Looking for the right MacBook Pro

[Sdahe]

Hello,

Im looking into buying a new MacBook Pro and I have a dilemma. Im gonna be using the MBP for photography and graphic art with Adobe apps like Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator. Since money is tight I was looking into the MBP with 24gb of RAM. The computer already comes with 1TB SSS so that is perfect. My question is... is 24gb of RAM gonna be enough for what I'm going to work in?... Another thing is if Im gonna need the M4Pro vs the M4

Thanks

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

How much RAM does whatever you use now need? Use a RAM tool to see how demanding you are on existing computer RAM. If you are regularly close to about 80% of it, you probably need the next tier above whatever it is. For example, if you checked that and saw that you were regularly using- say- 20GB of RAM, I'd be worried only 24GB is too little to cover you for life of device. So I'd be thinking 32GB or 48GB minimum.

The depth of the work in the Adobe apps would influence good answers to this question. Simple work would need less RAM (even less than 24GB). More complicated/complex work would need more RAM. People once ran Photography and Adobe in Macs with 4GB RAM.

How many projects open at the same time? They'll all need chunks of RAM. Again, if you use a RAM monitor with whatever computer you use now, you'll get a sense of how demanding you are now on RAM. That will yield a typical number (amount of RAM used) to which you should go UP from that number. If that number is fairly close (within about 20%-25% to the next tier up, I'd go 2 tiers up or more.

Any video work? Video begs for plenty of RAM.

Lastly, remember with a Mac, you are not buying just for 2025 needs but probably for 2033-35 needs... because there's no upgrading RAM later. So you need to try to anticipate where your computer usage is going in the next 5-10 years too vs. buying "just enough" for what you know you need right now. Else, if you get to 2029 or 2031 and then need much more than 24GB, you toss this Mac and have to buy another.

"money tight" and Mac are increasingly poor pairings. If the money side of that rules, consider embracing a PC where RAM is priced at market instead of 3X-5X market... and it is often slotted and thus upgradable should you need more RAM in a few years. Photography apps and Adobe stuff runs just fine on PC too. You can get much more "horses" for "tight money" in a PC.

Else, if this is "must be Mac," perhaps go used/refurb and maybe consider if you actually need MBpro vs. MBair vs. iPad vs. maybe Mac Mini with a portable screen 17.3" example (one of many) in bag. That example "used like new" on Amazon is $260. M4 Mac Mini with 32GB RAM and 1TB is $1400. As I write this there are 2 M2 MAX Mac Studios with at least 64GB of RAM for < $2K in the Apple refurb store. Carrying bag for Mac Studio. Perhaps it's a game of "think different?"

 

[raythompsontn]

My question is... is 24gb of RAM gonna be enough for what I'm going to work in?... Another thing is if Im gonna need the M4Pro vs the M4

I use the M4 Pro (24GB, 1TB) for almost the exact same software use as you indicate. The 24GB memory is just fine and I have never had memory issues. Some images in PS are 24"x36", 600DPI, with over 30 layers and my system operates just fine.

The biggest slowdown is when importing images into LR and LR is building the previews. Importing 6K images and I can max the CPU for 5 or 6 minutes. The fans will come on but are barely audible. Memory is not an issue when importing.

With Apple, buy the machine, try it with your workload. If the machine does not meet your needs then return the machine with 14 day window. I can only relate my experience. Advice from others that do not use the apps you do, they are only guessing.

I also run PS and LR on a PC with 64GB of memory with a high end I9 CPU. I notice no speed humanly discernible speed difference between the two machines.

More memory is always good but will meet a point of diminishing returns, specifically cost. And with Apple that extra memory is not cheap. Storage is good but cheaper options are available using external storage. Storing images on external drives is an excellent option and with TB4 (or TB5) speed issues are negligible.

As to the choice between the M4 and M4 Pro, PS and LR will not know the difference and I don't think you will either.

 

[raythompsontn]

So you need to try to anticipate where your computer usage is going in the next 5-10 years too vs. buying "just enough" for what you know you need right now. Else, if you get to 2029 or 2031 and then need much more than 24GB, you toss this Mac and have to buy another.

I see that argument all the time. Truth be told what was working 10 years ago is probably working now for almost everyone. Those that need continual performance increases will always need to upgrade regardless of their starting configuration.

I have used PCs and Macs that are almost 10 years old, with the same software I am using now on the new machines. The only real speed boost was the arrival the SSD. Getting rid of that spinning rust was the big increase. I don't see that changing for the next 10 years. Prices will drop, sizes will increase, speed perhaps trivially.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If you bought a Mac 10 years ago, you may have one with slotted RAM and replaceable drives. That's all gone now with Silicon. Think about the future or ignore it and then suffer the consequences if one needs more of either or both later. Do a search to find all those "my Fusion Drive is dead/dying" Apple people with about 10 year old Macs. Do they have any choice other than buying a brand new Mac? They do- they can replace the dead Fusion Drive. If they do, that relatively small cost will probably buy them a few more years with the Mac they already own.

5 years from now if anyone needs more RAM or internal SSD or either of those conk in a Mac purchased in 2025, it's basically over: buy a whole new Mac.

Those able to easily replace Macs like they are phones, no problem ignoring or downplaying such realities. But notice how OP explicitly says "money is tight." Such consumers probably need long use life from this kind of purchase and now they have to get it right in 2025 because there's no evolving it in 2028, 2030, 2032, etc.

 

[raythompsontn]

If you bought a Mac 10 years ago, you may have one with slotted RAM and replaceable drives

I never said bought a Mac, I said I used a Mac from 10 years ago.

notice how OP explicitly says "money is tight."

Then don't overspend now for resources that may not be needed as the current resources will work just fine. My last personal PC was 9 years old when I built another machine. The upgrade in speed was noticeable for some tasks, but not for Photoshop and only specific tasks in Lightroom.

What was noticeable was the installation of Windows from scratch. The entire installation of Windows, from a thumb drive, took 45 seconds from start to the initial screen. Boot time is less than 30 seconds. Faster certainly. But did it affect my workflow and time? Nope.

5 years from now if anyone needs more RAM or internal SSD or either of those conk in a Mac purchased in 2025, it's basically over: buy a whole new Mac.

I have faced the same issue with my Surface laptop. I had one about four years ago that just died. It wouldn't boot no matter how much I swore at the machine. Memory, SSD, MB, who knows? Only solution was to buy a new machine. It happens, but not that often.

I have heard the talking point that the size of the OS increases. Yes, but not even by 10% each year. I have heard the talking point about workload increasing over the years. In 10 years a person's workload is not going to increase 25%.

Buy what works now and it will most likely work 8-10 years into the future. The biggest issue is internal storage and for that the storage of choice should be external. For data protection issues if the machine completely fails the data is safe. Moving, or using data, on another machine is much easier.

I understand what you are saying and realize the logic of your position. I just don't think it is that relevant with the hardware and software of today. Spending other people's money is easy, spending my own is more difficult.

 

[Sdahe]

Well I ended up getting the MacBook PRO M4 PRO with 24GB Ram and 512GB SS.. It was the same price as the M4 with 1TB SS. So I compromise the HD space for more performance. Another thing is that I didn't sold my Apple Display so it's a great combo.. while in my office Im connected to the 27" display. Works perfect. All I need is a good external HD