Is there a way to slow down a MBP 2011

[Skysurfer]

Hi,

I am considering switching from a Thinkpad to a MBP 15 and I need to know if there is an easy way to slow down the MBP processor. I build robust models with spreadsheets and databases for my clients and I need to mimic as much as possible the end-user experience using an AVERAGE speed machine.

Thanks,

Lawrence

 

[TattooedMac]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Question is why you would want a 2011MBP and slow it when you could get a 2010, or 2009 MBP and it could be slow enough for what you need ??
Just saying !!

 

[bobtomay]

If these are the typical office clients still running XP on a P4 2.8 Ghz that hasn't had a fresh install or any other maintenance since they bought it back in '03-'06?

You could install Win 7 in a VM and only allocate about 128-256 MB of memory for it.

 

[BrianLachoreVPI]

In addition to bobtomay's suggestion I'd have to imagine that you could pick up some PC test platforms of the kind you describe for a song. I think that's what I'd do if I want to find out if my products were too taxing. That way you don't have to develop on a dinosaur but you have them there to use as a guinea pigs.

 

[Skysurfer]

Hey, thanks to all!

On the Thinkpad, you can adjust power management settings to conserve battery and throttle back the CPU. Is there a similar utility on the MBP?

Lawrence

 

[BrianLachoreVPI]

Hey, thanks to all!

On the Thinkpad, you can adjust power management settings to conserve battery and throttle back the CPU. Is there a similar utility on the MBP?

Lawrence

I don't think that setting is there anymore - but believe that it still throttles the CPU automatically when running on battery. I'm sure someone else can confirm. By how much - I don't know.

 

[pigoo3]

Hi,

I am considering switching from a Thinkpad to a MBP 15 and I need to know if there is an easy way to slow down the MBP processor. I build robust models with spreadsheets and databases for my clients and I need to mimic as much as possible the end-user experience using an AVERAGE speed machine.

Here is what I would suggest (hopefully this makes some sort of logical sense). What you need is some sort of objective/quantitative measure of the "speed" of the computers in question...instead of descriptive/subjective terms like "fast", "slow", and "average".

What I think you need is a benchmarking program that can be run on both Macintosh & Windows computer platforms. So you can get somewhat comparable performance values. Cinebench 11.5 I think would work:

MAXON: CINEBENCH

Here's an unofficial database of Cinebench 11.5 performance values as well:

Maxon Cinebench 11.5 Score Results

If you look thru the database...maybe you can find the two computers you are thinking about (Thinkpad & a newer 15" MBP).

What I'm suggesting is...initially figuring out just how big the "performance gap" is between these two computers (2x, 4x, 10x, etc)...so you can get a basic idea of the performance difference. Since if you are able to slow down the cpu on a MBP...you're going to need to know how much to slow it down by.

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. I'm not sure how you are going to go about testing your projects on both computers...but if you do it on a Windows partition on the MBP...here's a CPU "slow down" app. that works in Windows:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/CPU-Tweak/Slow-Down-CPU.shtml

Here's another Windows based app. that may help:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/CPU-Tweak/Slow-Down-CPU.shtml

 

[Skysurfer]

This forum is amazing.

Thank you!

Lawrence