MacBook Pro Question
Apr 7, 2015 15:41:35 #
dmeyer2m wrote:
As you have stated, just getting to the 16GB RAM would be huge for me.
and truly your only option since you cannot upgrade later.
Apr 7, 2015 16:06:14 #
mrjcall wrote:
A faster processor is always better if you can afford it, but more important in the system you describe is that you will regret not getting at least a 2 MB separate video board to effectively process the graphics involved with all the PP software. Also, you will quickly run out of room with a 256 meg SSD so make sure and purchase an external hard drive with 2-3 T of storage.
Not sure I even know how to read the specs well enough to identify whether there is a separate video board. The flash storage is 256 Gigs, not megs. My external hard drive is 1T but I don't know whether Ext. HD's are compatible with both PC and Mac.
This whole business of having computers is a lot like having spouses--you spend a lot of time with them, can't live without them, but don't begin know the intricacies of what makes them tick. :roll:
Apr 7, 2015 16:12:13 #
mrova wrote:
My MBP is 4 years old running 8g's of RAM. Made the switch at that time from PC to MAC. Handles LR4 just fine as well as other programs at the same time. It can get a bit slow with so much open at one time. You'll love it, and the others are correct in their advice...fast processor as you can go, the 16 g RAM will do well but I wouldn't hesitate to boot that up another notch if you can. You'll be pleased.
Looks like 16 GB RAM will be the first order of the day whatever I do. Thanks for your candid input. How long did it take to learn a new system and did your vocabulary increase by much?! (I fear that my Air Force connections may be shocked by my sailor's speech when it's over.) :lol:
Apr 7, 2015 16:22:50 #
Capture48 wrote:
With any computer, you should purchase as much RAM and processor speed as you can afford. Especially if it's going to replace a desktop
Monitor Via USB, I wouldn't. Not sure which MacBook you are talking but a few models have either a HDMI for video, or a Thunderbolt display port. You use a thunderbolt to HDMI adapter to get video.
Of course as others have said 256 GIG of storage is not much, you may want to think about increasing that.
Monitor Via USB, I wouldn't. Not sure which MacBook you are talking but a few models have either a HDMI for video, or a Thunderbolt display port. You use a thunderbolt to HDMI adapter to get video.
Of course as others have said 256 GIG of storage is not much, you may want to think about increasing that.
Uh oh, now you're suggesting I won't be able to do post processing on the 24" monitor and need to up the flash memory. Or are you just saying I would need to use an HDMI cable for my monitor? (Not sure what it has.) This may be taking me way beyond what I can afford. Truly, if Windows 10 were already available I would probably upgrade with a PC. I'm really intimidated by changing brand and trying to learn new systems and technological terms. But I'm so glad to have all these points brought to my attention before I bite the bullet and it explodes in my face.
Apr 7, 2015 16:26:15 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I never pay the premium for the fastest processor because it is usually a big financial step for a relatively small increase in speed that will mean absolutely nothing in my daily use.
The voice of reason. Would I be safe assuming it's the RAM that affects post processing more than the processor speed in today's modern machines--allowing that the newest models have pretty awesome processors?
Apr 7, 2015 16:29:13 #
WOOF wrote:
A 2.5 is 15% faster. A 2.8 is 25% faster. I would suggest a desktop with multiple processors and lots of Ram. My eight year old Apple quad desktop still processes faster than my four year old 2.4 MacPro.
WOOF
WOOF
Hard numbers to work with--this is good. But multiple processors??? That's Greek to my knowledge of how things work. And just when I thought I knew the right questions to ask. :oops:
Apr 7, 2015 16:32:31 #
Marionsho wrote:
When I bought my MBP, I gave Apple a call. The salesman saved me a lot of money by telling what I needed, based on what I was going to use it for. Photoshop and internet surfing. Without his advice I would have spent several hundreds of dollars on stuff I really don't need.
I have located an Apple dealer about 40 miles away and am seeing from this post that that's where I need to start. I learned they have classes every morning which would help me through the curve--though the distance would get pricey on the gas. Still, if this is the direction I take, I don't see any way around going back to school.
Apr 7, 2015 16:45:34 #
fishmaven wrote:
This set-up gives you the max if you add the optio... (show quote)
I run 16GB of Ram on my MBP, it is a must.
Apr 7, 2015 16:54:01 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
Skip the speed increase, but bump the hard drive to at least 512GB. Agree with the thunderbolt for the display connection.
My setup.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-295305-1.html#4978284
My setup.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-295305-1.html#4978284
Glad to have you reinforce the other feedback I'm getting about the RAM and HD over speed.
That's quite a system you have put together for yourself, but if were sitting in your chair, I would be dumbstruck. Maybe I should have included that I am a serious enthusiast with no aspirations to going pro.
