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MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

voltaire
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

Rajan Parrikar wrote:
Wow! Thanks for sharing. Quite a set up for you. I'm still on a mid-2020 Intel-based MB Pro with 32gb of RAM so I'm switching over. It cost me $2,200 plus tax for this set-up and three years later the trade-in value is $500. :-(

Anyway, I'm just going to order an M3 Pro with 32GB unified storage and 2TB of storage; that's what the budget can afford for just my photo processing needs. I haven't done video but hopefully this will be enough.

Nov 06, 2023 at 03:21 PM

RustyBug
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

voltaire wrote:
Anyway, I'm just going to order an M3 Pro with 32GB unified storage and 2TB of storage; that's what the budget can afford for just my photo processing needs. I haven't done video but hopefully this will be enough.

32GB on a Pro is probably the "sweet spot" for bang / buck for most folks ... after comparing 32GB Pro vs 32GB Max vs 64GB Max (all M1 variants) ... the routine stuff didn't notice much diff. It wasn't until I did some mega uprezz and panostitching that I really noticed the difference between the three. So, for case use scenario's I think you'll be pleased with the 32GB Pro.

My only recommendation would be to bump it up to a 32GB Max (instead of Pro).
In that regard, you'll get the additional cores and GPU capability and double the memory bandwidth (even though still the same AMOUNT of RAM), so you have a faster pipeline for your RAM. You aren't doubling your RAM (still 32GB), but you are doubling the bandwidth.

I haven't check the M3 pricing, but it was "only" a $160 upgrade to the Max. Whereas a 64GB upgrade was $400 for the memory + $160 for the Max = $560. The diff between $160 vs. $560 is a bit of a swing that puts it over the edge for some folks. But, understanding that the modular approach gets you double the GPU / Memory Bandwidth ... $160 seems very worth it to me to go from Pro > Max, imo.

Congrats !!!

Oh, and btw ... don't be afraid to change your mind after you get your rig. I bought a total of FIVE (returning four) units before I settled in on the one I ended up getting.

The process of returns with Apple was incredibly easy ... no fuss, no muss ... and most importantly ... no attitude. Each return they gladly took in, and helped me rethink what I might try next.

So, if you find you have buyer's remorse when you start playing with it (spec up / down), no biggie ... just rinse and repeat within the 14 day return period.

HTH

Nov 07, 2023 at 09:09 PM

voltaire
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

Thanks for the advice, RustyBug. Do you have a 14" or a 16" MB Pro? Just curious. Price difference between Pro Max 14" and Pro Max 16" with same specs is $300.

Thanks, again. I appreciate it.

Nov 07, 2023 at 11:02 PM

hoodlum90
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

voltaire wrote:
Thanks for the advice, RustyBug. Do you have a 14" or a 16" MB Pro? Just curious. Price difference between Pro Max 14" and Pro Max 16" with same specs is $300.

Thanks, again. I appreciate it.

According to this short comparison it looks like Lightroom cannot utilize all the cores when doing 1:1 preview on the 14" M3 Pro, while the 16" M3 Pro does max out all the cores. I do wonder if the 14" has issues with dispersing heat. The Max Tech Youtube video from yesterday show that the 14" M3 non-pro now only has one fan inside compared to 2 fans in previous 14" models. We will need to see how this all impacts lightroom in real life and if the 14" M3 Pro also has only one fan now.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/d1R8geNMrhU

Nov 08, 2023 at 10:03 AM

voltaire
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

Thanks, hoodlum90. I appreciate your reply. From what I've read, the 16" always had better heat dispersion. I appreciate your reply.

Nov 08, 2023 at 10:35 AM

RustyBug
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

voltaire wrote:
Thanks for the advice, RustyBug. Do you have a 14" or a 16" MB Pro? Just curious. Price difference between Pro Max 14" and Pro Max 16" with same specs is $300.

Thanks, again. I appreciate it.

I bought both versions along the way. 16" first, then 14". I thought the 16" was too big (coming from 15"). Then, realized 14" was too small (for me).

