MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

Essentials

Family: MacBook Pro

Codename: ?

Gestalt ID: 406

Minimum OS: 10.7.3

Maximum OS: 10.10.4

Introduced: June 2012


Processor

CPU: Intel Core i7 Mobile ("Ivy Bridge")

CPU Speed: 2.3/2.6 GHz (2.7 GHz BTO)

CPU Cores: 4

FPU: integrated

Bus Speed: 5 GT/s (DMI)

Register Width: 64-bit

Data Bus Width: 64-bit

Address Bus Width: 64-bit

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 256 kB per-core (1 MB total)

Level 3 Cache: 6 MB on-processor

ROM: EFI

RAM Type: PC3-12800 DDR3L SO-DIMM

Minimum RAM Speed: 1600 MHz

Onboard RAM: 0 MB

RAM slots: 2

Maximum RAM: 8 GB

Expansion Slots: SDXC card


Video

Screen: 15.4" LED-backlit TFT

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, Intel HD Graphics 4000

VRAM: 512 MB/1 GB GDDR, 384 MB shared (see not

Max Resolution: 1440x900

Video Out: via Thunderbolt

Camera: 720p FaceTime HD


Storage

Hard Drive: 500/750 GB 5400 RPM

ATA Bus: Serial-ATA

Optical Drive: 24x/24x/10x/8x/8x/4x/4x CD-RW/DVD±RW/DVD±R DL


Input/Output

USB: 2 3.0

Firewire800: 1

Thunderbolt: 1

Audio Out: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF, HDMI via Thunderbolt

Audio In: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF

Speaker: stereo

Microphone: mono


Networking

Ethernet: 10/100/1000BaseT

Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n

Bluetooth: 4.0


Miscellaneous

Power: 85 Watts

Battery Life: 7 hours

Dimensions: 0.95" H x 14.35" W x 9.82" D

Weight: 5.5 lbs.


Notes

The MacBook Pro's second graphics chipset used a portion of main memory as VRAM. Though reported as a 384 MB graphics system, this was actually a minimum. Actual usage varied with graphics load, resulting in slightly less RAM available for system use. Though Apple officially lists the maximum RAM as 8 GB, it's possible to install 16 GB of RAM using two 8 GB DIMMs.

Introduced in March 2012, the MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) improved on its predecessor, the MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) with faster processors and graphics, USB 3.0, and Bluetooth 4.0. It shipped in two configurations:

  • 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 500 GB hard disk, 4 GB of RAM, 512 MB of VRAM, $1799
  • 2.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 750 GB hard disk, 8 GB of RAM, 1 GB of VRAM, $2199

Build-to-order options included a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache, a 1680x1050 glossy or anti-glare display, up to 8 GB of RAM, 750 GB/5400 RPM or 1 TB/7200 RPM disk drives, and 128, 256, or 512 GB SSDs. The MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) was the last MacBook Pro to use the original Unibody shell introduced in the MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008), and was discontinued in October 2013.

Picture Credits:
Apple, Inc.