Big buying advice

[Hossbie]

Hi there folks,
I would greatly appreciate if you could advise me on this crusade. After 10 years I need to update my mac. I currently have a 2013 imac and even though it has 32Gb of RAM, it is no longer capable of performing as necessary (i5). Right now, I'm pretty out of date with Apple products and I need your help on this. I tell you my needs:
Regarding the computer: I work with audio, video, photography and design. I use mainly Logic Pro X, Final Cut, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Finale (score editor). In my productions I usually use many plugins, even entire orchestras. In video I almost always record and edit at 4k 60fps. My iMac has given me good service for 10 years and I would like to buy a computer where I don't have to worry about either Ram or CPU, that is, I can work comfortably and not be worried and afraid while I do it. Since the budget is limited, I don't know what the minimum would be that would give me what I need or whether to buy something new or second-hand, or invest more in RAM or processor, since when I work it is usually on 1 application at a time, not several at once. On the other hand, I would like to work with two screens of at least 27 inches each, which do not give me resolution or color consistency problems. I don't need speakers on the screen, but I do need to be able to move them flexibly, I guess better with a pair of good vesa arms. My budget is about €6,000 or €6,500 as much, for everything. Could you give me advice? Thank you so much.

 

[Bigwaff]

I use mainly Logic Pro X, Final Cut, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Finale (score editor).

Do you plan to update all these programs to latest versions?

 

[Hossbie]

Yes.

 

[Hossbie]

Do you plan to update all these programs to latest versions?

Yes, I would. It's one of the biggest reasons why I want to update my system. Thank you!

 

[amarcus]

If you already have an external storage solution then without access or waiting for sales I’d recommend something like this:

Mac Studio - M2 Ultra with 60 GPU cores, 64GB memory, 1TB SSD - 4.848,85 €
Monitors - Dell Ultrasharp 27 4K U2723QE x2 - 1244.56 €
Dual Monitor VESA mount - best you can afford with what’s left of the budget

If you‘re able to stretch your budget or get a discount then I’d prioritise increasing the memory or storage before going for the GPU upgrade.

I should also mention that were expecting the M3 to be revealed in days so I’d be expecting a refreshed Mac Studio within the next 6 months if you can wait.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Definitely sounds like a Mac Studio to me also.

 

[picpicmac]

Regarding the computer: I work with audio, video, photography and design. I use mainly Logic Pro X, Final Cut, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Finale (score editor). In my productions I usually use many plugins, even entire orchestras. In video I almost always record and edit at 4k 60fps.

I've come across many videos on Youtube of video and sound editors giving their experiences with the Mac Studio. Recommend you go look at some.

Whether you need an M2 Ultra chip or the less expensive M2 Max chip is probably the question that needs to be answered.

 

[Hossbie]

I've come across many videos on Youtube of video and sound editors giving their experiences with the Mac Studio. Recommend you go look at some.

Whether you need an M2 Ultra chip or the less expensive M2 Max chip is probably the question that needs to be answered.

Thank you so much for this answer. It made me think. The truth is that audio work does not take too much advantage from the M2 Ultra, or even the Max, those are more suited for video and design work, specially using Logic Pro as my main DAW. My doubt is that I also do video work, mainly for my educational channel and also some minor videoclip work, but I work mostly Audio. That being said, it seems that M2 Pro 12 core would be the best option, but my doubt comes now, taking in account that I could stretch a bit my budget, as I understand productivity, is not just about being able to run certain number of samples and plugins in a certain moment, for me it is more about the dexterity and speed of the computer, since we work many hours a day with it and taking into account that what I am going to buy I hope it lasts for another 10 years, many hours a day for 10 years, when you have faster exports , faster rendering, the computer is generally much more agile and other factors, that's a lot of time I can save and more work I can do during all that time. I don't know what you think about this way of thinking, but that being the case, do you think it would be convenient to think about the 2M Ultra? Thank you very much for your help and advice.

 

[Hossbie]

If you already have an external storage solution then without access or waiting for sales I’d recommend something like this:

Mac Studio - M2 Ultra with 60 GPU cores, 64GB memory, 1TB SSD - 4.848,85 €
Monitors - Dell Ultrasharp 27 4K U2723QE x2 - 1244.56 €
Dual Monitor VESA mount - best you can afford with what’s left of the budget

If you‘re able to stretch your budget or get a discount then I’d prioritise increasing the memory or storage before going for the GPU upgrade.

