16" - Configuration Paralysis Analysis

[Nacho98]

Apple isn't making it easy this time.

My uses/needs:

Internet/iTunes/Photo hub, no photo/video editing. Very basic. The ultimate facebook machine!

Looking at future expenses, now is the best time for me to upgrade to a new machine - won't be able to for a long time after this, so now is the time. I plan to keep the 16" for 5-8 years. I am dead set on 32GB RAM given how long I want to keep it and the fact 16GB has been around since 2012 - time to step that up for the future. Not flexible on that.

Current machine:

Mid-2015 15" base: 2.2/16/256/no dGPU. 152 GB free, and that hasn't moved in months. Machine is never taxed/run hard. Two machines prior were loaded 2008/2010 machines, and I only dropped down to this 2015 base model last fall (bought new at Microcenter last November, Apple made it until July 2018) as a stopgap to just get something better than my 2010 until Apple fixed the keyboard (and because the base was the only 2015 model Apple kept selling).

Configuration 1:

2.6 i7
32 GB RAM
512 GB SSD
5300M
$2559

Compared to my current machine, this has +2 cores, double the RAM, double the SSD, and a dGPU that outdoes Vega 20 compared to no dGPU now. With the base processor/dGPU, this would also theoretically run the coolest/quietest and have the best battery life, so it's a really attractive build. But at the same time, I don't tax the machine and it stays docked mostly, so does any of that really matter? Not really.

Configuration 2:

Same as #1, but with either 5500M option tacked on. $2649 or $2739.

This is more of a "Why the hell not at least throw in the 4 GB 5500 for just $90?" even though I won't really use it.

Configuration 3:

Same as #1, but with 2.4 i9 for double the cores that I have now. $2839.

Compared to my current machine, this is basically double everything, and would likely have better resale and longevity, which are the only reasons I'm really considering it. But it would run hotter/worse battery life, but would it really with the way I use it? Not really.

Thoughts? Leaning towards #1 or #2 with the base 5500M since it's only $90 more and would give me warm feels.

 

[Sirmausalot]

For your needs, the base computer (even with 16gb of RAM) will be fine for that amount of time EXCEPT possibly the SSD which you may eventually want to store RAW photos, uncompressed music, and perhaps some movies. It sounds like you are cost sensitive, so $400 for RAM you don't need doesn't make sense. For those programs, even IF you do bust over the 16gb, the swap file is so fast and Mac osx so efficient, smart, you won't notice a slowdown. But if you run out of on board disk space, it will be a pain to monkey around with external drives. Though I suppose cloud storage is fine too.

 

[Nacho98]

I should note the only photos I take are with my phone, no DSLR/RAW here.

 

[junkw]

is there a difference in thermal between 4GB 5500 and 8GB 5500?

 

[gplusplus]

OP,

I think you’re a solid use case for the base model.There’s nothing wrong with wanting a bigger screen, good (for a laptop) speakers, good keyboard, and good battery life for a web surfing machine. For what you’re doing, you get all the important parts with the base model.

Today, you’d be just fine with 4 GB of memory, perhaps needing more than 8 but less than 16 in 5 years. You’re doing literally nothing that really calls for the memory. Not that I could see.

I think the video card would be a waste of money for how you plan on using the laptop.

I’d recommend the base model, but you can’t go wrong with more RAM. If you can swing the extra $400 for 32 GB, it won’t hurt and I won’t argue with it. But I also don’t think it’ll help.

 

[terraphantm]

Internet/iTunes/Photo hub, no photo/video editing. Very basic. The ultimate facebook machine!

Get the base model. This is one of those cases where I think you could get away with 16GB even long term, but if you're dead set on 32GB it won't hurt anything other than your wallet. 8 core and the higher end GPU won't give you any benefit even in the future.

It's too bad Apple doesn't make a 15" MBA for people who like the big screen but don't need all the extra capability.

 

[Sirmausalot]

I should note the only photos I take are with my phone, no DSLR/RAW here.

