreshed Haswell Retina MacBook Pros, customers are receiving mid-level performance at an entry-level price.

Though the update brings some decent gains to Apple's Retina MacBook Pro lineup, the new Haswell processors are largely a stopgap measure designed to hold customers over until Intel's more powerful and more efficient Broadwell chips are available next year.

Apple's refreshed Retina MacBook Pros are available today at Apple retail locations and its online store.

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Top Rated Comments

slicecom Avatar
140 months ago
Wake me up when they update the graphics card.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Goff Avatar
140 months ago
A new faster processor is scoring better than a slower one? STOP THE PRESSES!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SoAnyway Avatar
140 months ago
What's the point of benchmarking a 200Mgz speed increase these days? :rolleyes:

The last time I remember 200Mgz being a big deal was in the mid-late 90's! :eek:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lesser Evets Avatar
140 months ago
When will I stop expecting more?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SpinThis! Avatar
140 months ago
I always feel like buying a new computer is a like jumping on a moving train—at some point you just gotta do it or wait for another one to come around.

As an upside, small upgrades like this aren't bad because completely new generations of products tend to be more buggy. After a couple iterations and speed bumps or revisions it's pretty sold.

It's not like we're transitioning from PPC to Intel again. Anything you buy will have at least 3 years worth of productivity if not 5 or more.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mohdamerul Avatar
140 months ago
only Apple can do this.

-TC
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)