Yeah its difficult to gauge with tech reviews and my workflow since I have 8-10 hour videos I export. I never like using laptops for it as its just non stop work for a laptop to handle and I have killed many laptops over the years. So I always prefer desktops. I think if I can let the workflow grow into the ultra over the course of the 5 years that is worth it I think.I bought an Ultra on day one. Picked it up at 11:30 am on the day it was released. I have absolutely, positively ZERO need for it or the Max's capabilities. I just wanted one. So, perhaps I'm not the right person to ask
That said I fully expect Apple, and other software developers, to improve on their software to utilize the extra capabilities of the Ultra. Going out on a limb I expect the next version of FCP will utilize, to some extent, the extra encoders.
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Mac Studio Performance - Disappointing News
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If you don't need to buy something immediately my recommendation is to hold off until FCP is updated. Once it is check out the reviews and, if positive, buy one and test with your workflow. I am a firm advocate of testing with your software, with your data, and your workflow despite what reviews say. Reviews are general guidelines and should be considered as much. Since Apple offers 14 days to return the system you can test without risk.
If you have to buy now I think there's little risk in buying the Ultra. I think Apple would be insane (to use one of my brothers, err...I mean...Max's over used words) to release an update to FCP that doesn't take advantage of the extra encoders of the Ultra.
Actually there is a thread going on about fan noise that has me concerned enough where I am canceling my order. The only issue is I know my M1 Max Macbook Pro is going to get used too much and it will start failing in no time.
Mine isn't noisy at all* I wouldn't let it bother you. Again you can try it out for 14 days risk free.
* Being defined as sitting in the left back corner of my desk with me sitting in the center, front of the desk and not putting my ear six inches from the back of the systems. If I do the latter I can hear some slight air movement. Definitely not something to worry about.
There is just so much conflicting reports people say its way too loud people say they can't even hear it.
In terms of need, I don't necessarily NEED it now, just a desktop with desktop cooling will be much better for long term use for my workflow. I killed so many macbook pros by having my CPU/GPU at 100% for 8 hours per video exporting them.
Just because the Mac Studio has 20 cpu cores doesn’t suddenly mean the laws of programming are going to suddenly change.
Parallellizing most single threaded operations simply isn’t possible, or at best can only be split upon 4 cpu cores if you’re lucky.
Intel has been making mega multi-core cpus (Xeons) for a long long time and most apps can’t utilize all their cores.
The state of software isn’t going to change because of the Mac Studio.
Parallellizing most single threaded operations simply isn’t possible, or at best can only be split upon 4 cpu cores if you’re lucky.
Intel has been making mega multi-core cpus (Xeons) for a long long time and most apps can’t utilize all their cores.
The state of software isn’t going to change because of the Mac Studio.
There are too many variables and to know and what constitutes noisy is subjective. The only way to know yourself is to get one and test it for yourself in your environment.
That said what I can say is that if someone needs to break out a audio frequency spectrum analyzer to demonstrate how noisy something is then I think it's a safe bet to conclude it's not too noisy.
If you don't need it now there's no harm in waiting until FCP is updated. However it's my opinion FCP will see an update in the short term and it will utilize the extra encoders of the Ultra. Thus I think there is little risk if you were to purchase one. If that's not the case I offer a 100% money back guarantee on this unsolicited advice that I've given you 😁
Agreed. Which is why if single threaded performance is the basis of your computing requirements purchase a Mac Mini. The 14" and 16" MBPs and Mac Studios won't benefit you at all.
The key to any computer purchasing decision is to know your workload and buy the system which best works with it.
I have already waited almost a month, and my ship date is still set between June 8 and June 20. Not sure if I should keep my order in place or not. FCP should be updated by then I hope. Really unsure what to do.
This is indeed my opinion, if the rules of computing do not change with the accumulation of cores, then the most suitable target for a large number of cores is always "every second counts", and that's only if the software can use those cores effectively.
In my early years of working in multimedia and 3D, software had the benefit of multiple cores, but not all. Most of the time, the performance of a single core still dominates many workflows. Back then I used to work with C4D, AE, SKP, and the usual adobe software.
But there is no denying that good multi-core and good operating systems can be a significant benefit to multitasking.
However, more importantly, when choosing a powerful multi-core machine, users also need to know whether the software in use will be beneficial.
There is a very basic example, adobe PS in some cases or some scripts actually can not take full advantage of multi-core. This is because many processes are "One by One" and you have to wait for the last operation to finish before you can continue with the next one. This kind of project will not be able to enjoy the benefits of multi-core. But many people don't know that they think that by using efficient multi-core, they will get a lot of benefits from their work in PS, which is not the case. If a good user experience is achieved, it is probably due to the excellent duplexing of the operating system and the impact of the high-performance single core.
