Input requested on upcoming MBP M2 workstation setup

[IncreasinglyFrustrated]

Background: I work as a freelance design consultant (industrial/HMI/web). During the pandemic, my wife and I moved to a fairly remote location. The nearest stoplight is an hour away, but thanks to geographic dumb luck, we're fortunate enough to have access to an OC48 for internet (with Starlink as a failover). The one thing we don't have is reliable electricity. Power can be unavailable for days at time, even after a minor storm. To get the most out of our B/U setup, (a few roof panels, 2 Powerwalls & a 14kw propane generator), I'm looking to replace my primary workstation with a MBP M2 Max, when it becomes available, to reduce power consumption during outages.

Current setup (pic attached): iMac Pro 10-core / 128GB / Vega64 + 5700XT eGPU. Displays: iMac, LG 5k, Dell 3821DW, Apple XDR. (Note: When running on backup power, I turn off everything but the iMac itself. This is a cruddy way to work & I want to be able to dedicate more juice to run the displays as needed.)

Target setup: 16" MBP M2 Max / 96GB. Displays: 2x Apple Studio, Dell 3821DW, Apple XDR.

I've attached a quick sketch of what I have in mind for the new setup, I just need a sanity check for when the time comes. My understanding of TB3/4 is limited, so I'm curious if there's a smarter way to go about routing all this. Besides the 2 studio displays and the laptop (obviously), I already have everything else on hand.

It's a mess, I know. Any feedback or advice is appreciated.

 

[Boil]

Expansive setup, but what catches my eye are the SGI machines on the bottom right shelf...! ;^p

 

[now i see it]

All those monitors draw a lot of power. During a power outage- best plan is to turn all those suckers off and use the laptop screens. Yeah they’re small, but better that than running out of juice.

 

[IncreasinglyFrustrated]

Expansive setup, but what catches my eye are the SGI machines on the bottom right shelf...! ;^p

Good eye!

Funny thing is, regarding your signature, the movie Hackers got me into UNIX & SGI (which led to my career choice).

Ugh... we're old.

 

[jerryk]

Good eye!

Funny thing is, regarding your signature, the movie Hackers got me into UNIX & SGI (which led to my career choice).

Ugh... we're old.

I worked with DEC Alphas. Not old. Well aged.

 

[owidhh]

Target setup: 16" MBP M2 Max / 96GB. Displays: 2x Apple Studio, Dell 3821DW, Apple XDR.

You will have to pay close attention to how many external monitors are supported by the new MBPs once they are released.

E.g. the 14"/16" M1 Pro/Max (https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/specs/) :

 

[ondioline]

I assume you have the CalDigit Element, you should have got the TS4 instead. It has a DP port and you could have put the Dell and XDR/LG on it. Not to mention it already has a 2.5GbE port.

If this were my setup I'd just ditch the "switch" and dedicate one of the 5k screens to the work laptop. I'd have the other 5k and the Dell on the TS4, and then the XDR+TS4 directly plugged into my MBP.

 

[Zest28]

Maybe buy also one of those big power generators that people use for camping if you are suffering from power outages. Some of them recharge using solar energy so it is free energy.

 

[Pressure]

Perhaps something like the Anker PowerHouse 767 could help.

Otherwise you are looking at a more substantially solar battery setup, like the Tesla PowerWall or Sonnen.

 

[Boil]

To get the most out of our B/U setup, (a few roof panels, 2 Powerwalls & a 14kw propane generator), I'm looking to replace my primary workstation with a MBP M2 Max, when it becomes available, to reduce power consumption during outages.

Maybe buy also one of those big power generators that people use for camping if you are suffering from power outages. Some of them recharge using solar energy so it is free energy.

Perhaps something like the Anker PowerHouse 767 could help.

Otherwise you are looking at a more substantially solar battery setup, like the Tesla PowerWall or Sonnen.

OP has already clearly stated that they have two Powerwalls & a 14kW propane generator, but y'all keep recommending solutions already implemented...

 

[Pressure]

OP has already clearly stated that they have two Powerwalls & a 14kW propane generator, but y'all keep recommending solutions already implemented...

Thanks, I totally missed that somehow! I'm blaming no one but myself 😆

 

[wingennis]

I worked with DEC Alphas. Not old. Well aged.

Vintage, even

 

[Malus120]

FYI if you don't need the extra GPU performance you can gain quite a bit of battery life just by choosing the M2 Pro over the M2 Max. Assuming power usage is similar with the M1 Pro/Max, the extra memory channels/bandwidth have a noticeable (very noticeable on the 14") cost in extra energy consumption even during light loads.

Something to think about if you're regularly dealing with power outages and trying to stretch your battery life as far as possible.