Help deciding MBP15 (2018) config

[Onctech]

I need some advice regarding which 15in to buy. I currently have a 13in MBP (2016) but want more screen real estate. I do some RAW photo editing in photoshop/lightroom, multiple document word processing, excel, multiple tabs in safari. I don't do any video editing. May get into some light gaming. The 2 configurations I'm deciding between are:

1. 2.2/512/16/555X (may upgrade to 32GB RAM)

2. 2.6/512/16/560X (base config)

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[seeforyourself]

I’d say 1.

The 555X GPU already has 4gb of ram, which was a selling point for me for the 2016 GPU upgrade (the base had 2gb of ram while the upgrade was 4gb.

The 32gb of ram will be great if you decide to keep the laptop longer. The 2.2ghz and 2.6ghz isn’t as great as a difference in the future as oppose to 16b/32gb of ram.


Definitely go with choice 1.

 

[Mac-key]

I second getting 32GB of RAM - This will ensure your ability to use the machine for years to come

 

[SRLMJ23]

I third getting the machine with 32GB of RAM, for the same reasons stated above. Just makes the most sense, and you really will not see any difference at all between the 2.2ghz and the 2.6ghz CPU.

 

[aimbdd]

I would honestly go the other way, I have a similar use / slightly heavier, and with everything you have listed open at the same time, I've never seen the memory pressure go any higher than green. There is a little bit of difference between the two graphics processors, if you are going to go into gaming as well.

 

[PeterJP]

For the Adobe programs, you won't notice a difference between the two GPUs. Nor will you notice any difference between the 2.2 and the 2.6GHz i7s: UserBenchmark lists all the differences as "slightly faster".
I've had a very bad experience in the past with a PC that overheated. It became worse with time and I had to repair it several times, reapplying thermal paste. That's no fun. Except when the reviews say there is no problem at all with the higher spec'ed CPUs, I would definitely go for the bottom one. Same for the GPU: you can always add an eGPU afterwards, which will make much more of a difference than that between 555X and 560X.
As for the RAM... I got my first 16GB machine in 2012. The 2013 13" rMBP that I'm typing this on has 8GB. While I am using it for light VMs, I haven't found it lacking. I think you should probably be OK with 16GB. But if you're planning to move on to 40+MP cameras, maybe 32GB is a good idea to future proof it, if you want to keep it for longer than your current 2016 machine

 

[Onctech]

Thanks everyone. I think I’ll go for option 1. Hopefully it won’t get as warm as the higher base model.

Now the only question is how much RAM...? My most intense usage will probably be editing photos occasionally (for personal use). I have a full frame SLR which takes 36 MP photos. I plan to use Lightroom/Photoshop. I usually buy a new laptop every 2-3 years.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[CB98]

Thanks everyone. I think I’ll go for option 1. Hopefully it won’t get as warm as the higher base model.

Now the only question is how much RAM...? My most intense usage will probably be editing photos occasionally (for personal use). I have a full frame SLR which takes 36 MP photos. I plan to use Lightroom/Photoshop. I usually buy a new laptop every 2-3 years.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

I’d say go with the 32. You really won’t regret the extra cash in future as the potential jump in performance is so huge. Batch processing of 36 MP photos will be so smooth!

 

[Ryan1524]

Go with more ram.

I did 16GB and 1TB SSD on my 2013 MBP. Still performs well today.

 

[maerz001]

Thanks everyone. I think I’ll go for option 1. Hopefully it won’t get as warm as the higher base model.

Now the only question is how much RAM...? My most intense usage will probably be editing photos occasionally (for personal use). I have a full frame SLR which takes 36 MP photos. I plan to use Lightroom/Photoshop. I usually buy a new laptop every 2-3 years.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

For personal use and 3years 16GB is fine.

With apples free keyboard repair I would even recommend now a refurbished 2017 model.

But if you have all the money and really want the latest and greatest...

 

[Onctech]

For personal use and 3years 16GB is fine.

With apples free keyboard repair I would even recommend now a refurbished 2017 model.

But if you have all the money and really want the latest and greatest...

Thanks. I type a lot in meetings and take notes. The quieter the keyboard, the better.
[doublepost=1531912849][/doublepost]Thanks! I ended up ordering 2.2/512/32/560X. Hopefully I won’t regret not getting the 2.6 but I don’t think I will since there’s not much of a difference according to the tests. Hopefully the 2.2 runs cooler than the 2.6.

 

[Fishrrman]

My opinion only, but 16gb of RAM should be "enough" for your needs.

I'd suggest choice #2.

Oops... too late now!

 

[OSX15]

Thanks. I type a lot in meetings and take notes. The quieter the keyboard, the better.
[doublepost=1531912849][/doublepost]Thanks! I ended up ordering 2.2/512/32/560X. Hopefully I won’t regret not getting the 2.6 but I don’t think I will since there’s not much of a difference according to the tests. Hopefully the 2.2 runs cooler than the 2.6.

I am thinking about the exact same config! Please let us know how you like it. I feel it should help with better thermal performance and good battery life!

 

[littlepud]

I would go with the 560. It has 1024 stream processor cores vs. the 768 of the 555.