Mark7S

Currently running late 2015 27"iMac with 32GB - mostly photographic and Excel/Word/Powerpoint + web browsing

Understand the current M1 Chip design is limited to 16GB of Unified Memory. Those out there with M1 MacBooks - is 16GB enough for Lightroom and Photoshop.

Thinking of the ne iMac 24" with 16GB? Anyone have pros and cons of buying the M1 iMac or buy the older iMac 27" with 32GB?

appreciated

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I have a 2019 MacBook Pro running with 16 G of Ram running Lightroom and Photoshop, it works fine. Certainly if your using Excel/Work and Powerpoint 16G will suit your needs.

Regarding the Intel or M1 chip, I'd guess the support life of the Intel version would be shorter than the M1

fppp Loc: Canton Ga. USA

Mac security researcher Patrick Wardle has now published a report, cited by Wired, that explains in detail how malware has started to be adapted and recompiled to run natively on the ‌M1‌ chip.

Wardle discovered the first known native ‌M1‌ malware in the form of a Safari adware extension, originally written to run on Intel x86 chips. The malicious extension, called "GoSearch22," is a well-known member of the "Pirrit" Mac adware family and was first spotted at the end of December. Pirrit is one of the oldest and most active Mac adware families, and has been known to constantly change in an attempt to evade detection, so it is unsurprising that it has already begun adapting for the ‌M1‌.

The GoSearch22 adware presents itself as a legitimate Safari browser extension, but collects user data and serves a large number of ads such as banners and popups, including some that link to malicious websites to proliferate more malware. Wardle says the adware was signed with an Apple Developer ID in November to further conceal its malicious content, but it has since been revoked.

Wardle notes that since malware for the ‌M1‌ is still at an early stage, antivirus scanners are not detecting it as easily as x86 versions and defensive tools like antivirus engines are struggling to process the amended files. The signatures used to detect threats from malware on the ‌M1‌ chip have not yet been substantially observed, so the security tools to detect and deal with it are not yet available.

nut4golf Loc: Windsor, CT

With the M1 chip architecture, things are not the same - 16GB should serve you well - see this article if interested in more in-depth explanation - https://www.macworld.com/article/234843/m1-macs-memory-isnt-what-it-used-to-be.html

I have a Mini w/M1 and running the beta Adobe products with native coding - they are blazing fast. I have not done much more than play around in Photoshop, as that's not my primary editing tool - others might be able to better comment on heavy duty edit - but from what I can see you'll not be disappointed in a move to M1 once Adobe releases their production version with native M1 support...

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

I have the M1 MacBook Pro with 16gb ram. The integrated ram runs much faster than external ram which means that you don't need as much. I typically use 8 to 10 layers per image and have several images open and no issues. I suggest that you wait until Fall when the larger iMacs are introduced - they may have a newer more powerful version of the M chip and may also have more ram options. If so, I will upgrade my old 27" iMac which is way too slow now.

Busbum Loc: 85367

I have the same setup, except mid 2017 iMac 32gb, 1Tb ssd... I'll be following this, plan the same for a 24" with the M1...

Mark7S

Thank you for the answers very helpful - think I will stay with the 512GB SSD since all Lightroom stuff is in a 2TB Sabrent SSD. Don't really need the larger internal SDD and I have a Lacie HDD for Time Machine and dual 2TB Blackjet AFT SSD for back up
appreciated

Papa j Loc: Cary NC

Just bought a new MBP withe M1 chip.the sales rep said I did not have to upgrade to 16gb ram he said 8with the M1 chip was more than enough to run LR and PS. I chose 16 anyway but still setting it up and trying to figure out how to connect my photos from my external HD

J

Mark7S

Try Lightroom Preferences - General - Default Catalog - open dialog - other - choose your external HD

Papa j Loc: Cary NC

Thank you very thoughtful

Joe

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I was an early adopter of the M1 LBP. Initially it was more than a little bit troublesome. However there was a large OS update about a week or so ago that iMac, has hugely improved things. Compared to my 2019 desktop Intel iMac, the M1 MacBook is noticeably faster. The 16G memory is not a problem in LR or PS, and I'm able to mirror the screen to a BenQ 27" monitor with no apparent loss of speed or quality.
The only real problem is the lack of enough USB C ports. I've been unable to find an external hub with more than the same 2 hubs M1 MacBook has, though there are many with multiple slower ports of various kinds.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I was an early adopter of the M1 LBP. Initially it was more than a little bit troublesome. However there was a large OS update about a week or so ago that iMac, has hugely improved things. Compared to my 2019 desktop Intel iMac, the M1 MacBook is noticeably faster. The 16G memory is not a problem in LR or PS, and I'm able to mirror the screen to a BenQ 27" monitor with no apparent loss of speed or quality.
The only real problem is the lack of enough USB C ports. I've been unable to find an external hub with more than the same 2 hubs M1 MacBook has, though there are many with multiple slower ports of various kinds.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Mark7S

When it is back in stock try this CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 hub - 4X USB A at 10Gbps & 3X Thunderbolt @ 40 Gbps $200. and you can daisy chain additional or add a USB 3.1 Gen 2 hub

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

OWC has a great thunderbolt hub. Unfortunately, because everyone thinks it's great, is backordered until June. I bought one for my wife to use with her new M1 MacBook Air, a 4K Dell monitor, and other devices. I preordered and got it last month. I have just ordered another one.