I understand some people need 32GB for work and I may need that as well. For those who do, they can probably afford a powerful desktop with 32+GB ram with powerful GPU and an ultraportable. They can run computation intensive stuffs 24/7. Why invest on more RAM and i9 on the MBP2018 given that it may not be as powerful as a desktop due to thermal throttling and other limitations?
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What is the point getting 32GB and i9 on a laptop?
- Thread starter hajime
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I don't necessarily need 32GB. However, it would be nice taking my Windows Server lab environment full of VMs on the go.
Because using a desktop is not always an optimal solution? I am afraid you are overgeneralising. If we are talking about rendering complex high-res videos, then sure, I agree 100% — the person doing that should get a powerful desktop workstation since everything else is strictly inferior. However, I don't need a desktop computer to do my work and I prefer to be mobile. The i9 would give me a noticeable performance increase, so that is what I am going with.
I agree with Leman, I bought a high-end 2017 iMac for my FCPx editing, and I did just buy the new 2018 MBP to replace my mid-2014 so I can work on the go (90% of my work is on a MBP). If I’m waiting on things to process, open or whatever, that’s money I’m wasting.
Since switching to a laptop in 2008 I can't see myself going back. I enjoy the freedom and mobility too much.
But the work I do still benefits from as much power as I am willing to throw at it. Video standards keep getting heavier and 3d scenes more complex.
And if I'm processing hours of video or rendering a complicated animation I'll push those tasks to a dedicated box at work or a renderfarm. But for creative tasks I want the machine that balances as much power as feasible in a form factor I enjoy using!
But the work I do still benefits from as much power as I am willing to throw at it. Video standards keep getting heavier and 3d scenes more complex.
And if I'm processing hours of video or rendering a complicated animation I'll push those tasks to a dedicated box at work or a renderfarm. But for creative tasks I want the machine that balances as much power as feasible in a form factor I enjoy using!
It is not so expensive to upgrade to 32GB these days. I am waiting for thermal test results before choosing a CPU.
i9 will throttle sometimes, yes. But why are you talking down on 32GB ram? The ram outputs basically no heat at all.
How can you think that an iMac+ultraportable laptop can replace a powerful MBP for everyone? Not everyone are locked to the same chair in the same room 24/7, so the iMac is definitely a replacement for those. And by ultraportable I assume you mean the MB12? That machine is really weak, you can't even begin to compare the 2018 MBP and the 2017 MB12.
How can you think that an iMac+ultraportable laptop can replace a powerful MBP for everyone? Not everyone are locked to the same chair in the same room 24/7, so the iMac is definitely a replacement for those. And by ultraportable I assume you mean the MB12? That machine is really weak, you can't even begin to compare the 2018 MBP and the 2017 MB12.
I am a freelance motion designer and will I’d love to work from home on an iMac all the time, I often have to go on-site so I am pretty much required to have a laptop. It’s the most practical option.
Because being mobile is a huge plus for many users. As a scientist, I'm certainly using my MBP at the desk for computationally intensive tasks, but I also do a lot of reading and coding on the couch, carry the computer to meetings and presentations, take it with me when traveling, and so on and so forth.
Seeing how impressive the i9 benchmarks are, I don't feel I'm giving up much in terms of raw hardware power compared to a desktop, and I can always hook up the MBP to an external screen when needed. To sum it up, a high-end laptop gives me the best of both worlds and the investment easily pays for itself in terms of power and versatility.
Seeing how impressive the i9 benchmarks are, I don't feel I'm giving up much in terms of raw hardware power compared to a desktop, and I can always hook up the MBP to an external screen when needed. To sum it up, a high-end laptop gives me the best of both worlds and the investment easily pays for itself in terms of power and versatility.
"What is the point getting 32GB and i9 on a laptop?"
To boast that you've got more than the other guy....
To boast that you've got more than the other guy....
I guess it depends on usage. I may need to do long-term CUDA computations using Nvidia GPU under Linux. Given that Apple does not put Nvidia GPU in MBP 2018, in my case, I wonder if it is better to get the lowest end 13" or 15" MBP 2018 with 16GB and 1TB SSD. Then, save the money on a powerful workstation. At this point, we also don’t know compatibility among MBP 2018, Ubuntu Linux and eGPU with Nvidia GPU in it.
[doublepost=1531579685][/doublepost]Can we assign part of the 32GB as super fast RAM disk? Will that be faster than SSD? What is the max size of allowable RAM disk?
[doublepost=1531579685][/doublepost]Can we assign part of the 32GB as super fast RAM disk? Will that be faster than SSD? What is the max size of allowable RAM disk?
