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Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published November 10, 2016
All Mac Q&As >> Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A | Also See: All MacBook Pro Specs
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How much faster are the "Mid-2012" MacBook Pro models custom configured with faster processors than the stock models? Is the extra performance worth the extra cost?
Please note that all MacBook Pro models mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. However, this Q&A is up-to-date and quite useful for anyone considering one of these notebooks on the used market.
Many earlier MacBook Pro models with both 15-Inch and 17-Inch displays could be custom configured at the time of purchase with a faster processor than the one provided by default. However, for the "Mid-2012" MacBook Pro line, there is no 17-Inch model, and consequently, there only is one model that could be custom configured with a faster processor.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Mid-2012 MacBook Pro Models)
Specifically, the high-end 15-Inch model -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 15-Inch (Mid-2012) -- could be custom configured with a 2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-3820QM) processor for an additional US$250.
The 2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-3820QM) processor has an 8 MB level 3 cache -- rather than a 6 MB level 3 cache like the 2.6 GHz Core i7 (I7-3720QM) -- and supports "Turbo Boost 2.0" up to 3.7 GHz as well as "Hyper Threading" with eight virtual cores or "threads."
For reader convenience, EveryMac.com also documents this custom configuration as its own model -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.7 15-Inch.
Performance Overview
For a solid general overview of the performance differences between this stock "Mid-2012" MacBook Pro and its BTO/CTO counterpart as well as earlier MacBook Pro models, EveryMac.com's own Ultimate Mac Comparison makes it quick to compare side-by-side 32-bit-and 64-bit Geekbench benchmark averages of both with each other and all other G3 and later Macs for thousands of possible performance comparisons.
The Geekbench benchmark shows that when custom configured with the 2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-3820QM), the high-end "Mid-2012" MacBook Pro is roughly 4% faster than the stock model.
Performance & Value Summary
There are some users who need as much performance as possible and for these users the custom configuration may have made sense. For users who need maximum performance, time is money.
However, as the custom processor provides approximately 4% more performance but originally cost 11% more, the upgrade is unlikely to be financially worthwhile for the majority of users. Of course, on the used market, the notebook may provide a greater value relative to its cost, too.
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