Help buying first Macbook pro

[henkypenky]

Hi guys, first time buying a macbook pro. Actually first time buying an apple laptop.

I'm making the switch because window laptops have become unbearable to me. I own a carbon x1 1280p 32gb ram and it is slow. Like really slow. I had the luck to test a macbook and really liked it.

Hence the tittle. I'm between the m3 max 14/30 96 ram (3999) and the 16/40 64 ram (3899). 14' chassis. I don't like 16, too big for me.

I can probably go full send and get a 16/40 128 ram 1 TB (don't need much storage) but it's probably overkill).

My daily workload includes: several docker containers, virtual machines, big visual studio projects, and whatever else, actually finishing my degree in system engineering so I would probably have big projects ahead. This machine needs to be hooked into a TS4 and 2x 27-inch 4k displays, even possibly 3 in the future. I just want a beast that can handle pretty much anything I throw at it.

I want to be as future proof as possible.

What would you guys recommend?

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[Astro13]

As a broke person, I recommend getting a 2014-2016 MacBook Pro, I daily drive one. Just know how to change a battery. Probably get one for about 100-200 dollars

 

[Apple_Robert]

As a broke person, I recommend getting a 2014-2016 MacBook Pro, I daily drive one. Just know how to change a battery. Probably get one for about 100-200 dollars

Terrible advice and not even on point with what the OP's workload is and will be.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Hi guys, first time buying a macbook pro. Actually first time buying an apple laptop.

I'm making the switch because window laptops have become unbearable to me. I own a carbon x1 1280p 32gb ram and it is slow. Like really slow. I had the luck to test a macbook and really liked it.

Hence the tittle. I'm between the m3 max 14/30 96 ram (3999) and the 16/40 64 ram (3899). 14' chassis. I don't like 16, too big for me.

I can probably go full send and get a 16/40 128 ram 1 TB (don't need much storage) but it's probably overkill).

My daily workload includes: several docker containers, virtual machines, big visual studio projects, and whatever else, actually finishing my degree in system engineering so I would probably have big projects ahead. This machine needs to be hooked into a TS4 and 2x 27-inch 4k displays, even possibly 3 in the future. I just want a beast that can handle pretty much anything I throw at it.

I want to be as future proof as possible.

What would you guys recommend?

Thank you very much for your help.

Either one of the machines you are considering is capable of handling your load. Given there is only $100 difference between the two, get the 96 GB RAM option. I see no need to spend over $6 on the 128GB RAM option.

 

[Astro13]

Terrible advice and not even on point with what the OP's workload is and will be.

Ah, I see, sorry, did not read the post properly. Your solution is a lot better for his needs. I must have gotten lost in the modern Mac stuff, I’m going to return to the vintage stuff. Good luck with your macbook

 

[KPOM]

Hi guys, first time buying a macbook pro. Actually first time buying an apple laptop.

I'm making the switch because window laptops have become unbearable to me. I own a carbon x1 1280p 32gb ram and it is slow. Like really slow. I had the luck to test a macbook and really liked it.

Hence the tittle. I'm between the m3 max 14/30 96 ram (3999) and the 16/40 64 ram (3899). 14' chassis. I don't like 16, too big for me.

I can probably go full send and get a 16/40 128 ram 1 TB (don't need much storage) but it's probably overkill).

My daily workload includes: several docker containers, virtual machines, big visual studio projects, and whatever else, actually finishing my degree in system engineering so I would probably have big projects ahead. This machine needs to be hooked into a TS4 and 2x 27-inch 4k displays, even possibly 3 in the future. I just want a beast that can handle pretty much anything I throw at it.

I want to be as future proof as possible.

What would you guys recommend?

Thank you very much for your help.

The Max is somewhat thermal limited in the 14” model, so I would suggest the 14/30 model with more RAM over the 16/40 model.

 

[henkypenky]

Thanks everyone for the help, I'll probably go for the 14/30 and to add to this the 16/40/64 takes 4-5 weeks just to ship. Probably unpopular?

 

[clam zero]

I recently got a 16" 16/40/48. Apple initially predicted delivery only 13 days after I placed the order, but it ended up taking 24 days, in part because it was held up in customs for about a week (I discerned this with difficulty after repeatedly checking DHL's unhelpful shipment tracker). I'd like to believe that longer stated shipping times are at least in part because Apple has improved their predictions, but obviously there's no way to say for sure.

 

[Andrey84]

For programming you most likely won't feel the difference between the MBP M3 Max 14c/30c/96GB and 16c/40c/128GB. Looking online, Visual Studio is barely able to use 8 cores when building a solution. Obviously you don't need the extra 10 graphic cores. As you're running VMs and other stuff, I'd opt for more RAM, so my vote goes to 14/30/96.

However, if the $700 saving is not substantial for you, why not max it out.

You have posted a great selection of choices, good luck with the MacBook and let us know how it goes for you!

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Hi guys, first time buying a macbook pro. Actually first time buying an apple laptop.

I'm making the switch because window laptops have become unbearable to me. I own a carbon x1 1280p 32gb ram and it is slow. Like really slow. I had the luck to test a macbook and really liked it.

Hence the tittle. I'm between the m3 max 14/30 96 ram (3999) and the 16/40 64 ram (3899). 14' chassis. I don't like 16, too big for me.

I can probably go full send and get a 16/40 128 ram 1 TB (don't need much storage) but it's probably overkill).

My daily workload includes: several docker containers, virtual machines, big visual studio projects, and whatever else, actually finishing my degree in system engineering so I would probably have big projects ahead. This machine needs to be hooked into a TS4 and 2x 27-inch 4k displays, even possibly 3 in the future. I just want a beast that can handle pretty much anything I throw at it.

I want to be as future proof as possible.

What would you guys recommend?

Thank you very much for your help.

I agree with others that the CPU/GPU probably will not be limiting as long as you are choosing some M3 max chip. However at the level of computer that you are configuring IMO RAM will be limiting at some point in the life cycle of the new box. I opine that anything other than maximum RAM will be sub-optimal sooner or later, just not immediately. IMO the cost to max out the RAM is well worth it (I put 96 GB in my M2 MBP because that was the most available with M2).

 

[Rhyalus]

I don't want to be the guy throwing an ice cube in the soup, but any concerns about compatibility with Apple silicon and your work (VMs, x86 compat, etc)?

R