Where is the trap? M4 Pro 20-core GPU, 48GB of unified memory /VS/ M4 Max 32-core 36GB of unified memory

[Zirochka]

Hi everyone! I'm having a hard time choosing between {M4 Pro chip with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 48GB of unified memory /VS/ M4 Max chip with 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 36GB of unified memory}: Can someone please🙏 explain if I could only understand how this unified memory is consumed: how much video memory is needed for the graphics cores, and how much is left for the "RAM"? And again, the bandwidth is different for M4pro (273), but 48GB, and 20-core GPU, M4Max (410), but 36GB of unified memory and 32-core GPU.
And this neural engine, how much does it need?
When editing video and exporting video, it is logical that graphics cores are needed (M4Max 32), but the unified memory is kind of (36) too small or is it enough? Or should I choose M4Pro with more 48 unified memory and just wait longer for video export? This is driving me crazy. Where is the trap?

 

[daneoni]

Rule of thumb is to have as much RAM first, then storage, then CPU/GPU.

The GPU can only take up to 75% of system RAM. So it would take 36GB from a 48GB system if it absolutely needed it. After which it would start swapping to the SSD.
But most of the time is uses significantly less than that.

I dunno what proprotion the NPU gets. And i wouldn't worry about memory bandwidth since thats basically never saturated and is mostly a marketing tool from Apple

If you don't do heavy Video editing or 3D modelling i'd probably go for the M4 Pro with 48GB.
But if you spend your day in Final Cut, Davinci Resolve, Blender etc. Then i'd opt for the Max

However, even if you opt for the 36GB i wouldn't worry swapping to the SSD. Since most modern SSDs push 3-7GB/s. Swapping was only really an issue when computers used slow 4200RPM disk drives.

But again where possible have more RAM, then storage, then CPU is the rule of thumb.

 

[Zirochka]

Rule of thumb is to have as much RAM first, then storage, then CPU/GPU.
The GPU can only take up to 75% of system RAM. So it would take 36GB from a 48GB system if it absolutely needed it. After which it would start swapping to the SSD.
But most of the time is uses significantly less than that.

I dunno what proprotion the NPU gets. And i wouldn't worry about memory bandwidth since thats basically never saturated and is mostly a marketing tool from Apple

If you don't do heavy Video editing or 3D modelling i'd probably go for the M4 Pro with 48GB.
But if you spend your day in Final Cut, Davinci Resolve, Blender etc. Then i'd opt for the Max

However even if you opt for the 36GB i wouldn't worry swapping to the SSD since most modern SSDs push 3-7GB/s. Swapping was only really an issue when computers used slow 4200RPM disk drives.

But again where possible have more RAM, then storage, CPU is the rule of thumb.

Thank you for your answer
I am currently using Final Cut pro and AE for editing YouTube and Instagram videos and therefore I am torn between these chips. but in one case or another I want to choose 2 Tb SSD

 

[daneoni]

Thank you for your answer
I am currently using Final Cut pro and AE for editing YouTube and Instagram videos and therefore I am torn between these chips. but in one case or another I want to choose 2 Tb SSD

Whilst the M4 Max would be faster, the M4 Pro would still be able to easily handle these so i'd focus on RAM and storage.

 

[Zirochka]

Whilst the M4 Max would be faster, the M4 Pro would still be able to easily handle these so i'd focus on RAM and storage.

Thank you! I'm leaning towards this (M4pro at 48), I decided to find out the opinions of others how they look at this and find a golden mean if it is somehow possible to find

 

[djinn]

Whilst the M4 Max would be faster, the M4 Pro would still be able to easily handle these so i'd focus on RAM and storage.

It's always a pleasure to read civilized responses to peoples questions, instead of bashing them etc.. Thank you daneoni for providing a detailed and truthful answer.