Expect next to nothing on that front, as there will be no official support for non-AMD eGPU solutions from Apple.
I asked my employer to buy me a multi-GPU workstation for CUDA-accelerated computations, as it was the only possible way forward. Unfortunately, Macs and GPGPU just don't go together at the moment. If you need an Nvidia-powered Linux box... build an Nvidia-powered Linux box.
Shhh.. don't talk so reasonably. Two years ago, and up until yesterday, Apple was being heavily bashed on these forums for three things - no 32GB, no good processors, no good storage options.
Now, they have delivered, and we have quietly moved on to talking about Touch Bar still there and the sky high prices to get that until-now-elusive 32GB.
Even with normal usage, I use about 12 GB of RAM, which is getting uncomfortably close to the 16GB limit. I tend to keep a lot of browser tabs open and even more so when I'm working on Google Spreadsheets and other intensive web apps for work (which literally can take up 1GB of memory PER tab). It's crazy how even keeping a MacRumors tab open in Safari can take up so much memory.
Given that my next MBP upgrade is more than likely going to have 32GB.
Given that my next MBP upgrade is more than likely going to have 32GB.
A lot of people use laptops as their main machines. I used a laptop with external display from 2009 to 2017. It was only last year I built a desktop once I was settled a little more in life. If I was still roaming the Country I would probably buy the i7, 32GB version. It's a desktop replacement. Just like the old 17" MBP's.
I guess I wonder if things like this are worth the capital investment at all.
https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/B01LZMLK1K
Plus, Apple doesn’t even have a legit desktop option these days. The iMac Pro just isn’t what I need if I’m doing a lot of virtualization or compute intensive tasks. The screen and form factor add unnecessary cost and limitation.
I also used laptop as my main machine but the past few years Apple dropped Nvidia GPU.
[doublepost=1531616116][/doublepost]
I heard that in the long run, it is better to get a local machine to do the job. Besides, if one forgets to log out, money continues to be charged.
My daily driver right now is a Mac Pro 6.1 with an 8 core Xeon E5-2667v2, 64gb of RAM, and a 512gb Samsung 960 Pro SSD. I don't do graphics or video but run several windows 7 VMs with remote access simultaneously. The mac pro is more than legit for what I do.
I have a 2015 macbook pro that I use should I decide to work from a Starbucks. Getting an i9 for me would purely be a self indulgence. I'm debating the i9 macbook pro or diamondback's new carbon fiber, full suspension mountain bike...somehow I think that would be a healthier choice...
I have a 2015 macbook pro that I use should I decide to work from a Starbucks. Getting an i9 for me would purely be a self indulgence. I'm debating the i9 macbook pro or diamondback's new carbon fiber, full suspension mountain bike...somehow I think that would be a healthier choice...
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If I could've afforded to, I would've gotten just this. 32gb and i9. That's an insane future proofing move. But that would've been what $700-900? I couldn't bring myself to do it. My first mac was $2000 10 years ago. the next 2 i got because of accident claims....both open box. So I went all out again. And I'm going to take care of this one.
four things* - no good GPU
You've conveniently left that one out
Inconveniently forgotten more like.
When I do upgrade, which I'm trying to hold out until 2019, I feel like I'm going to go for the maxed 15 inch configuration. Why? Well, VM's are one major reason, I keep two Windows 10 VM's active and trust me, I'm putting my MacBook Pro 13 at the edge with those two. I want to keep my Windows 7 Pro VM up too so I can have it for some additional testing, but its just not possible. In order to keep up with some requirements for work because of the changing direction of a particular software behemoth, I would also like to have some Windows Server VM's in the mix for testing but can't obviously. The 32 GBs and Core i9 would really give me the breathing room and the 4 TB would ensure I'm not constantly having to offload to my external.
It would also be a long term investment paying for itself over time. Think about it, Macs tend to last long. There are users in this forum who are just upgrading 2009 or 2010 MacBook Pro's, thats almost 10 years.
It would also be a long term investment paying for itself over time. Think about it, Macs tend to last long. There are users in this forum who are just upgrading 2009 or 2010 MacBook Pro's, thats almost 10 years.
I run a small media company... doing mostly video work, but some photography as well. Truthfully, sitting at my desk editing - day in and day out, gets boring as hell. My favorite local coffee shop is down the street, and I spent a lot of time working from there. For what I do - my current machine, a 2015 15" MBP is plenty. But when I do upgrade, and possibly soon. I will get the 32GB of RAM for sure.
I watch a lot of porn so I opted for the spec’d out 15.