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beng97268695
Known Participant
January 24, 2024
Question

M3 MBP or M2 Mac Studio for BIG Ps work & 3D?

  • January 24, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1256 views

Hi all.

Going to upgrade my Mac Pro (late 2013) - 8 core, 64 GB ram - I use Adobe Ps 85% of my time, working on files that are regularly 5GB - 10GB with tons of layers. I also Capture One for file processing, Cinema4D with Corona renderer (CPU based) for 3D, occasionally Adobe Ae. And for fun, Logic Pro X.

 

 

The plan was to go with an M2 Ultra Mac Studio w 192GB memory.

 

Now, I'm considering the M3 Max 16" MBP, with 128 GB memory for a few reasons...

  • I believe the M3 chip with 128GB memory should be markedly faster than my old Mac Pro when working in Photoshop.
  • From what I've read, the M3 chip's hardware ray tracing should help render frames in C4D and other 3D apps (Blender) much quicker than the M2 chips can.
  • I'm loving the idea of being able to GET OUT OF MY STUDIO occasionally, to add some variety to long hours.

 

Questions

Would the difference working in Photoshop on large files be more noticeable between between my '13 Mac Pro and a M3 Max MBP , or more noticeable between a loaded M3Max MCB and a loaded M2 Ultra Mac Studio?

 

Same question as above, but for noticing speed improvements while working in C4D?

 

I'm inclined to go with the MBP for now, if it will be a big advancement over my old Mac Pro. Then if I find in a year or two that I need more, go with whatever the fastest Mac Studio would be at that point (M5 anyone?!?_

 


Any advice / opinions greatly appreciated!

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 25, 2024

I think your buying decision is going to be based on your use of After Effects, Cinema 4D/Corona. The Macs that will run those the best will tend to have more CPU and GPU cores and have more Unified Memory. Any computers that go that far, like your proposed 192GB Mac Studio or 128GB MacBook Pro, should be no problem with Photoshop. I really like my 14" MacBook Pro, but I don’t do much 3D.

 

Any new Mac is going to seem like a big step up from a 2013 Mac Pro, especially the GPU.

 

For more empirical evaluations of Photoshop across different Mac configurations, the YouTube videos by ArtIsRight may help. He runs consistent tests as Apple releases new generations, and large Photoshop files are part of his test suite.

B
beng97268695Author
Known Participant
January 25, 2024

Thanks so much, CC. I've checked out a few benchmark sites, but hadn't heard of ArtIsRight - going there now.

 

You're thoughts are in line with what I'm assuming - that the big jump in performance will be between my current Mac Pro and a new machine - not between an M2 MS, or an M3 MBP.

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