I should also mention that were expecting the M3 to be revealed in days so I’d be expecting a refreshed Mac Studio within the next 6 months if you can wait.

Thank's a lot for this answer too, I was worried because the only option that I found till this message was the Apple Display, and its terrifyingly expensive. Didn't know the Ultrasharp models (I saw a bunch of videos but I don't know why Dell didn't appear in them). I saw the monitor and it is a really good option, taking in account its Black IPS technology and other factors. Now I'm even considering to get just the 43" and not 2 different screens. Then if I feel that I need more will get something else as a complementary screen.
Regarding the M3, it is something that for now I won't consider because each time they change the chip model, it seems that the hardware won't work for a while. Hardware companies can't stand the evolution rhythm of Apple, so I would prefer to get a chip that is already settled and has been around for a while, so soft and hardwares have been adapted too and are already compatibles. Anyway, will see what they got to show us in a couple of days. Thank you again! Very appreciated.

 

[Fishrrman]

As others have said, the Mac Studio is what you need.

 

[ChrisA]

Hi there folks,
I would greatly appreciate if you could advise me on this crusade. After 10 years I need to update my mac. I currently have a 2013 imac and even though it has 32Gb of RAM, it is no longer capable of performing as necessary (i5). Right now, I'm pretty out of date with Apple products and I need your help on this. I tell you my needs:
Regarding the computer: I work with audio, video, photography and design. I use mainly Logic Pro X, Final Cut, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Finale (score editor). In my productions I usually use many plugins, even entire orchestras. In video I almost always record and edit at 4k 60fps. My iMac has given me good service for 10 years and I would like to buy a computer where I don't have to worry about either Ram or CPU, that is, I can work comfortably and not be worried and afraid while I do it. Since the budget is limited, I don't know what the minimum would be that would give me what I need or whether to buy something new or second-hand, or invest more in RAM or processor, since when I work it is usually on 1 application at a time, not several at once. On the other hand, I would like to work with two screens of at least 27 inches each, which do not give me resolution or color consistency problems. I don't need speakers on the screen, but I do need to be able to move them flexibly, I guess better with a pair of good vesa arms. My budget is about €6,000 or €6,500 as much, for everything. Could you give me advice? Thank you so much.

For your use case. I'd get a Mac Studio and two Dell 27" 4K monitors. The Studio comes with enough RAM but buy more if budget allows. Any of the Studios will work but just go up the food chain until you've run out of budgtet

If you had a lower budget I'd say to buy a Mac Mini M2-Pro and again up the spes untill you fill reach a budget limit.

Any of the M2 Macs will seriously out perform an i5 mac and will run the current software. However the Mac Studio is designed EXACTLY for who use the software you listed every day.

I assume you already have enough external storage to hold all your data. Move it to the New Mac. Also I assume you already have a Time Machine backup disk. Use the TM disk to move all the data and software to the new M2 Studio. Then go to the App Store and update everything and you will be good to go.

That said, wait until after Apples announcement Monday. They might announce new Macs.

 

[BotchQue]

If you had a lower budget I'd say to buy a Mac Mini M2-Pro and again up the spes untill you fill reach a budget limit.

I do the same kinds of things as the OP, minus video. I looked long and hard at upgrading the Mini, but by the time I did that and buy a decent multi-port hub (something that any music work needs) I was pretty much at the cost of a Studio anyway. YMMV.

 

[ChrisA]

I do the same kinds of things as the OP, minus video. I looked long and hard at upgrading the Mini, but by the time I did that and buy a decent multi-port hub (something that any music work needs) I was pretty much at the cost of a Studio anyway. YMMV.

Yes. That is true. If you are trying to decide between the Mac Mini M2-Pro and the Mac Studio. The Studio looks better and better the more RAM and SSD upgrades are needed on the Mini. You are best off buying the base-level Studio rather than an upgraded M2-Pro. The upgrades are too expensive and the base models are such good deals.

I assume the OP already has an audio/MIDI interface he will use with the new computer.

But, I think the selection of Macs might be different after Monday evening. Maybe there are some M3-Pro Macs?