I also tried out the 15" MBA ... fit was really nice, but the base unit, just isn't up to snuff once, you've tasted the Max / Pro. That's both performance and display. If it wasn't my main editing rig ... I'd recommend the 15" MBA for general use, but we just play too hard and expect too much with our visuals for editing.

I tried both the 14 and 16 in the store, multiple times. But, something about getting it home for a day or so, and it readily becomes apparent which one works for you ... or (in my case), which one does NOT work for me. Once I come to a place where something does NOT work for me ... I bite the bullet to avoid a "bargain mistake" ... and then get what does work. Some folks aren't as frugal as I am, and just go for the gusto. But, I tend to find the sweet spot bang / buck ... then bump +1 above that, if it isn't an outrageous $$$ bump. Mostly, when we are talking bout this kind of investment ... cheap mistakes, aren't cheap.

AGAIN, I ... HIGHLY APPLAUD ... Apple's return policy. It got to be comical with the staff when I showed back up. But nobody ever got agitated about my returns. They just keep saying stuff about finding the right one for me, always with a smile ... and they stood by that all the way. Which, I came to realize ... "Oh, so that's how they get their refurbs."

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:01 AM

RustyBug
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

voltaire wrote:
Thanks, hoodlum90. I appreciate your reply. From what I've read, the 16" always had better heat dispersion. I appreciate your reply.

It does. My lap can attest to that. Bottom line, I'm good with my 16 purchase. Any concerns I initially had about it being "too big" ... 'eh, I've adapted well to it.

The heat output was a driving force for me going to the Mac. My Thinkpad Extreme is a great machine, but when it gets (35W TDP) cookin', it gets cookin'. The thought of having the latest gen powerhouse (i.e. more than 35W TDP) on my lap, meant I wanted one that could perform well, and not cook my legs anymore. The 14 certainly runs cooler than my ThinkPad Extreme, but the 16 MBP runs the coolest of the lot (so, it likely throttles less ... or never, depending on your usage demands).

I forget what the TDP is on the Mac (it was hard to find), but I seem to think it was around 25W (vs. some of the U processors running 15W). Certainly don't quote me on that spec ... but, the point is it makes good performance, without throwing massive power heat at the equation. That whole "efficiency" thing in their modular approach ... well, it works.

16 has better sound than the 14, too.

But, that's another one of those things where the 14 is good, just when you've tasted the 16 ...

As to the $300 price diff ... if you're planning on keeping the rig for 5 years, that's 60 months, $5 a month diff, or $0.16 / day.
For me, living with what I enjoy using day in / day out ... well, you get the gist.

HTH

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:02 AM

voltaire
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

Thanks, RustyBug. Great advice.

I went to the Apple Store yesterday and ordered the 14” after seeing how big the 16” was. The layout reminded me of my 15” over a decade ago. I will follow your lead and test this out.

Nov 09, 2023 at 08:30 AM

RustyBug
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

voltaire wrote:
Thanks, RustyBug. Great advice.

I went to the Apple Store yesterday and ordered the 14” after seeing how big the 16” was. The layout reminded me of my 15” over a decade ago. I will follow your lead and test this out.

+1 the display real estate is similar to the older 15. For me, my hands just felt cramped on the keyboard / touchpad on the 14.

I got the 16, prepared to augment with a different keyboard, but ... hmmm, somehow I just adapted to it, without the need to use an external keyboard (which is a good thing). Still not up to the same level of "touch typing" as I was with my ThinkPad, but it's coming along (slowly) as I learn the Mac ethos.

Nov 10, 2023 at 12:23 PM

Newenglandrocks
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

I see I can get the M1 Max 14” with 32 GPUs and 64GB RAM for $2500 and the M3 Pro 14” with 18 GPUs and 36GB RAM for $100 more, both from B&H.

Does anyone have any idea about which will be the faster machine for processing RAW photos with Capture One Pro? I’m thoroughly confused.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

Nov 18, 2023 at 02:37 PM

Goodrich
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · MacBook Pro with M3 chip coming soon?

Look at artisright on Utube. C1 doesn't seem v well set up for the M series processors. I'd get the M3, if the difference is only c bucks.

Nov 18, 2023 at 07:37 PM

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