Is it worth getting an intel 16 inch macbook maxed out? As opposed to the new one

[dukebound85]

yes, the m1 machines are alot better*

However, if you can pick up one, like I did, for under 50% the cost, then that is a deal in my book

It is not like these are bad machines at all. They even have benefits if you still need to boot windows or utilize an EGPU

 

[saintmac]

If you plan on using it with an external monitor, do not get that 5500m config.
Get the 5600m or go M1 Pro.

The 5300m and 5500m have a bug that get them to use 20w of power as soon as you plug any external monitor. Yes they are some edge cases (like if you use a LG 5k and use it in clamshell mode, this behaviour doesn't appear) but overall it makes the fans spin up. You can mitigate this by using turbo boost switcher but as said by someone else it cripples the performance.

Anyway I've been using the config you are planning on getting (with 64g of RAM) for 2 years and I'm considering the M1 Pros mostly because of this.

 

[Hunter5117]

To answer your direct question, there is no way I would spend a significant amount of $$ on a high end Intel Mac at this point. Even if you got half off, that is still likely going to be the cost of an entry level or higher 14" M1 Pro which would be the 100% better choice.

I have been toying with a similar dilemma regarding 13" M1 vs 13" I5 with more memory for less money. The old me keeps saying "more ram = good" while the new me says "M1 = better" and of course both say "less $$ = great".

So far I am sticking with the M1. This is not my primary or only computer so the ram should be fine and I do really want to be learning about the Apple silicon world first hand.

 

[Dovahkiing]

yes, the m1 machines are alot better*

However, if you can pick up one, like I did, for under 50% the cost, then that is a deal in my book

It is not like these are bad machines at all. They even have benefits if you still need to boot windows or utilize an EGPU

This is the right answer. It all depends on what you're going to have to pay for a maxed out 16" Intel machine. If you can get one for $1000 or less, sure that might makes sense for you. But if you have to pay the better part of $2,000 for it - which I suspect will be the case - it's a flat out NO in my book. Sure, the prior gen machines are still good computers, but if you're in the market for a machine in the ballpark of a couple thousand dollars, why would you not pay ~25% more for 200% the performance?

I am interested to see how the used market values evolve here. I anticipate that the more recent Intel machines - like my 16" 2019 - will deprecate in value faster than Macbook Pro's historically do. I wonder if anyone recalls what the used market was like for maxed out Powerbooks in late 2006?

 

[DNichter]

No, not worth it. It’s not even really worth it to get a 2021 maxed out 16 inch. The base seems to be very good for most tasks unless you need it for something very niche and specific.

 

[Hunter5117]

I am interested to see how the used market values evolve here. I anticipate that the more recent Intel machines - like my 16" 2019 - will deprecate in value *much* faster than Macbook Pro's historically do. I wonder if anyone recalls what the used market was like for maxed out Powerbooks in late 2006?

First, you and I are in the same boat. I have a 2019 I9, 16gb and 1tb that I figure I am going to keep for a good long time because the resale value is going to be really low.

Secondly and I have been thinking about this a lot, I don't think we can compare the switch to Apple Silicon to the switch to Intel. In the early 2000s, OSX was still relatively new and Macs were much less mainstream. I had been in the computer business up to shortly before that and Mac users were still pretty much a niche group other than publishing and photo editing. iPod marketing and adoption really made Apple an everyday topic of attention.

Today macs are much more a part of mainstream computing both in home and business. On one hand Apple has a huge installed base of Intel to support for some reasonable period of time, and on the other hand there will be a relatively high level of migration to the new machines especially of we start to see software that really makes them the killer deal to be using. Whenever the Intel dump occurs I think it will be at very cheap prices.

 

[esaelias187]

I went with the new one

 

[jungleghost]

It's crazy how 1 year and a while ago people were crazy screaming around how great the MacBook Pro 16 was. Mysteriously, it turned to crap.
Don't follow the forum fanatics or YouTube clickbaiters, next year the M1 MAX will be rubbish too.

You can buy the intel 16" yes, just make sure you secure a good price, that setup you described for less than $1600 is definitely worth it.

 

[1rottenapple]

If you can get a Good deal. I’m trying to sell my 16 in with 1tb and no one wants to buy it, I’ve dropped the price to 1700 and no messages on swappa or fb or cl. I’m waiting for the trade in deadline from apple cause I may just turn it in for 1350. The values have really tanked so crap a good deal if you can.

 

[synicalx1]

Good if you need Bootcamp support I guess? That's the main reason I'll be sticking with my iMac for a while.

 

[esaelias187]

If you can get a Good deal. I’m trying to sell my 16 in with 1tb and no one wants to buy it, I’ve dropped the price to 1700 and no messages on swappa or fb or cl. I’m waiting for the trade in deadline from apple cause I may just turn it in for 1350. The values have really tanked so crap a good deal if you can.

How many gigs

 

[esaelias187]

It's crazy how 1 year and a while ago people were crazy screaming around how great the MacBook Pro 16 was. Mysteriously, it turned to crap.
Don't follow the forum fanatics or YouTube clickbaiters, next year the M1 MAX will be rubbish too.

