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new macbook pro recommendation for me?

B

bunniel0ver

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 8, 2022
17
4
California, USA
Hello All,
I dont know much about computers at all, so I need your help. I'm currently using 2017 macbook pro (specs are in screenshot), I mainly use photoshop and if i open 5-6 large size raw photos at the same time, the photoshop would start acting weird. So I want to upgrade to the newest 16" macbook pro. I also want to keep a few chat app open while using photoshop, I dont have enough memory to do that currently. I only edit photos, not videos on photoshop. What specs would you recommend to best suit me? M1 pro or M1 max? How much GPU? 32gb memory enough? I do use external storage, so 512 should be plenty for me. Thank you for your help!!
 

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Since it doesn't appear that 16gb ram is cutting it for you, I would just go with the stock entry model but with 32gb ram, which is $2900. Don't really need the MAX model, but the in store model is the 32gb MAX 1tb for $3500 if you don't want to Build to Order.
 
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glindon said:
Since it doesn't appear that 16gb ram is cutting it for you, I would just go with the stock entry model but with 32gb ram, which is $2900. Don't really need the MAX model, but the in store model is the 32gb MAX 1tb for $3500 if you don't want to Build to Order.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I can build to order. The standard GPU should be for me right? I don’t know what it does ??‍♀️
 
Base model 8- or 10-core CPU with 32GB RAM will be plenty. If you have an external monitor, choose the 14-inch. If you're coming from MBA, the 16-inch model is massive.
 
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JPack said:
Base model 8- or 10-core CPU with 32GB RAM will be plenty. If you have an external monitor, choose the 14-inch. If you're coming from MBA, the 16-inch model is massive.
Click to expand...
My current one is 15”, I don’t have an external monitor. I prefer larger screen to view the photos better. I don’t take it out much. So it should be fine. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
 
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As others have said, getting the 16" Pro 10-core CPU /16-core GPU with 32gb memory (and either 512gb or 1TB ssd) should work well.

Just know going in that the wait times right now, depending on where you're located, are likely still long. Eg. in the US, that model is estimated to be last week of March delivery. You save a week or two if you go with the base model (eg. 16gb memory), but in your case, I think it's worth waiting to get the 32gb.
 
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Christopher Kim said:
As others have said, getting the 16" Pro 10-core CPU /16-core GPU with 32gb memory (and either 512gb or 1TB ssd) should work well.

Just know going in that the wait times right now, depending on where you're located, are likely still long. Eg. in the US, that model is estimated to be last week of March delivery. You save a week or two if you go with the base model (eg. 16gb memory), but in your case, I think it's worth waiting to get the 32gb.
Click to expand...
ahhh the made to order takes a while. I see. Thank you for the information!
 
You’d be perfectly fine with a base model 16”. People recommend overbuying but honestly 16gb ram is plenty. I’ve been running developer workloads on a 13” mbp (8-core cpu and gpu, 16gb memory) for over a year and it is always completely fast enough.
 
kevcube said:
You’d be perfectly fine with a base model 16”. People recommend overbuying but honestly 16gb ram is plenty. I’ve been running developer workloads on a 13” mbp (8-core cpu and gpu, 16gb memory) for over a year and it is always completely fast enough.
Click to expand...
Given that the 2021 MBP SSD access is ~ 5,000 MB/s R/W, even if you don't opt for 32 GB Ram I think the 1 TB SSD configuration is worth it in case you need it to use swap. Any external SSD is so slow comparably for the extra $200. ;)
 
kevcube said:
You’d be perfectly fine with a base model 16”. People recommend overbuying but honestly 16gb ram is plenty. I’ve been running developer workloads on a 13” mbp (8-core cpu and gpu, 16gb memory) for over a year and it is always completely fast enough.
Click to expand...
I tried stitching 6 45MP Raw files together in Lightroom on my 16GB model and it handled it fine. I then opened that image up in Photoshop just to have something sucking down more Ram and then edited it in Lightroom and honestly, still pretty smooth and responsive. Pushed the swap used up to 6GB, but memory pressure stayed in the yellow. I think 32GB might be a better bet for the life of the SSD but performance ain't terrible on the 16. I did opt for 1TB storage. I generally have graphics acceleration off in LR.
 
