2019 13" base Mackbook Pro for web/graphic design

[Prissy]

Hi, I am looking to buy a 2019 base 13" Mackbook Pro for web & graphic design, I am probably going to have Adobe Photoshop/Indesign/XD open at the same time. So below are the specs for the base model, I was told by my IT to updated the 8GB memory to 16GB.

1.4GHz quad‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory

What do you guys think? Will it be slow? Thanks.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Hi, I am looking to buy a 2019 base 13" Mackbook Pro for web & graphic design, I am probably going to have Adobe Photoshop/Indesign/XD open at the same time. So below are the specs for the base model, I was told by my IT to updated the 8GB memory to 16GB.

1.4GHz quad‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory

What do you guys think? Will it be slow? Thanks.

It’s a 4c/8t CPU with a relatively low clock speed that performs fairly well at the higher speeds for short terms CPU tasks, but should sustain just fine for the sort of work you are describing. It also comes with Iris Plus iGPU, which should work well. You can always add an eGPU in the future if absolutely necessary. Yes, you need the 16GB upgrade and I would recommend the 512GB SSD upgrade as well just to get the best combo of size and speed out of the SSD...1TB if you can afford it, but it’s not necessary. Avoid the 128GB and 256GB unless you need to save cash. Spend the money on the DRAM instead.

 

[MistrSynistr]

I have the 2019 13" 16gb 1.4 for LARGE RAW files, graphic and web. Works perfect.

 

[aloper]

I’m also a web/graphic designer using Adobe apps as well...Dreamweaver, Photoshop, XD, Lightroom, day to day. While I primarily work on a desktop PC, I do use my MacBook Pro from time to time. I got by using a 2014 MBP with only 8gb of RAM and a 512GB SSD until this year when I upgraded to a 16 MBP with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

The 2014 would get a little sluggish at times, moving from app to app, and doing certain things but not to the point of not being useable...But I think zdigital’s advice above is spot on. Go for the 16GB of RAM first...this will reduce disk cache swapping with multiple apps open. The 512GB SSD will give plenty of room for apps and large files.

 

[ja14000]

I have the i7/16gb variant and I find that the performance is fantastic.

However if you are running sustained heavy workloads, the system will get annoyingly loud as the fans come on, to the point that I've had several colleagues complain about the noise.

I've just sold mine and switched to a 4 port model and I'm finding that although I'm not noticing any performance gains, the system is significantly quieter when performing the same workloads.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I have the i7/16gb variant and I find that the performance is fantastic.

However if you are running sustained heavy workloads, the system will get annoyingly loud as the fans come on, to the point that I've had several colleagues complain about the noise.

I've just sold mine and switched to a 4 port model and I'm finding that although I'm not noticing any performance gains, the system is significantly quieter when performing the same workloads.

I was going to mention to @Prissy that for +$300USD, the 13” MBP w/2.4GHz Core i5 16GB/512GB SSD ($2199) might be a better long term buy, given that it has 4 TB3 ports, two fans instead of one, slightly faster Iris Plus 655 and is equipped with a 28w TDP CPU...especially if they anticipate a lot of sustained loads versus bursty, where the 1.4GHz 15w TDP CPU will be cheaper and just as fast for shorter term tasks. I tend to ignore fan noise myself as it is the price of laptops this thin, but I know it seems to annoy others to no end.

 

[Prissy]

I was going to mention to @Prissy that for +$300USD, the 13” MBP w/2.4GHz Core i5 16GB/512GB SSD ($2199) might be a better long term buy, given that it has 4 TB3 ports, two fans instead of one, slightly faster Iris Plus 655 and is equipped with a 28w TDP CPU...especially if they anticipate a lot of sustained loads versus bursty, where the 1.4GHz 15w TDP CPU will be cheaper and just as fast for shorter term tasks. I tend to ignore fan noise myself as it is the price of laptops this thin, but I know it seems to annoy others to no end.

Thank you all for the fast replies. So after some deciding I think I am leaning toward this one:
13.3-inch MacBook Pro 1.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
256GB SSD1
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...14e5e6fdf091247573eacf05e7a20224367c2b4d9fc3f

I would love to get more harddrive spaces but cannot afford it, I may just get an external harddrive later on. But I really still want to save a bit more money, is it a good idea to just get the 1.4GHz i5?

 

[Zdigital2015]

Thank you all for the fast replies. So after some deciding I think I am leaning toward this one:
13.3-inch MacBook Pro 1.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
256GB SSD1
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...14e5e6fdf091247573eacf05e7a20224367c2b4d9fc3f

I would love to get more harddrive spaces but cannot afford it, I may just get an external harddrive later on. But I really still want to save a bit more money, is it a good idea to just get the 1.4GHz i5?

I would not waste $300 on the 1.7GHz Core i7, but instead move to the 2.4GHz Core i5 as the higher TDP of the 28w CPU as I suggested in my earlier message either by waiting for the 1.4GHz/16GB/512GB to come back into stock or grabbing the 2.4GHz/16GB/512GB when it comes back into the Refurbished section.
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Thank you all for the fast replies. So after some deciding I think I am leaning toward this one:
13.3-inch MacBook Pro 1.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
256GB SSD1
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...14e5e6fdf091247573eacf05e7a20224367c2b4d9fc3f

I would love to get more harddrive spaces but cannot afford it, I may just get an external harddrive later on. But I really still want to save a bit more money, is it a good idea to just get the 1.4GHz i5?

The 1.4 Core i5/16GB/512GB is $1609.00 and is available here - https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...-intel-core-i5-with-retina-display-space-gray - which is cheaper than the one in your link and has the 512GB SSD. Food for thought.

 

[Howard2k]

I would not waste $300 on the 1.7GHz Core i7, but instead move to the 2.4GHz Core i5 as the higher TDP of the 28w CPU as I suggested in my earlier message either by waiting for the 1.4GHz/16GB/512GB to come back into stock or grabbing the 2.4GHz/16GB/512GB when it comes back into the Refurbished section.
[automerge]1579806369[/automerge]

Seconded. The 2.4GHz has faster CPU, Wifi, SSD, and graphics than the 1.7.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Seconded. The 2.4GHz has faster CPU, Wifi, SSD, and graphics than the 1.7.

The flip side is that a refurb 2.4/16GB/512GB SSD is going to cost $1869, which seems more than the OP wants to pay at this time.

 

[Cosmo M3]

Just wanted to fill you in with my experience.

I've had the base model of the new 13" MBP for months now and I was just getting by. I thought it was more than enough for my daily uses such as web browsing, YouTube, light spreadsheets and light photo editing in LR (I'm a photographer as well). I've eventually started to have anxiety of either running out of RAM for simple tasks or running out of storage (or both). Just yesterday, I've ordered a refurbed 2019 13" MBP with the same CPU, but bumped the RAM to 16GB and storage to 256GB. It was money well worth it as the total package came out to less than $1500 (vs. $1300 new for the base model).

Do yourself a favor and get the larger storage and RAM, especially with the refurbished price being more reasonable vs. buying new for a base model.

 

[aloper]

The only other advice to offer would also depend on how soon you need it?
It‘s pretty much an open secret that a new 13” is coming very soon...which will help push down prices I would imagine on existing 13’s and refurbs...