Help me decide Macbook!

[Senseihaiku]

Hey guys. Have been loking around for a very long time right now for buying a new macbook. At first i couldn't decide between a rMacbook 12" 2016 m7 or an Macbook pro 13" (no touchbar) late 2016. I need the portability and are mostley going to use everyday tasks like surfing the web, streaming movies, taking notes etc. So at first the rMacbook looked like a good option, dont need the ports. Awesome portability. Have the budget. But then i stared thinking. This is going to be my only computer, and I want to have it for 4-5 years. I would be running logic x pro sometimes, (right now logic 9 on a 2009 iMac) maby evean more in the futre. Maby start do some videoediting (really just once a moth with just easy tasks and light editing) Also a minimal bit of light gaming. I'm not a heavy logic user but could spend some more time with it soon. (I also don't do so much multitasking)

I think it's leaning against the "Pro" (I know. Underspec and overpriced) but my question is;

Is the basemodel ok?

Is it worth to upgrade the base model to 16 GB RAM ( and keep the 2.0 ghz i5)

Or keep the 8 gb RAM and update basemodel to the 2,4 ghz i7

Or go with the 13" touchbar model which has 2,9 ghz i5) (you also get faster 8 gb RAM i think and a 512 ssd.

I only have the budget for one of this upgrades. Which is the best alternative to get it last for the longest. (Mostley basic everyday tasks) but also some logic pro x. Or can i handle with just a rMacbook?

(I know some will say I'll be better of with 2015 rMBP but this is about rMB or rMBP 2016 versions)

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

If portability is your main concern then the rMB is a fantastic device, it's also surprisingly powerful and would likely work fine for you. However as you said you wanted it for a few years, it is worth looking at the Pro's.

16GB of RAM is always useful, and the general rule of thumb is if you can afford it, do it. It's not something that you need to run certain apps but it can make things quicker down the line. Performance wise the base 13", and the base 13" Touchbar are kind of equal in every day use, the TB is a bit faster but nothing huge. So you'd buy it for the TB feature, if that's something you like.

So you might consider the base 13" with 16GB of RAM if you'll want it for a long time, I think that could be your best value machine in this case.

 

[Altis]

Hello Senseihaiku,

The 13" pro will likely be more satisfying as your only computer. It's much more powerful and has more screen space.

Of all the upgrades, the RAM will likely benefit you the most (especially long-term as it's often the first bottleneck that will prompt you to replace the computer). The CPU upgrade doesn't return much performance gain for the cost, until you get the touchbar version which uses more powerful (and power-consuming) CPU chips.

Based on what you've given, I'd advise the base model 13" MBP with the 16 GB of RAM upgrade. That should give you 4-5 years of decent performance.

 

[Senseihaiku]

If portability is your main concern then the rMB is a fantastic device, it's also surprisingly powerful and would likely work fine for you. However as you said you wanted it for a few years, it is worth looking at the Pro's.

16GB of RAM is always useful, and the general rule of thumb is if you can afford it, do it. It's not something that you need to run certain apps but it can make things quicker down the line. Performance wise the base 13", and the base 13" Touchbar are kind of equal in every day use, the TB is a bit faster but nothing huge. So you'd buy it for the TB feature, if that's something you like.

So you might consider the base 13" with 16GB of RAM if you'll want it for a long time, I think that could be your best value machine in this case.

Thank you so much for a fast answere! yes i think that would be the best option too but do you think 8gb would still be enough for a couple of years? Du you have you any experience with the rMB and Logic? I'm thinking about the fans and if it will overheat. how many years do you think a rMB will give me? in terms of having it as my main-computer.
[doublepost=1480353062][/doublepost]

Hello Senseihaiku,

The 13" pro will likely be more satisfying as your only computer. It's much more powerful and has more screen space.

Of all the upgrades, the RAM will likely benefit you the most (especially long-term as it's often the first bottleneck that will prompt you to replace the computer). The CPU upgrade doesn't return much performance gain for the cost, until you get the touchbar version which uses more powerful (and power-consuming) CPU chips.

