MacPro to Macbook Pro "Upgrade?"

[ericsoup]

I'm considering moving from my 2009 4,1 MacPro, which is loaded up with upgrades to a 2016 MacBook Pro as there are suddenly some great deals out there. I work mostly in Photoshop and Illustrator these days, with the occasional bit of not too complicated After Effects work. I need a bit more mobility these days, although I've just been lugging around the cheese grater from job to job, and it's not the worst thing in the world. (But the idea of going from a 60LB box to a 4LB box is very appealing)

I'm wondering if anyone has made a shift like this and has any insights about whether it would be a good move or not, especially in terms of performance.

Machines:

2009 MacPro 4,1 (flashed to 5,1)
8 Core 2.26ghz
32GB RAM
512 SSD (on an OWC Accelsior S card)
256 SSD
4TB HDD
Nvidia GTX 780 3GB VRAM

Thinking of upgrading to

2016 MBP 15"
2.9ghz
2TB SSD
16GB RAM
460 4GB VRAM

About once a month I need to work on a file in Photoshop that gets HUGE, like over 1gb, which even the 2009 MB has a little trouble. But other than that, most file sizes are of a normal manageable size.

I'm most worried about the RAM limitations, but am considering that as a good trade off for the mobility advantage.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Naimfan]

Keep the MP and install a current graphics card.

You can also upgrade the CPUs in your MP, up to 3.46 GHz and 12 cores; that would also speed up your RAM to 1333 MHz (assuming your RAM supports 1333 MHz).

Even if you did both, you're still spending far less than you would on a new MBP, and you don't have to sweat the potential keyboard and other issues that a 2017 MBP presents.

 

[leman]

Well, the MP is still faster. But I'm sure that the MBP will get the job done for your purpose.