Base M5 Pro 1TB and 32GB RAM or wait ?

[jeroenvip]

I’m currently working on a 14-inch MacBook Pro with (MKGT3N/A) M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU), 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. I’ve started to notice that the machine gets heavily taxed when building projects—especially when using PHPStorm, Xcode, and Android Studio.

I’m considering an upgrade and have been looking at the base MacBook Pro with the M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 1TB SSD, and upgrading to 32GB of RAM, which comes to €2,579 from Apple.

The main thing holding me back is the cooling system, as this model only has a single fan. Would it be wiser to wait for the M5 Pro models expected in the next couple of months, or should I go ahead and get this one?

 

[MacCheetah3]

If you really don’t feel like waiting, I suggest going for something such as:

Refurbished 14-inch MacBook Pro Apple M4 Pro Chip with 14‑Core CPU and 20‑Core GPU – Silver

Originally released October 202414.2-inch (diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display;¹ 3024x1964 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch24GB unified memory1TB SSD²Touch ID12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk ViewThree Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports

www.apple.com

Not to imply they’re a slouch, but the base M-series chips aren’t configured for long duration heavy workloads, that is, they have more efficiency than performance cores.

Compare MacBook Pro Models

Compare the MacBook Pro models with other Mac laptops and desktops. And find the one that’s perfect for your life, your work, and your budget.

www.apple.com

For example, Geekbench 5 multi-core scores:

• M1 Pro:
11799

• M4 Pro (14-core)
22293

• M5:
15521

Geekbench 6:

• M4 Pro:
22309

• M5:
17606

https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-c...ro140&prod2=MacBookPro165&prod3=MacBookPro171

 

[Alameda]

I’m currently working on a 14-inch MacBook Pro with (MKGT3N/A) M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU), 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. I’ve started to notice that the machine gets heavily taxed when building projects—especially when using PHPStorm, Xcode, and Android Studio simultaneously.

I’m considering an upgrade and have been looking at the base MacBook Pro with the M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 1TB SSD, and upgrading to 32GB of RAM, which comes to €2,579 from Apple.

The main thing holding me back is the cooling system, as this model only has a single fan. Would it be wiser to wait for the M5 Pro models expected in the next couple of months, or should I go ahead and get this one?

I have the same MacBook Pro as you, and I think I will wait for the M5 Pro because it will have more cores plus the 80 Gbps Thunderbolt 5. I assume that more cores will help with the simultaneous compilations you're executing.

But you should temper your expectations. Do you need to compile on three environments simultaneously? Perhaps the Mac Studio would be a better solution for you if you're pushing through such heavy workloads.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I’m currently working on a 14-inch MacBook Pro with (MKGT3N/A) M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU), 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. I’ve started to notice that the machine gets heavily taxed when building projects—especially when using PHPStorm, Xcode, and Android Studio simultaneously.

I’m considering an upgrade and have been looking at the base MacBook Pro with the M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 1TB SSD, and upgrading to 32GB of RAM, which comes to €2,579 from Apple.

The main thing holding me back is the cooling system, as this model only has a single fan. Would it be wiser to wait for the M5 Pro models expected in the next couple of months, or should I go ahead and get this one?

I had the same exact MBP as you and ultimately upgraded to the 14" M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB/1TB model. My M1Pro was getting taxed under VM Fusion. The upgrade to the M4 Pro and 24GB of RAM has solved all of my issues. My work case sounds less than yours, but I'm glad I went with the M4Pro over the M5.

 

[jeroenvip]

I have the same MacBook Pro as you, and I think I will wait for the M5 Pro because it will have more cores plus the 80 Gbps Thunderbolt 5. I assume that more cores will help with the simultaneous compilations you're executing.

But you should temper your expectations. Do you need to compile on three environments simultaneously? Perhaps the Mac Studio would be a better solution for you if you're pushing through such heavy workloads.

I don’t use TB5. I also don’t need to compile everything at once. And I am always on the move between the Caribbean and Europe. So a Mac Studio is a no-go for me.

At the moment, 5 gig of swap is used when having all 3 programs open using it, some at the same time.

I need a whole day’s battery life. And it needs to be portable. At the offices, it’s connected to an Apple Studio display in clamshell mode.

For me, I think the bottleneck is the 16GB of RAM. So doubling it could solve the issue. Planning to upgrade once every three or four years.

