Macbook Specs

[frasier089]

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Dear all,

I am on my way to update my MacBook (MBP 16") environment. I am currently using a Q2, maybe soon a Q3 (43?), DxO PureRaw and Lightroom Classic (open for a privacy-friendly sw in the future).

I would be happy to receive insight recommendation on processor M4 Pro or Max ?      and        RAM 32/48/64 GB ?

Beside my Leica "hobby" :  no Video editing, but some "consuming" microsoft apps 😞 (running Teams meeting whole day)

THANK YOU ALL

F

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[JTLeica]

The answer is any M4 Mac with 32gb of unified memory will be absolutely superb. And last for ages.

Im currently using an M2 Max with 2tb hard drive and 64gb unified memory.

It’s my ideal spec but costs a fortune in an m4 now. I always try and get mind on the refurbished market by Apple.

Go for at least 32gb memory and 1tb plus storage. Ideally more memory if you can.

Files sizes arent really increasing much. If using Lightroom you aren’t editing with loads of layers. And for the odd photoshop images with loads of layers that spec will be perfect too.

[frasier089]

vor 3 Minuten schrieb JTLeica:

The answer is any M4 Mac with 32gb of unified memory will be absolutely superb. And last for ages.

Im currently using an M2 Max with 2tb hard drive and 64gb unified memory.

It’s my ideal spec but costs a fortune in an m4 now. I always try and get mind on the refurbished market by Apple.

Go for at least 32gb memory and 1tb plus storage. Ideally more memory if you can.

Files sizes arent really increasing much. If using Lightroom you aren’t editing with loads of layers. And for the odd photoshop images with loads of layers that spec will be perfect too.

Thank you, JTLeica. My current setup is the latest fully-equipped Intel with AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and 64 GB RAM 2 TB SSD - and the fan is running heavily as soon as audio/video is running (no editing). I waited now 4 years switch to the M chip and my current target is: I am still fine with 2 TB, M4 Pro looks like the best trade-off, but I know I might need less RAM the the M chip. But as freelancer I always bought a very well equipped model to change earliest after 4-6years. Therefore not sure on 32/48/64 GB and M4 Pro is limited to 48 GB. 

[jaapv]

I’m behind the curve. Mac M1 with 16 GB. No issues at all editing in PS. 

[M8X2]

I used a 2019 Intel 16" MBP with 16 GB until very recently. Q2 files were ok to process in LR and the occasional work in PS was acceptable. Working with the M11 files changed everything to the worse. Opening a DNG in LR took more than 10 seconds. I upgraded to a refurbished (saved me about 500 bucks) 16" M3 Pro with 18 GB unified memory, 1 TB. It is more than sufficient for everything I do. Everything just happens instantly. 

[JTLeica]

36 minutes ago, frasier089 said:

Thank you, JTLeica. My current setup is the latest fully-equipped Intel with AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and 64 GB RAM 2 TB SSD - and the fan is running heavily as soon as audio/video is running (no editing). I waited now 4 years switch to the M chip and my current target is: I am still fine with 2 TB, M4 Pro looks like the best trade-off, but I know I might need less RAM the the M chip. But as freelancer I always bought a very well equipped model to change earliest after 4-6years. Therefore not sure on 32/48/64 GB and M4 Pro is limited to 48 GB. 

I mean jeez anything you buy for M1 to M4 is going to impress you coming from Intel Macs. Don’t go mad with spec

A 48gb Pro model is going to be more than enough. Vastly more. So maybe don’t go above that. 

How do you edit? Lightroom? Layers in photoshop?

[jaapv]

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Any M processor will handle editing-including AI effortlessly and needs far less RAM than we are used to. 

[Olaf_ZG]

I recently moved to apple. As I don’t have a fixed working place, what bothers me most is the tiny diskspace apple is providing. My macbook has 0,5TB of which only half is available for data. This are only two 128 cards, ridiculous.

[frasier089]

vor 51 Minuten schrieb JTLeica:

I mean jeez anything you buy for M1 to M4 is going to impress you coming from Intel Macs. Don’t go mad with spec

A 48gb Pro model is going to be more than enough. Vastly more. So maybe don’t go above that. 

How do you edit? Lightroom? Layers in photoshop?

