Apple sillicon buying advice - upgrade from intel

[peter2022026]

Hi all!

I am planning on getting my first Apple Silicon Mac (coming from an Intel i9 16-inch MacBook Pro) and need some advice on which device I should purchase.

My primary focus is working with large files in graphic design apps such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. I also process numerous of heavy raw files using Capture One. Additionally, I do product design 3D modeling using Rhino and do some light video editing. In the near future, I will learn to use Blender as well, so having some extra headroom for 3d stuff is also important.

All I care about is the best possible smoothness when working within those apps intensively and the operating system itself while opening multiple apps. Render, export times are not my priority since I can working on other stuff while waiting for it. I also hope that when under heavy workload, the computer needs to be more quiet than my existing macbook pro.

Right now, my budget allow me to configure a brand-new Mac Mini M4 Pro with a 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU + 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (for education discount it is $1,479). But I also spotted some older M1 Max Mac Studios that are around the same price, and they often come with even more RAM (64GB) while still having 1TB of storage.

I’ve always heard that more RAM is a good thing for photoshop, illustrator, but I’m not sure if I should trade off some newer chip performance for more RAM in my situation where there are more stuff to handle than those 2 apps. My i9 macbook curre have 16 gb ram and I ran into lots of memory warnings so Im worry that maybe 24 gb of the mini might not be enough.

 

[gilby101]

My i9 macbook curre have 16 gb ram and I ran into lots of memory warnings so Im worry that maybe 24 gb of the mini might not be enough.

That is your first decision point. Along with the list of apps you use, I suggest 32GB at least. You still need lots of RAM and, whilst it is managed more efficiently, there is no separate video RAM (it now consumes main memory). Photoshop. etc. do not, magically, need less RAM.

You are probably safe to get 1TB internal disk. You can always add external Thunderbolt SSDs. But, I presume, you already know your requirements from your current work and don't really need advice.

M1 vs M4: I would not consider an M1 as the chip is significantly less functional (particularly if you might want AI in the future) and will become "obsolete" and unsupported long before the newer Mini. The discussion re M4 Pro Mini and various high end Studios is interesting/complex. If it were me, I would only be thinking about a Studio if I knew I needed more than 64GB RAM and/or have regular long running video rendering.

Just make sure that the Mini is positioned for good air flow.

 

[aakshey]

You only have 16 gig RAM with an Intel SoC. An M4 Pro with 24 gig is easily like having an Intel with 32 gig RAM, especially for tasks that aren't both RAM + VRAM intensive at the same time.

Though M1 Max will be very comparable to M4 Pro for a wide range of things in terms of raw performance sans any lack of features.

Both are great options though I would rather go for M3/M4 Pro with 36-48+ GB RAM if that is an option if you really need that much RAM.

However considering you're using an Intel SoC with 16 gig RAM, you'll be much better off with M4 Pro with 24 gig RAM.

 

[benwiggy]

The next step up from 24Gb of RAM on the M4 Pro is 48Gb, at $400.

24Gb should be fine; though more RAM is always better.

I ran into lots of memory warnings

That happens if: either your disk is so full that enough swap cannot be generated; or if a process has asked for excessive virtual memory address space (which has nothing to do with physical RAM).

Under normal situations, you don't "run out of memory", whatever you're doing.

Memory use is not like filling up a jug of water, or dividing up beans between people.

Virtual memory mapping, memory compression and swap means that it's a lot more of a big ball of "wibbly-wobbly memory-wemory" stuff than a straight-line resource. Apple Silicon Macs are very good at coping with high memory pressure.

Unless Adobe have really screwed the pooch, I wouldn't consider Photoshop and Illustrator use significant tasks for all but the most complex workflows. These CPUs are designed for applying filters to 8K video on-the-fly.

 

[Basic75]

I’ve always heard that more RAM is a good thing for photoshop, illustrator, but I’m not sure if I should trade off some newer chip performance for more RAM in my situation where there are more stuff to handle than those 2 apps. My i9 macbook curre have 16 gb ram and I ran into lots of memory warnings so Im worry that maybe 24 gb of the mini might not be enough.

I would get at least 32GB. Remember that even the base M1 is faster than your i9 processor in multi-threaded applications and trounces it in single-threaded performance. Of course that's not the only performance critical component. Not sure how Blender compares to Cinema which can easily run out of RAM with 32GB and even 64GB if you do any serious stuff.

 

[Basic75]

or if a process has asked for excessive virtual memory address space (which has nothing to do with physical RAM).

That can't happen anymore? ARMv8 and @peter2022026's i9 have a 48bit virtual address space.

 

[Basic75]

Apple Silicon Macs are very good at coping with high memory pressure.

I would think this is more of an operating system features. What do Apple Silicon Macs do better than Intel ones?

 

[benwiggy]

What do Apple Silicon Macs do better than Intel ones?

The faster memory bandwidth is extremely significant; as is the faster SSD. The dedicated compression hardware is also better.

a 48bit virtual address space.

Which is why it's likely to be an error in the application. Lack of space for swap is the other option.
Normally, the OS doesn't just hit the wall and stop. "Out of memory" usually means "something's gone wrong", rather than "run out of gas".

I've seen 8Gb Mac Minis deal with over 24Gb of actual data, with "some sluggishness", and nothing else.

 

[mpw51]

You can get a used Macbook pro 16 2021 M1 with 32g used on Ebay for around the 700.00 USD price.
If you did all work on the Intel machine the M1 should be a big upgrade, you should be fine with an M1.
The pro 16 has all kinds ports as well.

 

[MarineBand5524]

That is your first decision point. Along with the list of apps you use, I suggest 32GB at least. You still need lots of RAM and, whilst it is managed more efficiently, there is no separate video RAM (it now consumes main memory). Photoshop. etc. do not, magically, need less RAM.

You are probably safe to get 1TB internal disk. You can always add external Thunderbolt SSDs. But, I presume, you already know your requirements from your current work and don't really need advice.

M1 vs M4: I would not consider an M1 as the chip is significantly less functional (particularly if you might want AI in the future) and will become "obsolete" and unsupported long before the newer Mini. The discussion re M4 Pro Mini and various high end Studios is interesting/complex. If it were me, I would only be thinking about a Studio if I knew I needed more than 64GB RAM and/or have regular long running video rendering.

Just make sure that the Mini is positioned for good air flow.

My M1 Max 32GB has handled insane 3D modeling and hasn't even broke a sweat. I still haven't heard the fans kick on at all.

 

[benwiggy]

You still need lots of RAM and, whilst it is managed more efficiently, there is no separate video RAM (it now consumes main memory). Photoshop. etc. do not, magically, need less RAM.

Remember that all Intel Macs with integrated Intel graphics used 1.5Gb of main RAM for the GPU; so there was no "separate video RAM" anyway, unless you had an AMD Radeon unit.

Unified Memory reduces the need to compartmentalise and duplicate data for the GPU further, so there is a saving overall.

More RAM can (will) always be put to good use, but less RAM isn't such a fatal limitation either.

 

[Basic75]

Unified Memory reduces the need to compartmentalise and duplicate data for the GPU further, so there is a saving overall.

With integrated CPUs and GPUs that can share page tables we have finally circled back to where the Amiga was 40 years ago.