Apr 7, 2015 16:56:51 #
jwestman wrote:
I'd like to second Marionsho's comment: Talk to Apple. We are fortunate to have an Apple store here and I've never been "sold". I've purchased for myself, my wife and grandkids and always walked out with less than what I thought I would need. The apple folks don't work on commission.
:thumbup:
Apr 7, 2015 17:01:12 #
Your weak point may be that integrated graphics card.
Photoshop is one program that can take advantage of a decent graphics card.
It's probably as good as you can get and still have a laptop but its worth investigating. It can't be too shabby if its supporting a retina display
Photoshop is one program that can take advantage of a decent graphics card.
It's probably as good as you can get and still have a laptop but its worth investigating. It can't be too shabby if its supporting a retina display
Apr 7, 2015 18:07:05 #
Here's a link to everymac.com which lists model numbers for the processors:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html
The three processors benchmarks are:
- 2.2 - 9043 http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4770HQ+%40+2.20GHz
- 2.5 - 9196 http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4870HQ+%40+2.50GHz
- 2.8 - 10,296 http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4980HQ+%40+2.80GHz
I bought the same system I think you're looking at about a month ago. I stayed with the base processor as benchmarks didn't show much of a performance gain for the extra money. Everymac also has benchmark scores you can look at. I got the 250 gig SSD knowing it's too small for all my photos but I use this for onsite photo shoots and there's plenty of space. I also have a 2 TB Airport Time Capsule where I store my photos and it also works for my Time Machine backups. The Airport is an AC WiFi access point as well so the MB Pro connects around 850 Mbits. I also sync everything to an external USB 3 hard drive.
Several posts have referenced dedicated graphics cards. Yes, they're nice to have BUT present versions of LR don't take advantage of any hardware acceleration the dedicated card has to offer. A few PhotoShop functions (mostly 3D tools) do take advantage of a dedicated card.
Photo processing tasks don't come anywhere near the demands of a game system.
Here's a link to Adobe's requirements for LR: http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/optimize-performance-lightroom.html
and here's info for CS6: http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cs6-gpu-faq.html
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html
The three processors benchmarks are:
- 2.2 - 9043 http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4770HQ+%40+2.20GHz
- 2.5 - 9196 http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4870HQ+%40+2.50GHz
- 2.8 - 10,296 http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4980HQ+%40+2.80GHz
I bought the same system I think you're looking at about a month ago. I stayed with the base processor as benchmarks didn't show much of a performance gain for the extra money. Everymac also has benchmark scores you can look at. I got the 250 gig SSD knowing it's too small for all my photos but I use this for onsite photo shoots and there's plenty of space. I also have a 2 TB Airport Time Capsule where I store my photos and it also works for my Time Machine backups. The Airport is an AC WiFi access point as well so the MB Pro connects around 850 Mbits. I also sync everything to an external USB 3 hard drive.
blackest wrote:
Your weak point may be that integrated graphics card.
Photoshop is one program that can take advantage of a decent graphics card.
It's probably as good as you can get and still have a laptop but its worth investigating. It can't be too shabby if its supporting a retina display
Photoshop is one program that can take advantage of a decent graphics card.
It's probably as good as you can get and still have a laptop but its worth investigating. It can't be too shabby if its supporting a retina display
Several posts have referenced dedicated graphics cards. Yes, they're nice to have BUT present versions of LR don't take advantage of any hardware acceleration the dedicated card has to offer. A few PhotoShop functions (mostly 3D tools) do take advantage of a dedicated card.
Photo processing tasks don't come anywhere near the demands of a game system.
Here's a link to Adobe's requirements for LR: http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/optimize-performance-lightroom.html
and here's info for CS6: http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cs6-gpu-faq.html
Apr 7, 2015 19:11:35 #
sloscheider wrote:
Here's a link to everymac.com which lists model nu... (show quote)
good post i'm happy hopefully the op will be also :)
Apr 7, 2015 19:25:37 #
dmeyer2m wrote:
I am trying to make the change from PC to MacBook ... (show quote)
I have a MacBook Pro which I've been using now for a year. Running with a 2.6 ghtz I7 processor, 16gb of ram and 768 SS drive. More speed and power than I need. Absolutely fast. Hate to leave it and work on my Windows based machine at my place at work. The ONLY complaint I have is when I'm running Excel, scrolling speed is slower on the MAC than on the windows based machine.
Apr 7, 2015 20:42:19 #
John_F wrote:
My #1 piece of advice is "never scrimp on RAM... (show quote)
As I gather the various bits of information being shared with me, it doesn't sound like a Mac laptop will be capable of serving as an all-in-one machine for me. It will be too confusing to move between a PC and Mac if I keep my desktop and it doesn't sound like the MBP will work with my 24" monitor for PP work either. I'll keep tallying the pros and cons.
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