 

[jeroenvip]

I had the same exact MBP as you and ultimately upgraded to the 14" M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB/1TB model. My M1Pro was getting taxed under VM Fusion. The upgrade to the M4 Pro and 24GB of RAM has solved all of my issues. My work case sounds less than yours, but I'm glad I went with the M4Pro over the M5.

I am also running vmware fushion with ubuntu for local development. I need something that can handle local llms with ollama for test purposes in the coming years also.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I am also running vmware fushion with ubuntu for local development. I need something that can handle local llms with ollama for test purposes in the coming years also.

I'd either get the M4 Pro, or wait for the M5 Pro. I don't think it make sense to get a base M5 chip with your workload.

 

[dmccloud]

I don’t use TB5. I also don’t need to compile everything at once. And I am always on the move between the Caribbean and Europe. So a Mac Studio is a no-go for me.

At the moment, 5 gig of swap is used when having all 3 programs open using it, some at the same time.

I need a whole day’s battery life. And it needs to be portable. At the offices, it’s connected to an Apple Studio display in clamshell mode.

For me, I think the bottleneck is the 16GB of RAM. So doubling it could solve the issue. Planning to upgrade once every three or four years.

Unless your memory pressure is in the yellow or red, the swap usage is largely meaningless on Apple Silicon.

 

[CalMin]

I am also running vmware fushion with ubuntu for local development. I need something that can handle local llms with ollama for test purposes in the coming years also.

I think RAM is your friend. Buy as much as you can afford. I do the LLM thing on a 15 M4 Air with 32GB and it's the minimum I can get away with since many of the models need even more RAM. This RAM requirement will only increase with time.

I'd either get the M4 Pro, or wait for the M5 Pro. I don't think it make sense to get a base M5 chip with your workload.

Sage advice right here. Given your LLM work - I think M5Pro will be a big bump up.

Unless your memory pressure is in the yellow or red, the swap usage is largely meaningless on Apple Silicon.

Agree. All of the talk of SSD wear and premature SSD failure due to swap has not borne out in over 5-years of Apple silicon. Don't pay attention to memory pressure or swap. System responsiveness is the gauge that you need to monitor.

My M1Pro lives in yellow and red memory pressure for a good part of my day - I only ever care on the very rare occasions where animations get choppy or the system starts to get unresponsive. I think this has only happened 3 times since I bought it in 2021 - and one of those times was when I trying to see what would happen if I opened every app and large documents etc.!

 

[dmccloud]

Agree. All of the talk of SSD wear and premature SSD failure due to swap has not borne out in over 5-years of Apple silicon. Don't pay attention to memory pressure or swap. System responsiveness is the gauge that you need to monitor.

SSD wear has become such as thing of the past at this point that the SSDs themselves are often the part least likely to fail. While Apple does not publish TBW ratings for their SSDs, companies such as Samsung do. For Samsung's 9100 series of PCIe Gen 5x4 SSDs, the wear rating is 600x the capacity of the drive (1TB = 600TBW, 2TB = 1200 TBW, etc.). In that context, 5GB of swap is statistically insignificant even on a 256GB SSD.

 

[DIMEZ]

M5 base is a beast and I never do base machines.... I was going with an m4 pro as well..but decided m5 with 24gb...though id upgrade when the pro chips come out but this machine has handled everything ive thrown at it.

I dont see me doing so anymore.

I highly recommend m5 if not worried about thunderbolt 5.

I was very hesitant on m5 cause everyone says go with the m4pr More cores and bandwidth...

but I caught it on sale and decide to try out and glad I did.

 

[Ambassador_Kosh]

M5 base is a beast and I never do base machines.... I was going with an m4 pro as well..but decided m5 with 24gb...though id upgrade when the pro chips come out but this machine has handled everything ive thrown at it.

I dont see me doing so anymore.

I highly recommend m5 if not worried about thunderbolt 5.

I was very hesitant on m5 cause everyone says go with the m4pr More cores and bandwidth...

but I caught it on sale and decide to try out and glad I did.

I picked up the MBP M5 yesterday with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. So far so good. I'm not a power user, but it seems solid.

I watched a video that someone posted on Reddit that compared the MBP M5 to the MBP M4 (M4 Pro) and the tests they did showed that the M5 did slightly better in tests then the M4 Pro for video editing.