JPack said:
Base model 8- or 10-core CPU with 32GB RAM will be plenty. If you have an external monitor, choose the 14-inch. If you're coming from MBA, the 16-inch model is massive.
Click to expand...

After re-thinking, if i pick the 14” with
Apple M1 Pro with 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
+32GB ram
Do you think that would be more than enough to run photoshop with 5+ large (40mb) raw photos + having a few chat app running?

Thank you for your thoughts
 
Realityck said:
Given that the 2021 MBP SSD access is ~ 5,000 MB/s R/W, even if you don't opt for 32 GB Ram I think the 1 TB SSD configuration is worth it in case you need it to use swap. Any external SSD is so slow comparably for the extra $200. ;)
Click to expand...
Ic ic. I will def consider your recommendation
 
sb in ak said:
I tried stitching 6 45MP Raw files together in Lightroom on my 16GB model and it handled it fine. I then opened that image up in Photoshop just to have something sucking down more Ram and then edited it in Lightroom and honestly, still pretty smooth and responsive. Pushed the swap used up to 6GB, but memory pressure stayed in the yellow. I think 32GB might be a better bet for the life of the SSD but performance ain't terrible on the 16. I did opt for 1TB storage. I generally have graphics acceleration off in LR.
Click to expand...
Thank you for all the detail information! It helps!
 
glindon said:
Since it doesn't appear that 16gb ram is cutting it for you, I would just go with the stock entry model but with 32gb ram, which is $2900. Don't really need the MAX model, but the in store model is the 32gb MAX 1tb for $3500 if you don't want to Build to Order.
Click to expand...

Christopher Kim said:
As others have said, getting the 16" Pro 10-core CPU /16-core GPU with 32gb memory (and either 512gb or 1TB ssd) should work well.

Just know going in that the wait times right now, depending on where you're located, are likely still long. Eg. in the US, that model is estimated to be last week of March delivery. You save a week or two if you go with the base model (eg. 16gb memory), but in your case, I think it's worth waiting to get the 32gb.
Click to expand...
I just fingered out how to multi quote. ?

After re-thinking, if i pick the 14” with
Apple M1 Pro with 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
+32GB ram
Do you think that would be more than enough to run photoshop with 5+ large (40mb) raw photos + having a few chat app running?

Thank you for your thoughts!
 
bunniel0ver said:
I just fingered out how to multi quote. ?

After re-thinking, if i pick the 14” with
Apple M1 Pro with 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
+32GB ram
Do you think that would be more than enough to run photoshop with 5+ large (40mb) raw photos + having a few chat app running?

Thank you for your thoughts!
Click to expand...
That would still be plenty to do what you want to do. However, I would see the 14 and 16 in person as there is a huge difference in screen size. I bought the 16" sight unseen. A couple weeks later I was at a Best Buy and saw the 14 in person and my first impression was how tiny it was next to the 16. Now, if you're going to be plugged into an external monitor most of the time then the screen size is moot, save some money, and go with the 14.
 
glindon said:
That would still be plenty to do what you want to do. However, I would see the 14 and 16 in person as there is a huge difference in screen size. I bought the 16" sight unseen. A couple weeks later I was at a Best Buy and saw the 14 in person and my first impression was how tiny it was next to the 16. Now, if you're going to be plugged into an external monitor most of the time then the screen size is moot, save some money, and go with the 14.
Click to expand...
I see. I’m considering using an external monitor. That’s why I’m wondering if I should go with the 8 core cpu and 14 core GPU to save 300 bucks. ? thank you!
 
bunniel0ver said:
After re-thinking, if i pick the 14” with
Apple M1 Pro with 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
+32GB ram
Do you think that would be more than enough to run photoshop with 5+ large (40mb) raw photos + having a few chat app running?

Thank you for your thoughts
Click to expand...

Yes, that would be plenty. Upgrade the RAM and storage if needed but the no need to touch the CPU.

You can see the benefits of 32GB in this video.

 
JPack said:
Yes, that would be plenty. Upgrade the RAM and storage if needed but the no need to touch the CPU.

You can see the benefits of 32GB in this video.

Click to expand...
Wow this videos help a lot! When I use my current MBP with photoshop and 2-3 chrome page. I don’t even dare open mail or other apps. Because my photos just may not load on photoshop. With my 16gb memory, I usually only see 5gb ram free initially with photoshop and 2-3 chrome, and over time, there will be close to nothing. ?
 
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