You can buy the intel 16" yes, just make sure you secure a good price, that setup you described for less than $1600 is definitely worth it.

i mean its more to do with silicone

next year even tho the m1 max will he old but its silicone so support for apps will be based around silicone

but u cannot really find a good deal

iv been seeing costs like 1800 pounds

 

[esaelias187]

so I found a deal 1600 on ebay

i9

5500m 8gb

1 tb

32gb

I know people say it runs hot but im getting it as a desk top replacement mainly light work and browsing ad Netflix etc

bigest problem is the new upcoming apps will be based around silicone so will intel cpu still be able to run them?

 

[ascender]

Unless you absolutely need an Intel-based Mac, there's no reason to buy one now unless you are on a budget and can't afford to buy the new ones - there are going to be some great bargains out there on eBay now.

 

[esaelias187]

Unless you absolutely need an Intel-based Mac, there's no reason to buy one now unless you are on a budget and can't afford to buy the new ones - there are going to be some great bargains out there on eBay now.

well the 5500m graphic cards are better than than the new ones right? so im guessing if you wanted to bootcamp and play games intel one would be better

 

[ascender]

well the 5500m graphic cards are better than than the new ones right? so im guessing if you wanted to bootcamp and play games intel one would be better

Bootcamp is an excellent reason to go for an Intel machine. I've seen a few people who are considering keeping their old MBPs just for that reason.

 

[Falhófnir]

I did consider this as I have modest computing needs (office stuff) and I prefer the design… overall though the worse battery life, only Thunderbolt ports, and potential for constant fan noise even for light tasks massively outweighs any minuscule savings to be had. Maybe it would be worth it if any stores had liquidation sales and you could get it for ~£1,750 (I saw 2018s going for that price once) it might still be worth it for certain scenarios, but otherwise no.

 

[fa8362]

bigest problem is the new upcoming apps will be based around silicone so will intel cpu still be able to run them?

No, not unless they're also built to run on Intel.

 

[jungleghost]

so I found a deal 1600 on ebay

i9

5500m 8gb

1 tb

32gb

I know people say it runs hot but im getting it as a desk top replacement mainly light work and browsing ad Netflix etc

bigest problem is the new upcoming apps will be based around silicone so will intel cpu still be able to run them?

C'mon boy. There are milions of Macs using intel CPU around the world.
They became main stream computers.
No way apple will stop supporting it now, even third party devs.
For what you'll make an app? For 50.000 M1, Pro and Max? Or doe 1.000.000 intel???

 

[1rottenapple]

How many gigs

16 and it has applecare but i finally got someone interested so hopefully they buy it before I turn it into apple for the trade in.

 

[1rottenapple]

I sure apple w

C'mon boy. There are milions of Macs using intel CPU around the world.
They became main stream computers.
No way apple will stop supporting it now, even third party devs.
For what you'll make an app? For 50.000 M1, Pro and Max? Or doe 1.000.000 intel???

ill support intek for several more years. Probably 4 I bet.

 

[rezwits]

He's trolling us.

I mean unless you like smoking crack...

Dude and just in case you're NOT trolling us, the older machines the Keyboards go bad right under 3 years. I had 2017 and 2019 both did the same thing (real use).

So unless you know someone who used theirs for 2.5 years (w Care) and said HEY fix this left Command key and "S" key, which means $99 AppleCare covered "new top replacement"

Your keyboard's gonna blow... I mean I honestly think for the 5 year crowd, Apple (is wanting customers to get the 3 year AppleCare) and then at the 2.5 year mark fix the keys/top, then go another 2.5 and get your 5 YEARS of HEAVY USE...

2¢

 

[profH]

Owner of 16" MBP Intel and MacBook Air M1. Apple Silicon vs. Intel feels like the difference between SSD and HDD.

 

[haruhiko]

Owner of 16" MBP Intel and MacBook Air M1. Apple Silicon vs. Intel feels like the difference between SSD and HDD.

Can’t describe it better myself. As much as I love my 2017 27-inch Intel iMac with i7 and 32GB of RAM, it still feels much slower than my 8/8 cores 8GB RAM M1 MacBook Air. ??‍♂️

 

[smbu2000]

He's trolling us.

I mean unless you like smoking crack...

Dude and just in case you're NOT trolling us, the older machines the Keyboards go bad right under 3 years. I had 2017 and 2019 both did the same thing (real use).

So unless you know someone who used theirs for 2.5 years (w Care) and said HEY fix this left Command key and "S" key, which means $99 AppleCare covered "new top replacement"

Your keyboard's gonna blow... I mean I honestly think for the 6 year crowd, Apple (is wanting customers to get the 3 year AppleCare) and then at the 2.5 year mark fix the keys/top, then go another 2.5 and get your 5 YEARS of HEAVY USE...

2¢

The 2019 16" MBP was the first MBP that ditched the butterfly keyboard and went with the Magic Keyboard like current Macs. The keyboard will be fine.

As for the OP: Well I'd say it depends on the price you can get it at and how much storage you can get/need. To get 1TB on the new 14" MBP adds another $200 to the base price. 2TB adds another $400 on top of that. If you require that on your system and can get a 16" MBP with more storage , then it might be a good deal if you can get it for much cheaper than the 14", especially if it is more of a desktop replacement. If 500GB is all you need then most likely the 14" would be better.