The base M4 Max comes with 32GB RAM/512MB SSD 14 core CPU 32 GPU, TB5 ports. $1999. No memory upgrade allowed on the base model. Have to upgrade to the 16/40 core for $2499 to get at least 48GB.
"When asked why the high-end Mac Studio was getting an M3 Ultra chip instead of an M4 Ultra, Apple told us that not every chip generation will get an “Ultra” tier. This is, as far as I can recall, the first time that Apple has said anything like this in public."
I read elsewhere that the M4 Max chip doesn't have the connections to double up to an M4 Ultra
As always, don't get too distracted by the unending quest for owning The Very Fastest Computer Ever.
If you _need_ the extra ports, etc. and a less expensive model actually slows down your critical work, sure. But most will be perfectly fine with something like the mini M4 Pro, well equipped with memory/SSD.
A few who perhaps work a lot with high-end video and/or audio with a lot of connected devices may well benefit from the Studio. But most photographers probably won't.
I have a pretty maxed out M4 Mini Pro that I got last month. 1tb hd, 64gb ram 20 core GPU. Apple is letting me return it past the 14 days if I want the studio. I'd be looking at around $400 difference and would get the extra ports, sd card reader, double the GPU cores with Max chip instead of a Pro. Not sure it's worth it but LR is pretty GPU intensive and they don't seem to be making things better. Over three to four years it's not a huge difference in expense.
So financially I could buy this...but I'm not going to, and that's a first in the age of Apple Silicon as I've had every generation of MBP and Studio so far. The M2 Ultra I have now is still ridiculously fast for everything I do. The only thing it would speed up some of the AI graphics tasks but that won't be a big gain for me. I miss the 128GB of RAM option on the M3 Ultra because for how I use my 128GB M2 Ultra, I feel the 96GB will be a bit light, but 256GB is massive overkill and the price jump for that is obscene.
The M4 is not a big jump over the M3 for sure but that's left me thinking I might ride out two more years on my M2 Ultra and get the M5 Ultra assuming they make one. Just way too little to gain on this new M3 Ultra over the current M2 Ultra from what I can see.
The base M4 Max comes with 32GB RAM/512MB SSD 14 core CPU 32 GPU, TB5 ports. $1999. No memory upgrade allowed on the base model. Have to upgrade to the 16/40 core for $2499 to get at least 48GB.
32GB has been my defacto "minimum", as long as it is in the Max configuration to get the faster bandwidth ... so, the base Studio covers that. 512GB SSD is a bit skinny, though. I'd want to bump that to 1TB (or more, but I understand folks will likely use external storage, too). Even though, it is only 32GB, the Max configuration will still have good memory bandwidth. 4x8 for the 32GB, while the 48GB would likely be 2x8 + 2x16 (still 4 chips / slots).
Interestingly, the web page says 36GB, hmmmm.
Not quite sure how to get 36GB from 4 slots? 2x16 + 2x2 would seem rather odd. Guessing a typo ... or is it really 36GB?
stuuke wrote:
I have a pretty maxed out M4 Mini Pro that I got last month. 1tb hd, 64gb ram 20 core GPU. Apple is letting me return it past the 14 days if I want the studio. I'd be looking at around $400 difference and would get the extra ports, sd card reader, double the GPU cores with Max chip instead of a Pro. Not sure it's worth it but LR is pretty GPU intensive and they don't seem to be making things better. Over three to four years it's not a huge difference in expense.
If you're running a lot of Adobe AI Denoise batches, or something similar that is GPU intensive, then the extra GPU cores could be useful.
For $400 more I'd go with the Studio. If you don't like it, I imagine you can return it for another maxed out Mini M4 Pro.
I think I will choose Apple M4 Max Studio for LR, PS and some Final Cut Pro Videos ( need some advises and opinions)
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Studio
Apple M4 Max chip with 14‑core CPU, 32‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
36GB unified memory
1TB SSD storage
Front: Two USB-C ports, SDXC card slot
Back: Four Thunderbolt 5 ports, two USB‑A ports, HDMI port, 10Gb Ethernet port, headphone jack
$2199
-------------------
Mini M4 PRO
Apple M4 Pro chip with 12‑core CPU, 16‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
64GB unified memory
1TB SSD storage
Gigabit Ethernet
Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI port, two USB‑C ports, headphone jack
Nobody does the "just one more upgrade" better than Apple. Their ssd pricing is so insane it's hard to upgrade there. I bought a 8 TB WD Black SSD for $511 yesterday and will use that as my working drive.
Folks might be $$$ conscious regarding the $$$ to upgrade more memory or more cores. But, imo the best performance upgrade bang / buck is the jump from Pro > Max ... even, if you opt for 32GB or the lower core options of the Max. More is better, but the 4X modularity of the Max (vs. 2X for Pro) is a "you can feel it" difference in the fluidity of your operations (even at the 32GB entry) vs. the Pro.
Just say "No" to the base model (1X modular), and the Pro model (2X modular), and grab the Max model (4X modular) ... then, opt for the memory / storage / temperament that your budget allows beyond that.
I know it can be tough for folks that are $$$ conscious ... but, the long term view of a 4X modular Max will have you kicking your "Next" upgrade much farther down the road, than a 2X modular Pro will. You and software processing demands will outgrow the Pro sooner than they'll outgrow the Max. That might be the difference between looking to upgrade in 4-8 years, instead of 3-5 years.
stuuke wrote:
Nobody does the "just one more upgrade" better than Apple. Their ssd pricing is so insane it's hard to upgrade there. I bought a 8 TB WD Black SSD for $511 yesterday and will use that as my working drive.
Which is a strong part ... why I advocate for the Max vs. Pro. That way, your upgrade cycle is extended, and you don't have to incur / endure the procurement process as often. Look at the long picture ...
If you do it right ... you spend an extra 20% today, instead of a repeat of 120% in a few years. Given that most of the next upgrade is repeat (same) things like the case, power supply, memory, storage, etc. that are not performance gains, imo that cycle of non-value add should be stretched as far apart as your temperament / budget will provide.
Folks might be $$$ conscious regarding the $$$ to upgrade more memory or more cores. But, imo the best performance upgrade bang / buck is the jump from Pro > Max ... even, if you opt for 32GB or the lower core options of the Max. More is better, but the 4X modularity of the Max (vs. 2X for Pro) is a "you can feel it" difference in the fluidity of your operations (even at the 32GB entry) vs. the Pro.
Just say "No" to the base model (1X modular), and the Pro model (2X modular), and grab the Max model (4X modular) ... then, opt for the memory / storage / temperament that your budget allows beyond that.
I know it can be tough for folks that are $$$ conscious ... but, the long term view of a 4X modular Max will have you kicking your "Next" upgrade much farther down the road, than a 2X modular Pro will. You and software processing demands will outgrow the Pro sooner than they'll outgrow the Max. That might be the difference between looking to upgrade in 4-8 years, instead of 3-5 years.
Of course I would like to get 64 GB RAM but Apple pricing is a bit crazy
To get there I will have to choose
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Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
64GB unified memory
1TB SSD storage
Also for Mac users that don't upgrade the storage be sure to delete some of Apple's screensavers. They take up an insane amount of space. I believe it's over 50gb. To remove some of the files go to
Library - Application Support - com.apple.idleassetsd - Customer - 4KSDR240FPS
I'm due for both a new laptop and desktop. I've been waiting for the M4 chip to make it into the Studio; and I would do 64GB/1TB at just under $3,000. But... I am also thinking that for about the same money I could run off a MBP M4 48/1TB and TB dock and get by with just one machine -- I don't do, and don't plan to do video.
$2199