At first I was disappointed that the MBP M5 wasn't a Pro chip, but honestly after looking at some of the reviews, I'm not worried. Still seems solid. I did not, though, get it on sale. I didn't see it go on sale where I am, so such is life! No complaints though, should last awhile. I've been re-integrating into the Apple ecosystem, and the laptop was the last thing on the list.

 

[leifp]

I don’t use TB5. I also don’t need to compile everything at once. And I am always on the move between the Caribbean and Europe. So a Mac Studio is a no-go for me.

At the moment, 5 gig of swap is used when having all 3 programs open using it, some at the same time.

I need a whole day’s battery life. And it needs to be portable. At the offices, it’s connected to an Apple Studio display in clamshell mode.

For me, I think the bottleneck is the 16GB of RAM. So doubling it could solve the issue. Planning to upgrade once every three or four years.

I was going to suggest that RAM was your main constraint. It was for me: I got a fully loaded M1 Mac mini when they released but it choked due to 16GB RAM (the max for the M1) so when Apple released the M1Max MBPros I got that with 32GB RAM and have been happily and smoothly sailing along ever since. I monitor RAM use and only recently have I exceeded 24GB so 32GB was exactly right for me. (We’re not the same and my example is oversimplified but hopefully it helps)

However, know that while the M5 is better than your M1 Pro in pretty much every way (not RAM throughput: [edit to correct M5 number] 153 GBps M5 vs 200 GBps M1Pro), in some cases it’s slight and if you’re paying that much to replace a working machine, perhaps pay a bit more, and wait a few months, to get the Pro chip.

 

[Runaway Train]

I picked up the MBP M5 yesterday with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. So far so good. I'm not a power user, but it seems solid.

I watched a video that someone posted on Reddit that compared the MBP M5 to the MBP M4 (M4 Pro) and the tests they did showed that the M5 did slightly better in tests then the M4 Pro for video editing.

At first I was disappointed that the MBP M5 wasn't a Pro chip, but honestly after looking at some of the reviews, I'm not worried. Still seems solid. I did not, though, get it on sale. I didn't see it go on sale where I am, so such is life! No complaints though, should last awhile. I've been re-integrating into the Apple ecosystem, and the laptop was the last thing on the list.

Same, my 2017 MBP finally ran out of runway. Was initially going to with for the M5 Pro or M4 pro and was ruling out the M5 base until ….

Until that is I did a very thorough and honest analysis of what I actually have been (and will likely continue to be in the future) the use cases for my MacBook Pro - or not. The conclusion was - I don’t need all of that power in a portable. I have a blazing M4 Mini with Studio Display that handles heavy lifting so, I do not need power AND portability in the same machine.

My quite sober analysis based on usage almost got me to where I was going to pick up an MBA. This is when I finally decided on an M5 Base. The reasoning was as such:

- Didn’t want to (couldn’t any longer) wait
- Don’t need the power
- M5 is current chip - and fast. Nice to have the latest chip
- Up from the MBA I get 3 TB ports, an SD card reader
- Better graphics and screen
- No wait for an unknown release which I do not need in any case

Once i got past the idea that I was being oversold (or overselling myself) to get more power than I needed, the choice became easy. The M5 Base sits nicely in between ultra portability and ultra power. For photo editing, video and Pro Audio (Logic), the M5 handles with ease. One last conclusion was that….I will never again wait 8 years to upgrade. The M5 will be a nice 3-4 year machine then I bump up. Of course, of course, YMMV.

 

[DIMEZ]

I picked up the MBP M5 yesterday with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. So far so good. I'm not a power user, but it seems solid.

I watched a video that someone posted on Reddit that compared the MBP M5 to the MBP M4 (M4 Pro) and the tests they did showed that the M5 did slightly better in tests then the M4 Pro for video editing.

At first I was disappointed that the MBP M5 wasn't a Pro chip, but honestly after looking at some of the reviews, I'm not worried. Still seems solid. I did not, though, get it on sale. I didn't see it go on sale where I am, so such is life! No complaints though, should last awhile. I've been re-integrating into the Apple ecosystem, and the laptop was the last thing on the list.

yes I saw that too and also comment on that post. I feel like power user already know what MacBook they need .

Especially if upgrading they already have a machine and they will know what works.

