Released in October 2011, the 17″ MacBook Pro (Unibody, Late 2011) model (MD311LL/A) remains a powerhouse of its time, offering an ideal combination of processing power, large screen real estate, and an impressive build quality. While the 17-inch MacBook Pro series was discontinued in 2012, the MD311LL/A continues to be a go-to choice for those in need of a large, high-performance laptop. With its robust specs and a striking 17-inch display, it was designed for professionals who demanded serious computing power, multimedia capabilities, and a screen size that could handle complex workflows.
Design and Build Quality
The MacBook Pro MD311LL/A retained the signature Unibody aluminum design that Apple was known for, offering a premium, durable feel. The 17-inch model was the largest MacBook Pro Apple offered at the time, with dimensions of 0.98 x 15.47 x 10.51 inches and a weight of approximately 6.6 lbs. While this made it less portable than its smaller counterparts, it was perfect for users who needed a large screen for work and multimedia consumption without sacrificing the sleek aesthetic Apple laptops are known for.
The sturdy aluminum frame not only gave the laptop a refined, high-end look but also provided excellent heat dissipation, which helped the device maintain performance during extended use. The design held up well against wear and tear, making it a long-lasting option for professionals.
Display and Graphics
The 17” MacBook Pro (MD311LL/A) featured a 17-inch LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. While it wasn’t the Retina display that came later, it still offered exceptional color reproduction, sharp details, and a wide viewing angle, making it an excellent choice for those in the creative industries—photographers, video editors, and designers alike.
The dual-graphics system was a standout feature of this model. It came with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and a dedicated AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of VRAM. The Intel HD Graphics 3000 was designed for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing, while the Radeon HD 6770M took on graphic-intensive applications, ensuring the MacBook Pro could handle video editing, gaming, and other demanding tasks with ease. The dedicated graphics card made this machine well-suited for professionals needing reliable performance under heavy workloads.
Performance: Powered by Core i7
Under the hood, the 17″ MacBook Pro (MD311LL/A) featured a 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor. With four cores and eight threads, this CPU was built for serious multitasking, running demanding software, and delivering fast performance for professional-grade applications. This was a significant upgrade over earlier models and made it a top choice for anyone needing a powerful machine for video editing, software development, or other CPU-heavy tasks.
The 4GB of RAM, while standard at the time, could be limiting for more memory-intensive tasks. However, the MacBook Pro offered a straightforward upgrade path, with a maximum supported RAM of 16GB. Many users chose to upgrade their RAM to ensure smooth multitasking and better performance with larger applications.
For storage, the MD311LL/A shipped with a 750GB 5400 RPM hard drive. While the drive offered a decent amount of space, it was relatively slow compared to modern SSDs. Many users opted for a simple upgrade to an SSD to benefit from faster boot times, reduced load times, and improved system responsiveness.
Connectivity and Ports
As was common with the MacBook Pro lineup, the MD311LL/A was loaded with a variety of connectivity options. It included USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, an SD card slot, and an HDMI port. The inclusion of FireWire was particularly appreciated by professional photographers and videographers who worked with legacy cameras and peripherals.
This MacBook Pro also featured the introduction of Thunderbolt, a high-speed port that allowed for lightning-fast data transfer speeds. This made the device future-proof for high-speed external drives and other peripherals that required robust data throughput.
Battery Life and Power Management
The 17″ MacBook Pro featured an 85W MagSafe 1 power adapter and offered an estimated battery life of around 7 hours under normal usage conditions. While not revolutionary by modern standards, the battery life was impressive at the time, especially for a machine with a 17-inch display and powerful hardware. This level of battery performance ensured that users could get through a full day of work without constantly needing to recharge.
Storage and Upgrades
The MD311LL/A model came with a 750GB 5400 RPM hard drive, which was adequate for standard use but slow by today’s standards. Fortunately, the system allowed for easy upgrades, and many users opted to replace the hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD) to speed up performance. With SSDs now widely available, the MacBook Pro’s performance could be significantly enhanced with the simple swap of the drive.
In terms of RAM, the base model shipped with 4GB of RAM, but this could be upgraded to 16GB to improve performance for more demanding tasks such as video editing or running virtual machines.
Legacy and Impact
When it was first released, the 17” MacBook Pro (MD311LL/A) was a top-of-the-line choice for users who needed both a large screen and the power to handle intensive tasks. It was particularly favored by professionals in creative industries who needed a portable workstation for graphic design, video production, and other demanding tasks.
Though Apple eventually phased out the 17-inch model in 2012, it remains a nostalgic favorite among collectors and those in need of a vintage MacBook Pro with a large display. Despite its age, it is still a capable machine for general computing tasks, especially when upgraded with a solid-state drive and more memory.
Final Thoughts
The 17″ MacBook Pro (MD311LL/A) was one of the last models in the 17-inch MacBook Pro line and a notable release in Apple’s MacBook Pro family. With its powerful 2.4 GHz Core i7 processor, dual-graphics system, and large, vibrant display, it was built for professional users who needed a mobile workstation. Although it has since been discontinued, this model remains a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable, vintage MacBook with great performance potential, especially when equipped with modern upgrades like an SSD and additional RAM.
Whether you’re a professional looking for a robust laptop for creative work or a vintage Mac enthusiast, the 17″ MacBook Pro (MD311LL/A) still offers impressive value today. It may not be as fast as modern MacBook models, but its legacy as a powerful tool for professionals and its unique large screen make it a memorable part of Apple’s MacBook history.
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MacBook Pro MD311LL/A Specs
- Order Number
- MD311LL/A
- Identifier
- MacBookPro8,3
- Model Number
- A1297
- EMC
- 2564
- Processor Speed
- 2.4GHz
- Processors (Cores)
- 1 (4 Cores)
- Processor Type
- Core i7
- Hard Drive
- 750GB 5400 RPM
- Hard Drive Type
- 2.5″
- RAM
- 4GB
- RAM Type
- PC3-10600-1333MHZ-DDR3-SO-DIMM
- Video Card 1
- HD Graphics 3000
- Video Card 2
- Radeon HD 6770M
- VRAM
- 1GB
- Built-in Display
- 17″
- Color
- Silver
- Input
- Multi-Touch Trackpad
- Optical Drive
- 8x DL SuperDrive
- AirPort
- 802.11a/b/g
- Bluetooth
- 2.1+EDR
- Power Brick
- 85w MagSafe 1
- Dimensions
- 0.98 x 15.47 x 10.51 inches
- Avg. Weight
- 6.6 lbs
- Release Date
- October 24th 2011
- MSRP
- 2499