In the market for MBP (for Music Production). Suggestions?

[tekboi]

I'm still using my late 2011 MacBook Pro that I bought for college. I decided to turn it into a dedicated music workstation computer. Recently, I'm starting to realize that this thing can't handle much. I use Logic Pro on a daily basis, and I have yet to complete a project because the cpu is too slow and can't hang. It struggles with very simple projects. So, now I'm looking to get a good MacBook Pro with a decent CPU. Here are the specs for it:

• - 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
• - 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory
• - 500GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive
• - Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory

Right now, I'm looking for a 2015-2016 MBP with an i7, used/refurbished, for under $2000. But, maybe some here have better suggestions and may also be into music production?

 

[Fishrrman]

My opinion only, but for music production, you probably should be looking at 27" iMacs.

There's nothing that beats "native screen real estate" for audio DAW timelines...

 

[1050792]

Get any 15" from 2015 or above with an i7, and as much storage as you can afford. It's all you need for Logic to perform well.

 

[Trolle]

Get the fastest processor you can afford. The new MBPs are worth it if you do production. They are fast.

 

[tekboi]

My opinion only, but for music production, you probably should be looking at 27" iMacs.

There's nothing that beats "native screen real estate" for audio DAW timelines...

I thought about this, as I already have a 2017 iMac 27". But i'm using that one for my Development Business and kinda need sepearate space for my music stuff.

 

[d0nK]

I'm still using my late 2011 MacBook Pro that I bought for college. I decided to turn it into a dedicated music workstation computer. Recently, I'm starting to realize that this thing can't handle much. I use Logic Pro on a daily basis, and I have yet to complete a project because the cpu is too slow and can't hang. It struggles with very simple projects. So, now I'm looking to get a good MacBook Pro with a decent CPU. Here are the specs for it:

• - 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
• - 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory
• - 500GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive
• - Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory

Right now, I'm looking for a 2015-2016 MBP with an i7, used/refurbished, for under $2000. But, maybe some here have better suggestions and may also be into music production?

It should be able to handle Logic Pro easily if you swap that terrible 5400 rpm hard drive out for an SSD. Then you should be golden.
I use Logic on a daily basis with my 15" 2011 i7 mbp. The i5 should be fine.
That hard drive is no good though. You'll see a MASSIVE speed increase with an SSD.

 

[tekboi]

It should be able to handle Logic Pro easily if you swap that terrible 5400 rpm hard drive out for an SSD. Then you should be golden.
I use Logic on a daily basis with my 15" 2011 i7 mbp. The i5 should be fine.
That hard drive is no good though. You'll see a MASSIVE speed increase with an SSD.

Will that prevent logic from using 80% of my CPU when I have only a few VST's running?

 

[1050792]

Will that prevent logic from using 80% of my CPU when I have only a few VST's running?

Absolutely not, you need an i7 to prevent high CPU spikes.

 

[d0nK]

Will that prevent logic from using 80% of my CPU when I have only a few VST's running?

Sounds like dodgy VST's to me. Your i5 should be fine with just a few VST's.
The 5400rpm HD is an absolute dog though. An SSD would make your 2011 mbp perform super fast again. My 2011 mbp is like lightning still.

 

[Mac-key]

and you could always upgrade your RAM from 8gb to 16gb