Base Config M1 Max MBP 16 in with 32gb RAM, or go for 64gb RAM?

[Coolio1234]

If going for the base config model of the MBP 16in (1 TB, 32gb RAM, m1 max) for ~3500 anyways, would the 64gb config be worth the price jump/shipping time?

Can’t really say I’d get close to using 64gb right now… but I just want to know if having the 32gb ram along with M1 Max chip would actually be worse in terms of performance. I notice All of the tests apple showed in the event were run using top specs for various GPU intensive programs, is it safe to assume that having half the RAM would result in half the improvement speed?

It’s not really a matter of buying for use case or anything, I am just a fan of tech and if there’s a 1% chance I don’t notice the 32 vs. 64gb then I’ll be happy!

 

[glindon]

If you plan on using the machine a long time I'd go for it. I went with the 64 because there's no way to upgrade memory and for future resale value. If you only have the extra $400 I'd actually go with 2gb storage upgrade because that would actually be more valuable for resale (and also less wear on the drive). You could also just go with the base $3500 machine and return it if not getting the upgrade bothers you.

 

[Coolio1234]

If you plan on using the machine a long time I'd go for it. I went with the 64 because there's no way to upgrade memory and for future resale value. If you only have the extra $400 I'd actually go with 2gb storage upgrade because that would actually be more valuable for resale (and also less wear on the drive). You could also just go with the base $3500 machine and return it if not getting the upgrade bothers you.

Hmm. Do you know if having 32gb and 32 gpu cores is a bad mix in the long run?

Also, I’m unaware of that wear on the drive aspect you speak of... what do you mean?

 

[glindon]

Hmm. Do you know if having 32gb and 32 gpu cores is a bad mix in the long run?

Also, I’m unaware of that wear on the drive aspect you speak of... what do you mean?

SSD's only have so many times that a block of storage can be written to. SSD's are over provisioned for this reason. So depending on the SSD it could be 10% or more. So as an example a 1tb drive has an extra hidden 100gb of space on it. Over time as data is written to the same block of storage that block will die and a hidden block will take it's place. Having a larger drive just means you will get more over provision space. It's always better to have extra free space on an SSD.

There is no speed difference on the 32gb vs 64gb like there is with the 16gb vs 32gb (and also the reason why you have to get the max if you want 32gb). It just boils down to do you need 64gb for apps or do you just want it just because.

 

[Coolio1234]

SSD's only have so many times that a block of storage can be written to. SSD's are over provisioned for this reason. So depending on the SSD it could be 10% or more. So as an example a 1tb drive has an extra hidden 100gb of space on it. Over time as data is written to the same block of storage that block will die and a hidden block will take it's place. Having a larger drive just means you will get more over provision space. It's always better to have extra free space on an SSD.

There is no speed difference on the 32gb vs 64gb like there is with the 16gb vs 32gb (and also the reason why you have to get the max if you want 32gb). It just boils down to do you need 64gb for apps or do you just want it just because.

Makes sense. So if I only use .5 TB at most... then I won’t have to worry about 1tb ssd wear?

So memory doesn’t really do anything to battery? Kinda like the gpu cores (if not in use, then no issues.)

 

[glindon]

Makes sense. So if I only use .5 TB at most... then I won’t have to worry about 1tb ssd wear?

So memory doesn’t really do anything to battery? Kinda like the gpu cores (if not in use, then no issues.)

You’d be good with that. Additional memory would use a negligible amount of additional battery.