Purchasing i7 or i9 with 16gb or 32gb ram

[midouglas]

I’m looking to purchase a MacBook Pro. I’m a creative (graphics/motion) who typically works on desktop but would prefer a laptop for convenience. Looking at the prices, I can either get:

2.9GHz i9, 16GB + 1TB 15” MacbookPro

or

2.6GHz i7, 32GB + 1TB 15” MacbookPro

Any thoughts?

 

[Mr. Dee]

Go with the 32 GBs, you can never have enough RAM. This is a one time purchase, you won't be able to load Newegg.com and buy RAM for it or as them to upgrade at the Store. You are likely to keep it for 3 to 5 years, so, you want it to keep going with anything software wise that comes out in 2022. So, if your projects become more sophisticated you can take on the load.

 

[Zwhaler]

32GB RAM vote from me. The i7 more than kicks ass for prosumer level video editing (heck even professional editing too... just maybe not rendering around the clock unless you have a good cooling fan pad). If you use After Effects, you'll benefit more from the RAM anyway.

 

[Queen6]

Another vote for the RAM, MBP's diminutive chassis is unlikely to allow the i9 to really flex it's muscles for any length of time...

Q-6

 

[stylinexpat]

I got the i7 with 16GB of RAM. That should be plenty. If you want bragging rights and have extra cash buy the i9 with 32GB of RAM. Honestly though I think the i7 8th gen with 16GB of RAM will be plenty powerful and quick.

 

[Sterkenburg]

If you have to choose only one, then I'd say 32GB RAM. The i9 is a beast of a mobile CPU, but the gains are likely not going to be critical. For your kind of workflow, doubling the main memory would be more beneficial in the long run.

 

[haruhiko]

If either one, I would choose the RAM. Anyway on a laptop I think both are not really necessary. i7 with 16GB RAM is okay.

 

[Santabean2000]

I’m looking to purchase a MacBook Pro. I’m a creative (graphics/motion) who typically works on desktop but would prefer a laptop for convenience. Looking at the prices, I can either get:

2.9GHz i9, 16GB + 1TB 15” MacbookPro

or

2.6GHz i7, 32GB + 1TB 15” MacbookPro

Any thoughts?

2.6GHz i7, 32GB + 1TB

RAM better performance gain vs i9

 

[midouglas]

Thanks for your comments!

If either one, I would choose the RAM. Anyway on a laptop I think both are not really necessary. i7 with 16GB RAM is okay.

So you think 16GB ram would be enough to run say Adobe Suite e.g. Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects or InDesign side by side? My 24gb i5 iMac runs at roughly 18.41gb with three of these apps open.

 

[stylinexpat]

Thanks for your comments!



So you think 16GB ram would be enough to run say Adobe Suite e.g. Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects or InDesign side by side? My 24gb i5 iMac runs at roughly 18.41gb with three of these apps open.

If currently it runs with 24gb I would get 32GB of RAM then. You are using a lot of RAM. I have never used that much but then again I have never had those same programs running at the same time like you.

 

[midouglas]

If currently it runs with 24gb I would get 32GB of RAM then. You are using a lot of RAM. I have never used that much but then again I have never had those same programs running at the same time like you.

Is Adobe Suite more optimised for laptops by any chance?

 

[Dovahkiing]

I guess I'll buck the trend here. Do you have a current machine? Open your current machine and get into a typical (or edge care taxing) workflow. Go to Activity Monitor and check RAM usage. If you're not maxing out your RAM then that should tell you all you need to know to make the decision.

People always say to get more than you need, but my opinion is that we're at a plateau with how much RAM is really necessary for the majority of use-cases. If you're not editing 4K+ video or working with large data sets, you probably don't need 32 right now and I'm very skeptical you will need 32Gb for the foreseeable future (unless of course your workflow changes and gets more demanding).

Apart from that, your next decision should be: Do you need the i9 or should you just save $400? Personally I think the case is probably stronger for the i9 over the extra RAM, but it probably will not make a huge difference and I would tend to say save the money for something else. We will see how well the chassis actually handles the extra thermal load of the i9.

 

[stylinexpat]

Is Adobe Suite more optimised for laptops by any chance?

I am not sure but I doubt it. Will have to let someone else who knows more to chime in on this.

 

[Naimfan]

Given how hot the 2.6 GHz 15" runs, I'd get that and 32 GB RAM rather than the i9 and 16 GB RAM, because I'd expect the i9 to run hotter than the 2.6 GHz i7.

 

[jerwin]

Thanks for your comments!
So you think 16GB ram would be enough to run say Adobe Suite e.g. Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects or InDesign side by side? My 24gb i5 iMac runs at roughly 18.41gb with three of these apps open.

You could remove 8GB of memory-- either physically, or by creating a RAM disk.
Now you have 16 GB.
Launch your programs, work on a project, and see if you notice the difference...

(otoh, if memory demands increase linearly with cores, this isn't so valid.)

 

[Mr. Dee]

If you purchase maxed 15 inch today, its expected after 5 years, it will be vintage. So, 2022, Apple will no longer provide servicing. You will likely get 9 to 10 years of macOS upgrades though.

Its just that, so much changes in 6 months to a year. By 2020, Apple might introduce their first A Series MacBook. If it turns out to be a hit, expect to see Apple expand it to the MacBook Pro; and just like those last PowerBook G4's (even maxed out configs, within 2 years, they won't be much of a priority on keeping them updated anymore).

 

[chrfr]

If you purchase maxed 15 inch today, its expected after 5 years, it will be vintage.

It will become vintage 5 years after it's no longer produced, not 5 years from today. We won't see another revision until some time in 2019, so the 2018 15" will be supported by Apple into 2024.
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Is Adobe Suite more optimised for laptops by any chance?

I don't see how it could be optimized for portables. Most of Adobe's apps are very CPU heavy, which by nature is not friendly to battery usage.