I did some video encoding and was the only time the fan kick in for a couple minutes for a 25 min video and it wasn't loud.

been throwing heavy workload had no problem so far.

if youre a graphic designer, photographer and do video editing a bas machine will fit you fine.

 

[DIMEZ]

Same, my 2017 MBP finally ran out of runway. Was initially going to with for the M5 Pro or M4 pro and was ruling out the M5 base until ….

Until that is I did a very thorough and honest analysis of what I actually have been (and will likely continue to be in the future) the use cases for my MacBook Pro - or not. The conclusion was - I don’t need all of that power in a portable. I have a blazing M4 Mini with Studio Display that handles heavy lifting so, I do not need power AND portability in the same machine.

My quite sober analysis based on usage almost got me to where I was going to pick up an MBA. This is when I finally decided on an M5 Base. The reasoning was as such:

- Didn’t want to (couldn’t any longer) wait
- Don’t need the power
- M5 is current chip - and fast. Nice to have the latest chip
- Up from the MBA I get 3 TB ports, an SD card reader
- Better graphics and screen
- No wait for an unknown release which I do not need in any case

Once i got past the idea that I was being oversold (or overselling myself) to get more power than I needed, the choice became easy. The M5 Base sits nicely in between ultra portability and ultra power. For photo editing, video and Pro Audio (Logic), the M5 handles with ease. One last conclusion was that….I will never again wait 8 years to upgrade. The M5 will be a nice 3-4 year machine then I bump up. Of course, of course, YMMV.

I love my m2 MBA , my favorite apple laptop. An m5 MBA will be capable of so much the only problem is the screen.
when I use my air I notice the difference on portability from the pro. And wish the pro machine was exactly what the air is form factor.


another reason why I went with the m5 base. I always used pro machines and would max them out. and I down grade went with the mb2 air due to portability.. it was 16gb maxed out and handle very well but I wanted more power with music production , which me would slow things down.

I figured if m2 air was capable to handle my workload then the base m5 should work.

I realize I don't need to spend money on a higher spec laptop if im not gonna use all that power.

I think for those go back between m4pro or base m5 dont really need all that power and either one you choose will work fine.

 

[thewanted]

I ordered an M5 with 32GB/1TB today after selling my M4 MacBook Air base model this week.

I'm not a serial computer upgrader, and figured I'd get more life out of an upgraded base model. Nothing I do really requires a Pro CPU, but I could benefit from more RAM when running minikube. 1TB feels like the bare minimum amount of storage that a computer should have. 256GB in the MBA got annoying really quickly.

I was already pretty tapped out at £1979, so another ~£400 for an M5 Pro wasn't on the cards.

 

[Ambassador_Kosh]

I ordered an M5 with 32GB/1TB today after selling my M4 MacBook Air base model this week.

I'm not a serial computer upgrader, and figured I'd get more life out of an upgraded base model. Nothing I do really requires a Pro CPU, but I could benefit from more RAM when running minikube. 1TB feels like the bare minimum amount of storage that a computer should have. 256GB in the MBA got annoying really quickly.

I was already pretty tapped out at £1979, so another ~£400 for an M5 Pro wasn't on the cards.

When you look at the testing done out there, the base MacBook Pro M5 outperforms the M4 Pro... slightly. So for what would have previously been considered a "base chip" in a MBP, it performs pretty well. Apparently even the 16GB MBP M5 outperforms it's M4 Pro counterpart in a test done with video rendering/editing.
I got the 24GB/1TB MBP M5 and it's working pretty well.

 

[Ambassador_Kosh]

yes I saw that too and also comment on that post. I feel like power user already know what MacBook they need .

Especially if upgrading they already have a machine and they will know what works.

I did some video encoding and was the only time the fan kick in for a couple minutes for a 25 min video and it wasn't loud.

been throwing heavy workload had no problem so far.

if youre a graphic designer, photographer and do video editing a bas machine will fit you fine.

I don't do any video or photo editing. Just wanted a decent MBP

 

[Black_Mage]

My suggestion is wait. I anticipate, but have no proof, that the M5 Pro will be announced soon.

 

[eskr]

May be unpopular opinion, but - if you still somehow ok on M1, the difference between m1 and m4 is so huge, may MacBook Air? It is just so much sleeker looking and less weight, plus no fans to worry about dust.
Or may be wait for M5 Air then, I'm sure if you still manage on M1, the M5 even on Air will just fly.

