MacBook Pro Early 2011 15"

The MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.2 15-Inch (Early 2011/Thunderbolt) is equipped with a 32 nm "Sandy Bridge" 2.2 GHz Intel "Core i7" processor (2720QM). It features four independent cores on a single chip, a 6 MB shared L3 cache, and 4 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-10600) installed in pairs. The system includes a 750 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL "SuperDrive," dual graphics processors—an AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and an Intel HD Graphics 3000 sharing 384 MB of system memory—and an integrated FaceTime HD webcam.

The standard configuration has an LED-backlit 15.4-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display (1440x900), with "high-resolution glossy" 1680x1050 and "high-resolution antiglare" 1680x1050 displays available for an extra US$100 and US$150, respectively.

Connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a FireWire "800" port, two USB 2.0 ports, separate audio in and out ports, an SDXC card slot, and a new "Thunderbolt" port. This port is backward compatible with Mini DisplayPort, supports external displays up to 2560x1600, passes audio, and supports other Thunderbolt devices with up to 10 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth.

This model uses a "Unibody" aluminum case, a backlit keyboard, a "no button" glass "inertial" multi-touch trackpad, and a non-swappable battery with an estimated 7-hour life. Compared to its predecessor, it has a similar exterior but adds a higher-resolution webcam and the Thunderbolt port. Internally, it boasts a significantly faster architecture, quicker RAM, and improved graphics.

The higher-end Early 2011 15-inch MacBook Pro was a true professional workhorse, praised for its powerful 2.2 GHz quad-core Sandy Bridge i7 processor. This CPU, combined with the capable AMD Radeon HD 6750M dedicated graphics, delivered exceptional performance for creative tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. The introduction of the high-speed Thunderbolt port was a significant, forward-looking addition. Users also appreciated the option to configure a high-resolution antiglare display. While it maintained the classic, durable unibody design, its long-term reputation was somewhat marred by widespread reports of graphics card failures, which became a notable issue for this otherwise highly capable and respected machine.