I edit with LR Classic. It worked pretty fine so far. DxO PureRaw takes time and any processor improvement will help. It's more to find the right balance between processor and RAM. What makes me really crazy ist the constant fan blowing with microsoft teams or browser video streaming. DxO is a certain timeframe, but the rest is constant energy consumption and fan blowing. No issues with Lightroom (beside providing my data to Adobe)

[frasier089]

vor 13 Minuten schrieb Olaf_ZG:

I recently moved to apple. As I don’t have a fixed working place, what bothers me most is the tiny diskspace apple is providing. My macbook has 0,5TB of which only half is available for data. This are only two 128 cards, ridiculous.

well to be honest, I took the 2 TB already 4 years ago. I always took the fully-equipped model to not change it over 4-6 years. But the switch from Intel to M will be significant, so I'll give it a go. Plus I finally I get back some interfaces like hdmi, sd slot and mag safe. SSD and RAM are still fine

[Siriusone59]

I'm using a M1  mac with 16gb ram and have no trouble with Lightroom classic or Photoshop.  Sometimes an AI task might take a few seconds but I can live with it.  Any of the "M" processor macs should handle any photo task you come across.

[Le Chef]

29 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I recently moved to apple. As I don’t have a fixed working place, what bothers me most is the tiny diskspace apple is providing. My macbook has 0,5TB of which only half is available for data. This are only two 128 cards, ridiculous.

Use an SSD or two. Easy to add storage capacity.

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I recently moved to apple. As I don’t have a fixed working place, what bothers me most is the tiny diskspace apple is providing. My macbook has 0,5TB of which only half is available for data. This are only two 128 cards, ridiculous.

Why didn’t you get one with 2TB of storage? I use a credit card sized 4TB external SSD as well for data storage plus cloud backup.  

[Olaf_ZG]

8 hours ago, Le Chef said:

Use an SSD or two. Easy to add storage capacity.

I do for backup and processed files, I only keep work in progress on the internal disk. 
So basically, everything older than one month I move to external disks.

It works, but it is not most convenient (at least for me).

[Olaf_ZG]

7 hours ago, jaapv said:

Why didn’t you get one with 2TB of storage? I use a credit card sized 4TB external SSD as well for data storage plus cloud backup.  

Because price difference was insane. 

[Cogito]

18 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I recently moved to apple. As I don’t have a fixed working place, what bothers me most is the tiny diskspace apple is providing. My macbook has 0,5TB of which only half is available for data. This are only two 128 cards, ridiculous.

apple is notoriously stingy with ram and ssd. instead of constantly worrying about space, the last one I bought (2021) I got 4TB SSD. had a good year and needed the write-off anyway. any M chip will easily handle PS, LR, or video editing. 

[Olaf_ZG]

2 hours ago, Cogito said:

apple is notoriously stingy with ram and ssd. instead of constantly worrying about space, the last one I bought (2021) I got 4TB SSD. had a good year and needed the write-off anyway. any M chip will easily handle PS, LR, or video editing. 

Does this mean that you don’t have data on the book? Only applications? And all data to external drives?

[Cogito]

15 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Does this mean that you don’t have data on the book? Only applications? And all data to external drives?

a little confused by question. I have a macbook pro with 4 Terabytes of internal SSD storage, plenty of room for photos, etc. (the most you can get is 8TB.) I do use external drives as well, but only when working on large video jobs. 

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[Olaf_ZG]

32 minutes ago, Cogito said:

a little confused by question. I have a macbook pro with 4 Terabytes of internal SSD storage, plenty of room for photos, etc. (the most you can get is 8TB.) I do use external drives as well, but only when working on large video jobs. 

When I bought the book, there were three offers: 0.5, 1 and 2. I made the mistake to buy the smallest. Lesson learned. Don’t do video, but even 0.5 is too limiting nowadays.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Macs are a rip off. It’s 2024 and we still can’t get a touchscreen or pen input?? Ejecting disks?? Mind you Windows is stupid as well in its own ways.

Having said that, I use them as there’s simply nothing in PC land that comes close to performance and longevity on battery. If you’re tied to a desk it doesn’t matter what OS you use.

I buy my MBP’s as close to fully loaded as possible with the view of using them for years and years. However after K’s machine unexpectedly developed issues we decided she’d take my fully loaded M1 MBP (max, 64GB, 4TB) and I’d get a M3, also fully loaded (max, 128GB, 4TB. I use LrC, Photoshop, Nik and DXO mostly, that’s relevant here. I also have a MBP (M1 pro, 48GB, 1TB) There are a couple of differences.

1. For day to day processing I may as well have stayed with the M1. I see no real difference.

2 I do see a difference in the following tasks. Photomerge. Any of the AI tasks. Exporting larger numbers of files. Large amounts of use of the clone tool. DXO runs faster.

So basically. 48GB ram or more. LrC is still really ram intensive. Pro seems fine. Look at the new neural chips for the AI functions. Choose the SSD that suits. I get a larger one because I already have a separate SSD as well for backups. I don’t want two of them when I travel. I also need my entire catalogue (smart previews) on the move.

Gordon