they had the same basic requirements (except I am not sure but I think that modern man has the largest brain among primates) but modern humans were better at surviving and reproducing
What real benefit is a larger brain for survival.:shrug: Taken at face value our larger brains dont exactly benefit life in general and i dont see how it enabled us to survive. The only possible argument would be for constant expansion and reproduction to harsher environments. I hardly believe nature made provisions for us to one day have nice clothes and plasma screens.