Mba vs MBP, 8 vs 16 gb ram

[Neverbenever]

Hello all,

I hope you can help me.
I currently have a base model 2020 13 inch intel MBP with 16 gb ram.

I am/was really loving it. I use it for video, mostly 4k, editing. I’m quite new to it but I’m getting better everyday. I’m also trying to get into Motion and make someday Blender. Sadly recently its just acting slow in FCPX and it is just annoying at times. I feel like it is due to Big Sur and maybe for it to optimize for Apple silicon. But I digress. I’ve made the decision to upgrade(performance reasons) and it sounds like both machines are much better then what I currently have. Being that I just bought this MBP I don’t have a large budget. And I will sell it (sounds like I’ll get around $600 for it). I have and eGPU setup that I’ll sell with it but I don’t expect more than a total of $800(and that is if I’m lucky.)

I also hear that the base MBA is just as powerful as the the MBP if cooled. If I’m honest, I can only afford a base MBA with possibly the 16gb ram. (I actually like the Touch Bar but if they are disappearing anyways, that’s fine)



Would a base M1 MBA truly do me as good as or better than my current machine? Also should I get 16gb ram?

 

[ian87w]

Hello all,

I hope you can help me.
I currently have a base model 2020 13 inch intel MBP with 16 gb ram.

I am/was really loving it. I use it for video, mostly 4k, editing. I’m quite new to it but I’m getting better everyday. I’m also trying to get into Motion and make someday Blender. Sadly recently its just acting slow in FCPX and it is just annoying at times. I feel like it is due to Big Sur and maybe for it to optimize for Apple silicon. But I digress. I’ve made the decision to upgrade(performance reasons) and it sounds like both machines are much better then what I currently have. Being that I just bought this MBP I don’t have a large budget. And I will sell it (sounds like I’ll get around $600 for it). I have and eGPU setup that I’ll sell with it but I don’t expect more than a total of $800(and that is if I’m lucky.)

I also hear that the base MBA is just as powerful as the the MBP if cooled. If I’m honest, I can only afford a base MBA with possibly the 16gb ram. (I actually like the Touch Bar but if they are disappearing anyways, that’s fine)



Would a base M1 MBA truly do me as good as or better than my current machine? Also should I get 16gb ram?

16GB RAM = yes. Do not believe the youtubers saying that 8GB of RAM on Apple silicon magically "equals" to 16GB on intel. RAM is RAM. Considering the heavy swap that Apple Silicon system seems to be doing (who knows if it's the hardware or Big Sur), the more RAM you have the better. So whichever machine you pick, get 16GB of RAM.

Do not self-mod the Macbook Air, despite what Youtubers are showing. Sure, the heat pad mod will improve sustained performance of the Macbook Air, but it wasn't designed to do so, and the whole metal body will get hotter than intended as it becomes a giant heatsink.

For your use, I would consider a mac mini instead. The Mac mini has not only higher thermal headroom than even the Macbook Pro, you can slowly upgrade things like your monitor and other peripherals later as your budget allows. The only downside is that it's not a laptop, but if your usage will mostly be on the desktop, just get the mac mini.

 

[Neverbenever]

Thanks for your reply,
I wish I could work with a stationary device. But my job requires me to move. About the YouTube mod, I’ve heard that you could just use a cooling stand to make it cooler. But is this true?
But an Air should be fine though, right?

 

[ian87w]

Thanks for your reply,
I wish I could work with a stationary device. But my job requires me to move. About the YouTube mod, I’ve heard that you could just use a cooling stand to make it cooler. But is this true?

Probably, anything that makes the laptop cooler will improve its sustained performance length. Personally though, if I were you, since I already know I'll be pushing the hardware with video encodings, I would prefer a device with a better thermal headroom in the first place, ie. the Macbook Pro. It would be better for the hardware in the long run anyway. I would still suggest stretching your budget to get the Macbook Pro.