M2 Max 30 or 38 GPU core / 32gb or 64gb for gaming

[dlange]

Hi, I'm planning to get a new MacBook Pro. For travel reasons, it will be a 14". I'd like to be able to play games every now and then, including via the Game Porting Toolkit. Where I'm struggling is whether to get the standard m2 max configuration with 30 GPU cores and 32GB, or whether either of the 38 core or 64GB upgrades would truly be worth it? Any advise would be appreciated

 

[Pressure]

Chances are that if the game isn't running probably on the 30-core GPU then the 8 extra cores won't magically solve the issue. The extra 32GB of shared memory isn't going to solve it either. You are not going to run into VRAM issues at 1512 x 982 pixels (the Geforce RTX 4090 only comes with 24GB of VRAM for example).

Don't buy a Mac just for the potential of the Game Porting Toolkit. It only works with some games and doesn't work with many Digital Rights Management (DRM) platforms as it is right now.

Instead you should focus on what your needs are for the work you will be doing on a laptop, since I assume that is the primary reason for wanting to buy it in the first place.

 

[dlange]

I will be using it for coding otherwise, where I know that all of these 4 configurations will work fine for my needs, and will be a great upgrade from my M1.

Just want to see that gaming won't be an issue because of me having saved 300 USD, but also don't want to spend it unneccesarily.

 

[diamond.g]

The 30/32 config should be fine for most any recent game you could/would run. As far as I know there is only 1 game that nearly uses all the VRAM of a 4090 and I am not even sure if it will run via the Game Porting Toolkit.

 

[dmccloud]

Hi, I'm planning to get a new MacBook Pro. For travel reasons, it will be a 14". I'd like to be able to play games every now and then, including via the Game Porting Toolkit. Where I'm struggling is whether to get the standard m2 max configuration with 30 GPU cores and 32GB, or whether either of the 38 core or 64GB upgrades would truly be worth it? Any advise would be appreciated

I have the 30 GPU/32GB 14" myself, and it handles everything I throw at it and more. (Coding, photo/video editing, web design, and some gaming when I have time.) Unless you were editing multiple 8k videos simultaneously in FCP or DaVinci or running very large arrays locally, the 38c/64Gb combo probably won't benefit your workflows enough to justify the additional cost.

 

[dlange]

Thanks all for your input!! 30 core with 32gb it is then

 

[freezelighter]

Thanks all for your input!! 30 core with 32gb it is then

Let me know what you think of the new MacBook Pro with M3 Max 😅 I was shocked when it came out two months after I invested 4k in M2 Max 💔 Surprised they still have 30GPU and 40GPU options. Would be interesting to compare M2 Max 30 vs M3 Max 30.