Barefeats has updated their speed evaluation of the new MacBook Pro "Santa Rosa" models with the inclusion of the 17" 2.4GHz MacBook Pro. The tests reveal that the 17" machine is up to 11% faster with 3D applications than the 15" model.

The new MacBook Pro "Santa Rosa" with the GeForce 8600M runs 3D accelerated games significantly faster than the previous 2.33GHz model with the Mobility Radeon X1600. For example, the 15" "Rosa" ran Prey ran 55% faster than the fastest previous MacBook Pro model. The 17" "Rosa" ran Prey 72% faster.

Both the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro "Rosa" beat the 4-Core Mac Pro desktop with a "stock" GeForce 7300 GT in 5 out of 6 game tests.

Of course, the 24" iMac C2D with the GeForce 7600 GT and the 4-core Mac Pro with the Radeon X1900 XT were faster, as expected. But the improved 3D OpenGL performance of the new Macbook Pro "Rosa" is welcome to avid gamers. Nobody argues that the "hard core" gamer wanting the Mac with the most frames per second possible will choose the Mac Pro tower with the Radeon X1900 XT -- still the "Top Gun." But if he/she wants good gaming performance on the road, the newest MacBook Pro is the way to go.

Barefeats: Santa Rosa 3D Gaming

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