Based on what you've given, I'd advise the base model 13" MBP with the 16 GB of RAM upgrade. That should give you 4-5 years of decent performance.

Hey there! thank you for a very fast answere! leaning into getting one of these but still how many years you think i can handle with 8gb RAM? do you think apps will taking up more RAM in the fure? and i've heard that Sierra is a bit RAM-hungry..

 

[shamus99]

great info guys... i am in same boat. thanks

 

[David58117]

I actually have the 13" non-TB base (8GB) and my wife has my old 2015 12" rMB, m5.

I use Logic Pro X as well, and for the "Helena Beat" demo project (80 something tracks), I was getting mid 70% CPU idle, with memory pressure about 1/3rd full and green on the 13".

With the rMB, I was getting about 40-50% CPU idle, with it dropping even lower after awhile. It did get hot, and I wouldn't recommend using it for projects of that size. If you only use a few tracks, I think it will work, as long as you're mindful of heat.

Anyway - I highly recommend the 13" model, as it handled the project flawlessly. I have about 150GB of Native Instrument VSTis on it, and use it as a mobile laptop to work on things.

You'll be fine with the 8GB model, 16GB may be nice but largely overkill. If you're going to do any upgrades, look at the SSD size first, then RAM. Skip the processor.

But base non-TB 13" is perfectly fine.

 

[Senseihaiku]

I actually have the 13" non-TB base (8GB) and my wife has my old 2015 12" rMB, m5.

I use Logic Pro X as well, and for the "Helena Beat" demo project (80 something tracks), I was getting mid 70% CPU idle, with memory pressure about 1/3rd full and green on the 13".

With the rMB, I was getting about 40-50% CPU idle, with it dropping even lower after awhile. It did get hot, and I wouldn't recommend using it for projects of that size. If you only use a few tracks, I think it will work, as long as you're mindful of heat.

Anyway - I highly recommend the 13" model, as it handled the project flawlessly. I have about 150GB of Native Instrument VSTis on it, and use it as a mobile laptop to work on things.

You'll be fine with the 8GB model, 16GB may be nice but largely overkill. If you're going to do any upgrades, look at the SSD size first, then RAM. Skip the processor.

But base non-TB 13" is perfectly fine.

Thank you so much you just helped me decide. But the CPU idle, is it better when higher (as on MBP 13")
Anyway, thanks. looks like I'm going with the 13" NTB keep 8gb and maby update the ssd

 

[Altis]

Hey there! thank you for a very fast answere! leaning into getting one of these but still how many years you think i can handle with 8gb RAM? do you think apps will taking up more RAM in the fure? and i've heard that Sierra is a bit RAM-hungry..

RAM is typically the first bottleneck. While 8 GB might be okay for today, it's been the norm for several years now. Since it's not upgradable later, I don't think I'd recommend a computer with the same 8 GB of RAM in late 2016-2017 as we got in 2010, especially at these prices.

MacOS and many applications will use more and more RAM as time goes on. I don't have a crystal ball to tell you for how long 8 GB will be enough, but it will become a bottleneck and likely the one that ends the device's usable life. While a CPU limitation can make things gradually slower, a RAM limitation is much more noticeable.

Unfortunately, the prices Apple charges for RAM are highway robbery... as is selling laptops today with 8 GB of RAM for $2000... but it is what it is. If you have the money, upgrading to 16 GB of RAM will almost certainly extend the usable life of the machine. If you don't get it, you'll have to upgrade sooner which may impose a greater cost.

 

[thesaint024]

Thank you so much you just helped me decide. But the CPU idle, is it better when higher (as on MBP 13")
Anyway, thanks. looks like I'm going with the 13" NTB keep 8gb and maby update the ssd

Good choice on MBP over MB. As an only computer, that is the only choice. Not saying it can't be done depending on your tasks, but flexibility to do more if need arises. No comment on ram, except that more is better has been the conventional wisdom. But super fast SSD's might have shifted that paradigm in some cases.