I'm going to purchase a M3 Pro Macbook Pro 14". Do you think the upgrade to the 12 Core versus the 11 Core is worth it? I do a little video editing using FCP X. I wouldn't say I am a power user for video editing. I do a little photo editing in photoshop and lightroom. No where near as much as I used to do. I want the 14" for portability in the summer on my motorcycle. I'll be upgrading from a 2012 Core i7 MBP 15" which is only used now for surfing the web, and a M1 mini base model 512gb HD and 8 gigs or ram.
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M3 Pro 11 Core vs 12 Core
- Thread starter ZMAN Z28
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I can't speak for the M3 (take my opinions with a grain of salt, I have no firsthand experience with the newest generation), but from what I've heard, the difference doesn't seem to be quite as substantial as it was in previous generations. You're only losing one P-core instead of the two, although the graphics do take a bigger hit (14 vs 18).
Personally, I did go for the unbinned chip when I got my M2. It was enough of an upgrade to justify the relatively inexpensive cost, and I didn't really want to get anything less than the best version of the Pro chip if I was going to forgo the Max. That being said, I frankly didn't need it. I have made use of the extra processing power on a handful of occasions, but I probably would have been happy with either configuration.
If you're planning on hammering it, I'd say it might be worth it to go ahead and get the unbinned one, but only if it's easy to justify the cost.
Personally, I did go for the unbinned chip when I got my M2. It was enough of an upgrade to justify the relatively inexpensive cost, and I didn't really want to get anything less than the best version of the Pro chip if I was going to forgo the Max. That being said, I frankly didn't need it. I have made use of the extra processing power on a handful of occasions, but I probably would have been happy with either configuration.
If you're planning on hammering it, I'd say it might be worth it to go ahead and get the unbinned one, but only if it's easy to justify the cost.
Your money is better spent on upgrading the RAM or SSD. Probably SSD (which is comparable in price jump).
I had the same dilemma, but after looking at benchmarks, it's clear 1) the CPU performance difference is negligible, 2) fewer p-cores and a smaller GPU will lead to better battery life and less heat, generally, and 3) if I cared about GPU, I'd get a Max anyway. I had a base model M1 pro for a time with the 14 GPU cores and it was still way better than the standard M chip GPU. I think the 11-core with 1TB and 36GB RAM is the best sweet spot below the max configs ($2389 on the Edu store for those specs vs $2559 for the full chip.)
The 12 Core M3 punches at the M2 Max level on some tests. 100% go with the full 12 Core version.
It is a $200 upgrade, one that many will get and will be unneeded. It'd be best to use those $200 for a RAM upgrade instead.
Unfortunately it's a $400 upgrade from 18 to 36 gigs of ram. I'm also in the camp of upgrading ram is usually a good upgrade, but 400 bucks is too much for me.
Remember these machines share the RAM so 18GB is probably 8GB to the GPU and 10GB to the OS. 36GB is a huge boost.
Recall, with memory on a Mac, it's either now or never. You can live without one core, but memory can mean headaches when working with larger projects.
I don't think that's how it works. Do you have any data to suggest the GPU uses 8GB?
New MBP14" owner: $1799. Couldn't say no to BestBuy's pricematch of B&H and Microcenter. I went with the M3 Pro 11C model because my main interest is the higher clockspeed of M3 vs M1 or M2, and because I wanted 40% more GPU going from M2 Air 15" to this, plus the generational bump. Comparing the benefits vs. the 15" Air at $1329 or so, I felt the extra few hundred bucks was worth it:
1. Another P CPU core
2. Active Cooling -> no throttling
3. Another generation newer
4. Better screen, audio, mics, etc.
5. Not that I need it much, but multicore speed is 50% or so better
1. Another P CPU core
2. Active Cooling -> no throttling
3. Another generation newer
4. Better screen, audio, mics, etc.
5. Not that I need it much, but multicore speed is 50% or so better
You will be fine. Try it for your workflow like you said. You can return if it doesn't work for you, but coming from a 2012, you will be amazed at the speed. This board is obsessed with Ram most don't need. Amazing upgrade for you.
....and BB has a shipping delay email. (Sigh). Won't get it for another week or so, alas.
with 16gb ram, Mac will compress ram and also swap. Things get messy when you plug Mac into 5k display and use both screens at same time while running FCPX with tougher plugins. Mac will do quite well for the most part working hard to compensate. General programs will run normal with 16 gb even if you fill up ram. I got 36gb and thats enough to handle whatever
Rather than state broad or general statements, i think every time someone asks "Do I have enough RAM" that we should have a stock answer: Check activity monitor / memory for red memory pressure.
Compressed RAM isn't bad; swapping isn't bad - some things really _don't_ need to be kept in memory, and a modern OS should page out first used nonessentials. That's how a modern OS works... the problem happens with constant swapping, ie red zone.
I would argue that iStat Menus makes reading this a bit easier, as there's a clear Memory section which is itself useless (free and used mean little to a modern OS) but has under it a very handy metric:
I didnt provide general information. I mentioned I tested a heavier workload with monitor attached and I got laggy performance under those conditions vs using one with 36gb. I also said the Mac compensates a lot to keep things going smooth. My Ram pressure was at 75% when I did the testing. I did use iStat Menus
M2 Max is almost an M2 Pro CPU wise (higher memory bandwith and capacity is the only difference), what you are saying is that the M3 Pro can reach it's predecessors' performance in some tests. Sad.