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MacBook Pro Q&A - Revised July 1, 2007
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What are the differences between the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models?
Please note that all systems mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. The MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Mid-2007/Santa Rosa" models were replaced by the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Early 2008/Penryn" series on February 26, 2008.
The 15-Inch and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models share identical housings with earlier MacBook Pro models.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.
All of the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models -- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.2 15" (Santa Rosa), "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" (Santa Rosa), and "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 17" (Santa Rosa) -- have Intel "Core 2 Duo" processors -- with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip and a shared 4 MB level 2 cache. Each uses the Intel "Santa Rosa" architecture, 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 unveiled a new "mercury-free power-efficient LED-backlit" 15.4" widescreen 1440x900 "matte" or "glossy" TFT active-matrix display, and the 17-Inch model could be equipped with a new higher-resolution, but traditional CCFL-backlit 1920x1200 display by custom configuration (the same 17" widescreen "matte" or "glossy" CCFL-backlit 1680x1050 TFT active-matrix display provided by its predecessor is the default).
Connectivity is effectively the same as previous models -- AirPort Extreme (although the "Santa Rosa" models have 802.11n enabled by default), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, 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. 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 a clever blogger (subsequently offline) noticed that the "Santa Rosa" models have an unadvertised 1.3 megapixel camera, compared to 1.0 megapixels for the models replaced -- and, by default, a 5400 RPM hard drive.
All differences between the standard configurations of the "Santa Rosa" systems are summarized in this handy chart:
| MacBook Pro Mid-2007 "Santa Rosa" | 2.2 15.4" | 2.4 15.4" | 2.4 17.0" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Processor: | T7500 | T7700 | T7700 |
| Processor Speed: | 2.2 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Hard Drive Size: | 120 GB† | 160 GB† | 160 GB† |
| Standard RAM: | 2 GB* | 2 GB* | 2 GB* |
| Video Memory: | 128 MB | 256 MB | 256 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: | MA895LL | MA896LL | MA897LL/A |
| Price: | US$1999 | US$2499 | US$2799 |
† 120 GB (5400 RPM), 160 GB (5400 RPM), 160 GB (7200 RPM), 200 GB (4200 RPM) hard drives available either standard or by custom configuration depending on the model.
* Installed as two 1 GB models by default. Maximum capacity of 4 GB.
§ CCFL-backlit 1920x1200 17-inch display also available by custom-configuration.
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook Pro model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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