 

[DIMEZ]

+1 for m5 air...with how cheap I seen air goes. im eventually gonna upgrade my m2 to m5. Air are so perfect to tote around.

 

[pommephone]

You posted in another forum, and I answered you there.

The 2020 MBP is "too lightweight" (in terms of RAM and CPU power) for what you're trying to do with it.

It IS time for an upgrade.
This time, MAKE SURE you get enough RAM and a large enough SSD.

I'd recommend 32gb of RAM (minimum of 24).
Also, 1tb SSD.

Buy from Apple's online refurbished store if you want to save $$$.

M5 MBP is available now.
The m4pro MBPs will be coming early next year.

M5 base is a beast and I never do base machines.... I was going with an m4 pro as well..but decided m5 with 24gb...though id upgrade when the pro chips come out but this machine has handled everything ive thrown at it.

I dont see me doing so anymore.

I highly recommend m5 if not worried about thunderbolt 5.

I was very hesitant on m5 cause everyone says go with the m4pr More cores and bandwidth...

but I caught it on sale and decide to try out and glad I did.

I picked up the MBP M5 yesterday with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. So far so good. I'm not a power user, but it seems solid.

I watched a video that someone posted on Reddit that compared the MBP M5 to the MBP M4 (M4 Pro) and the tests they did showed that the M5 did slightly better in tests then the M4 Pro for video editing.

At first I was disappointed that the MBP M5 wasn't a Pro chip, but honestly after looking at some of the reviews, I'm not worried. Still seems solid. I did not, though, get it on sale. I didn't see it go on sale where I am, so such is life! No complaints though, should last awhile. I've been re-integrating into the Apple ecosystem, and the laptop was the last thing on the list.

Same, my 2017 MBP finally ran out of runway. Was initially going to with for the M5 Pro or M4 pro and was ruling out the M5 base until ….

Until that is I did a very thorough and honest analysis of what I actually have been (and will likely continue to be in the future) the use cases for my MacBook Pro - or not. The conclusion was - I don’t need all of that power in a portable. I have a blazing M4 Mini with Studio Display that handles heavy lifting so, I do not need power AND portability in the same machine.

My quite sober analysis based on usage almost got me to where I was going to pick up an MBA. This is when I finally decided on an M5 Base. The reasoning was as such:

- Didn’t want to (couldn’t any longer) wait
- Don’t need the power
- M5 is current chip - and fast. Nice to have the latest chip
- Up from the MBA I get 3 TB ports, an SD card reader
- Better graphics and screen
- No wait for an unknown release which I do not need in any case

Once i got past the idea that I was being oversold (or overselling myself) to get more power than I needed, the choice became easy. The M5 Base sits nicely in between ultra portability and ultra power. For photo editing, video and Pro Audio (Logic), the M5 handles with ease. One last conclusion was that….I will never again wait 8 years to upgrade. The M5 will be a nice 3-4 year machine then I bump up. Of course, of course, YMMV.

When you look at the testing done out there, the base MacBook Pro M5 outperforms the M4 Pro... slightly. So for what would have previously been considered a "base chip" in a MBP, it performs pretty well. Apparently even the 16GB MBP M5 outperforms it's M4 Pro counterpart in a test done with video rendering/editing.
I got the 24GB/1TB MBP M5 and it's working pretty well.

I was planning on waiting for the M6 next year, but my 2020 Intel i7 MBP was starting to have issues on Tahoe 26.1, and the battery was at 85%. I was concerned about dropping from 32 to 24GB RAM, but the M5 is easily twice as fast as the Intel machine with 32GB. I got a decent Black Friday deal at Best Buy for $1,799. I think Amazon has the base M5 now for $1.949.

 

[pommephone]

I was planning on waiting for the M6 next year, but my 2020 Intel i7 MBP was starting to have issues on Tahoe 26.1, and the battery was at 85%. I was concerned about dropping from 32 to 24GB RAM, but the M5 is easily twice as fast as the Intel machine with 32GB. I got a decent Black Friday deal at Best Buy for $1,799. I think Amazon has the base M5 now for $1.949.

 

[Ambassador_Kosh]

Great video. Haven't seen this one.