I think the live photos and even videos with the iPhone start to chew up space. And int he future, perhaps more so. But yeah, you're probably fine. The bonus 16GB of RAM will likely go unused unless you are doing graphics/film editing/gaming.

 

[Nacho98]

getting close to option 2

 

[gndolfo]

What about return policy with custom MacBooks? Is still valid 14 days return policy or you can't do that because it's customized/configurated?

Sorry if it's not the proper topic... but I thought it reading about your custom options... :S

 

[Donnation]

I love how people talk about having to have 32GB of RAM to future proof their laptop. You aren’t future proofing anything. You are just paying for RAM that you absolutely don’t need and that your laptop will never use unless you use specific heavy photo, video, or coding applications that demand it.

OP In 5 years you are still gong to have an outdated laptop that will run just as well on 16GB as it will on 32 because no OS or general usage app is going to require that much RAM to function properly.

 

[danwells]

The only upgrade I'd consider is more SSD - as a previous poster said, external drives are a pain.

Alternatively, Apple's sitting on a bunch of unreleased laptops (based on various regulatory filings). One of them is likely to be a 15/16" MacBook Air (or some other name for that type of machine). Will your 2015 hold you until spring? Can you keep the money set aside until then?

You seem like a perfect candidate for that machine - you want the big screen and the new keyboard, but don't really care about the power...

 

[kemo]

Just get bigger SSD on the base machine, you will only scratch the surface with the use cases you have specified in the first post. Wasted money I would say.

 

[Nacho98]

Seems like lots of recommendations to not spend money on RAM/GPU but spend money on a bigger SSD when I have 100 gigs used and don't plan on that changing much in the future? Not saying I'm not entertaining 1 TB SSD models just out of principle (bought my wife a 512 SSD 13" MBP all the way back in 2013 so just seems like 1 TB is the right step change moving beyond 2020 regardless), but really doesn't seem like I would ever come close to even filling a 512 GB. I periodically move some pictures/short videos off my iPhone to my MBP and still can't remember the last time the storage space reduced by even 1 GB.

 

[junkw]

you need 8-core/32GB/1 TB/5500M 8GB

 

[700-Grizz]

Base model is plenty for what you are using it for--done deal!!

 

[cambookpro]

Yeah I'd echo the thoughts that the base model would be a good buy. It's way powerful enough, and because it's the cheapest model it will retain the best resale value (in terms of percentage of original price) in case your needs do drastically change and you want to trade up to a newer model before 5-8 years. No brainer IMO, unless you have the money for the RAM/SSD/GPU upgrades burning a hole in your pocket.

The notion of computers with upgraded CPUs having better longevity is a bit of a myth. For example, you don't see the newest macOS updates being tied to a 2.5 GHz i5 or faster. It's always done on which year the Mac was produced in. Plus, by the time the software is so taxing it runs noticeably better on an i9 than an i7, in all likelihood there will have been other (non-CPU) upgrades which make more of a difference day-to-day (e.g. support for newer WiFi/Bluetooth protocols, significantly different form factor, newer I/O, newer OS which is now unsupported etc.) which would make upgrading the whole machine a wiser decision.

 

[Donnation]

OP have you looked at the MacBook Air? It’s a smaller device obviously but it feels like it would be the perfect laptop for what you are looking for. If you got a MacBook Air with 16GB of Ram and a 512GB SSD I think you’d have a perfect device for your needs and it would save you a ton of money.

 

[Nacho98]

I don't like the Air, used to have one. Also don't like the 13" pro - I just love the thick slab of aluminum of the 15"/16" models and those speaker grilles.

 

[Donnation]

I don't like the Air, used to have one. Also don't like the 13" pro - I just love the thick slab of aluminum of the 15"/16" models and those speaker grilles.

I for sure understand. If you have the money then spec it out as much as you want if that makes you happy.

 

[Nacho98]

FINALLY made a decision.

Option 2 with the best dGPU:

Really balanced configuration - i7/32/512/8GB 5500 - poverty spec processor and storage, middle RAM option, top dGPU option. Feels well balanced and reasonably priced.

 

[junkw]

I like your choice