Is the base model MacBook Pro enough?
I’ve been looking at replacing my 2016 MacBook Pro and am tempted by a 14” MBP (for portability)
I’ve often been told that it’s best to spend extra on RAM, but I’m wondering if spending an extra £400 to upgrade the RAM from 16gb to 32gb worth it?
Going by what I’ve read, some “yes”, some say “no”!
p.s. I’ve also seen an Apple refurbished base model (with 16gb RAM) for less than the price of a new one, which I’m tempted by…
I’ve often been told that it’s best to spend extra on RAM, but I’m wondering if spending an extra £400 to upgrade the RAM from 16gb to 32gb worth it?
Going by what I’ve read, some “yes”, some say “no”!
p.s. I’ve also seen an Apple refurbished base model (with 16gb RAM) for less than the price of a new one, which I’m tempted by…
So, the new M1 MacBooks use memory slightly differently than the Intel, but as they are SoC (Systems on Chips), you can't expand them afterwards. I use an (older) MacBook Air with 16GB, and I don't really have issues with it, running Lightroom, and Photoshop 2022, a 16GB M1 is a lot faster (I use it for work not photos), and I run many apps simultaneously.
It all depends on what you want to run of course, but I doubt Photoshop or other image processing software would have a lot of trouble with 16GB, but again, if you can afford it, always go for the max memory for 'future proofing'
The 14inch MBP is a nice machine, and of course does have a built in SD card slot if you need that for your camera.
It all depends on what you want to run of course, but I doubt Photoshop or other image processing software would have a lot of trouble with 16GB, but again, if you can afford it, always go for the max memory for 'future proofing'
The 14inch MBP is a nice machine, and of course does have a built in SD card slot if you need that for your camera.
I would say if you are considering this machine basically for photography go for the larger RAM. Several layers of photoshop soon adds up if you have cameras which take pictures with a big pixel count. I have 32 GB RAM and there have been times when PS has become slower and I suspect it is lack of 'elbow room'. With the ever increasing complexity of the software the more RAM you have the better.
Thanks for the feedback
As far as my photography goes, it’s largely Affinity Photo I use (occasionally On1) - as far as I can gather, Photoshop & Lightroom are “more demanding” on the system requirements?
Just to get me more confused, earlier today I was told that the 32gb was probably better for video work! I know that many say that it’s better to get the most amount of RAM as possible, if only to ‘future proof’ the computer, but the more I learn, the more I hear that the base model is a good choice!
I might be overthinking it….
(Plus, if I get the 32gb version, it’ll be a six week wait and £590 more than the (refurbished by Apple) 16gb version - money which could be spent on a second monitor)
As far as my photography goes, it’s largely Affinity Photo I use (occasionally On1) - as far as I can gather, Photoshop & Lightroom are “more demanding” on the system requirements?
Just to get me more confused, earlier today I was told that the 32gb was probably better for video work! I know that many say that it’s better to get the most amount of RAM as possible, if only to ‘future proof’ the computer, but the more I learn, the more I hear that the base model is a good choice!
I might be overthinking it….
(Plus, if I get the 32gb version, it’ll be a six week wait and £590 more than the (refurbished by Apple) 16gb version - money which could be spent on a second monitor)
Quote:Thanks for the feedback
You have not said how much memory you are using, or how much this might expand over the next 2-3 years.
8 GB on my 2012 MacBook Pro is OK with Catalina OS.
Do you need to upgrade "now" from a 2016 Mac?
So far my main processing 2019 desktop with Monterey and 16 GB of memory is not fully challenged using 1 TB of images.
Each generation of camera tends to have more MP and I will soon be starting with 8 K video.
I expect within 12 months my desktop might be challenged.
Unlike a Mac laptop the desktop has 2 empty memory slots - with scope for adding significantly more memory.
Thankyou for the responses.
As an update - spending the extra to get a 14” MBP (M1 Pro) with 32GB of RAM is possible for me, but I’m leaning towards the 16GB version, if only due to the cost (especially if it’s been Apple refurbished).
I do, on occasion, have some bulk processing - but the editing I do (from a Sony A7rii) tends to be fairly basic (as seen on www.timothyaikman.com)
My current MBP (with 16GB RAM) has developed the habit of turning itself off, even when plugged into a power supply!
As an update - spending the extra to get a 14” MBP (M1 Pro) with 32GB of RAM is possible for me, but I’m leaning towards the 16GB version, if only due to the cost (especially if it’s been Apple refurbished).
I do, on occasion, have some bulk processing - but the editing I do (from a Sony A7rii) tends to be fairly basic (as seen on www.timothyaikman.com)
My current MBP (with 16GB RAM) has developed the habit of turning itself off, even when plugged into a power supply!
The images from the Sony A7 are pretty large. A basic one layer image is in the region of 68.7Mb. I therefore wonder if your MacBook is turning off because the images are too large for it to cope. No idea, as I have never owned a MacBook but if the 'turn off's' arose at the same time as the purchase of the A7ii then it is worth looking into. Just a thought.
Quote:I’ve been using an external HDD to store the images - which is not connected when the computer is turned on, nor is the editing software I’m using open when the computer shuts down…
Whatever the problem is, it is unlikely to be directly connected to post processing.
I assume the battery charge indication reads OK just before the computer shuts down.
Tracing the cause of the problem could cost a lot less than a new Mac.