So as far as the Ultra is concerned, in terms of single-core performance, it's arguably the same as the average M1, with the significant benefit of more memory options and then greater performance freedom in the future if it gets either a software update or an update from Apple.
However, for those who don't work "every second counts", in terms of single-core efficiency, if we look at it from the point of view of "relying on a reasonable distribution of the operating system in multiple tasks, and the fact that most of the time we are actually working with single-core performance", I think the choice of metric is still single-core performance as the priority.
If the single core is strong enough, the multi-core will not be bad, but not every job can get the benefits of multi-core, as a professional user should have the ability to judge for themselves.
I never favored single-core performance until I started to realize that I was still affected by single-core performance in my life and at work, and that I could only get the benefits of multi-core in certain situations. If I always use "every second counts" as a reason to care about high performance multi-core machines, then the first thing I have to review is how much time I spend watching Youtube, FB, IG, Twitter or on "Like OR Dislike" things, and obviously how many times these things make me lose "every second counts", haha.
Since Apple doesn't charge your CC until it ships there's little reason to cancel the order. May as well wait and see how it plays out.
Smart money says we'll see the new Final Cut Pro at NAB in a couple of weeks. When is your Ultra due? I have an Ultra and is is a huge step up from my i9 MacBook Pro. As for encoding I do tend to spit out 1-2 hour programs and will test outputs before and after the FCP/Compressor update.
This really has a lot to do with specific workflows. Chances are if you need multicore performance, you already know it. And since single core improvements have gotten much slower year over year, developers have been by necessity extracting more performance from multicore where possible. It's not gone completely ignored.
I still get excited about single core performance because it means my machine is going to generally feel snappier. But the gains there are so small every year that you end up having to wait a rather long time to see a tangible difference.
Don't forget about the importance of "dedicated cores" ... aka the stuff that specifically offloads things like compression, video/audio codecs, neural engine/ML type operations. Single core may have stalled, but offloading specific operations still has a big bang for the buck in terms of both speed and power budget.
I don't know what you loaded your Ultra with to push it that far out, but I really think the stock Ultra, assuming it does scale well in the end, is a fantastic buy. And there seems to be rolling stock available at Apple stores or Best Buys if you check fairly frequently.i do think the 512drive on the Max is not enough...
I canceled my fully-loaded Ultra order and bought a base model Ultra from a local Apple Store. I also bought an 8TB thunderbolt ssd. If I had purchased the fully-loaded version, I’d feel compelled to hold onto it for many years. With the base model, I can sell it or trade it in if the newer versions look appealing.
Unless things massively change with FCP 10.6.2 (wishful thinking) or Apple issue a performance firmware update in macOS 12.4 the Ultra machine for photography and video related work look a total waist at the moment for the vast majority of us.
Unless you are in the habit of sitting and watching/timing progress bars on exports the Ultra is barely better than a standard M1 for the majority of editors or photographers. Go and make a coffee of answer some emails and I think you will find both machines have finished.
I have cancelled my Ultra order and will continue to happily use my cheap as chips M1 MBP that was light years better than the i9 16inch MBP it replaced and wait for software optimisations or possibly even M2.
Unless you are in the habit of sitting and watching/timing progress bars on exports the Ultra is barely better than a standard M1 for the majority of editors or photographers. Go and make a coffee of answer some emails and I think you will find both machines have finished.
I have cancelled my Ultra order and will continue to happily use my cheap as chips M1 MBP that was light years better than the i9 16inch MBP it replaced and wait for software optimisations or possibly even M2.
I suggest that you read what posts #1 and #3 say in the following thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-studio-final-cut-pro-davinci-resolve-updates.2341107/
You could have found the Blackmagic thread, including the Blackmagic developer's post, in the time that it took to write your own uninformed post. NAB starts two weeks today.
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Not sure why on earth you link to a topic stated by yourself with only rumours you think you know will solve all the performance issues and is by definition uninformed chatter. My conclusions are simply drawn from all the test data freely available all over the internet regarding the Mac Studio.
Most video people use the same vanilla codecs and the difference from M1 to Ultra is just not that impressive regardless of the software used. And I have the feeling any OS or software optimisations will almost certainly improve all M1 prosessors and not just the Ultra meaning improvements all round.
Now you are speculating. The Ultra has addition encoder/decoder hardware. Any improvements that optimize for that additional hardware will not be available on lower end chips.
I’m no speculating anything unlike post #244 above and have no knowledge of what is included in any upcoming updates or the time time frame to deliver these. I’m looking at the facts we have today/now and the performance is nowhere near night and day between all flavours of M1.
For example, Capture One has just received an update that includes optimisations for M1 chips. Not Max, not Ultra but all M1 chips and all gain a massive performance boost.
All M1 cpus have the same single core performance so for some optimizations, all M1 variants will benefit. That is certainly not true of all optimizations.