What are the differences between the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Early 2008/Penryn" models?

The 15-Inch and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Early 2008/Penryn" models share identical housings with all previously released MacBook Pro models.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

All of the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Early 2008/Penryn" models -- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" (2008), "Core 2 Duo" 2.5 15" (2008), and "Core 2 Duo" 2.5 17" (2008) -- feature an energy-efficient 45 nm "Penryn" Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor -- with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip and a shared 3 MB or 6 MB level 2 cache. Each also has an 800 MHz frontside system bus, support for 4 GB of of 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (SO-DIMM) memory, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics, and an 8X dual-layer "SuperDrive".

The 15-Inch models each have an antiglare LED-backlit 15.4" widescreen 1440x900 active-matrix display (a glossy display is available via build-to-order), and the 17-Inch model has an antiglare CCFL-backlit 17" widescreen 1680x1050 active-matrix display (a glossy display is available via build-to-order at no extra cost, and a higher resolution LED-backlit 1920x1200 display also is available for an extra US$100).

The "Early 2008/Penryn" MacBook Pro models share a revised keyboard design -- it eliminates the "embedded numeric keypad" provided by previous models, replaces the "enter" key next to the right-hand "command" key with a second option key, and has different function key mapping -- and unveil a new trackpad "borrowed" from the MacBook Air -- which adds support for "multi-touch gesturing" (two finger scroll, pinch, rotate, swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag).

Connectivity is effectively the same as the previous "Mid-2007/Santa Rosa" models with AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire "400" port, a Firewire "800" port, optical digital audio in/out, DVI out, and ExpressCard/34 (although Bluetooth has been upgraded to the 2.1+EDR standard). The 17-Inch model shares the same ports as its predecessor -- which include all the ports of the 15-Inch models -- as well as a third USB 2.0 port. Each system also includes an integrated iSight video camera and, by default, a 5400 RPM hard drive.

All differences between the standard configurations of the "Early 2008/Penryn" systems are summarized in this handy chart:

MacBook Pro Early 2008 "Penryn"	2.4 15.4"	2.5 15.4"	2.5 17.0"
Intel Processor:	T8300	T9300	T9300
Processor Speed:	2.4 GHz	2.5 GHz	2.5 GHz
Level 2 Cache:	3 MB	6 MB	6 MB
Hard Drive Size:	200 GB†	250 GB†	250 GB†
Standard RAM:	2 GB*	2 GB*	2 GB*
Video Memory:	256 MB	512 MB	512 MB
Dual-Layer SuperDrive:	8X	8X	8X
USB 2.0 Ports:	2	2	3
Display Size:	15-Inch	15-Inch	17-Inch
Native Resolution:	1440x900	1440x900	1680x1050§
LED-Backlit:	Yes	Yes	No§
Apple Part No:	MB133LL/A	MB134LL/A	MB166LL/A
Price:	US$1999	US$2499	US$2799

† 250 GB (5400 RPM) or 200 GB (7200 RPM) hard drives are available either standard or by custom configuration depending on the model.

* Installed as two 1 GB models by default. Maximum capacity of 4 GB.

§ LED-backlit 1920x1200 17-inch display also available by custom-configuration.

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