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Participating Frequently
September 16, 2021
Question

Recommendations for graphics card in Macbook Pro 16

  • September 16, 2021
  • 6 replies
  • 2009 views

Hi all,

I've seen the issues with graphics cards, especially the AMD Radeon Pro 5500m.

I'm looking to buy new MacBook Pro 16.

I haven't seen recomendations for graphics cards that do work.

Any guidance is much appreciated.

 

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

6 replies

Legend
September 29, 2021

Don't buy an Intel Mac. Wait until Apple announces their new M1 upgrades this fall.

KR Seals
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 29, 2021

@Lonn Lorenz  You don't mention whether you are doing 3D in PS. See this forum post ref the depricaion of 3D in PS effective with 22.5.

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
September 18, 2021

My 2019 15" MBP has the Radeon Pro Vega 20 4 GB, zero issues. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
KR Seals
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2021

@Conrad_C  Your comments are certainly right on for a person who is totally in the Mac system. For me, I use my Intel 2019 16" MBP as a travel machine (not that much travel during covid darn it). When I get home I transfer all the trip work in a LrC catalog to my high spec PC with dual 27" monitors and do the rest of the processing there. The performance of the Intel MBP is fine for me. Heck, even my 2015 MBP 15" was also fine 🙂

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
Conrad_C
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2021

Yes, I should clarify that my recommendations were all based on the original post talking about a Mac laptop. If a person is open to Windows, a  PC desktop with lots of cores, lots of RAM, great cooling, and a powerful GPU is hard to beat because it is free of the constraints of a laptop.

KR Seals
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2021

@Lonn Lorenz  I mainly use my MBP as a travel machine and general internet browsing at home. I seldome do any heavy duty processing. On occasion while on photo trips I will do some HDR and pano merges. The machine will get a little warm to the touch. I have seldom heard the fan come on, even at low levels. I have read the posts about high fan use and noise. That has not affected me.

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
KR Seals
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 16, 2021

My travel machine is a 2019 MBP 16" with the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M. I have never had an issue with that GPU and PS. 

I am on Mac OS 11.5.2 and PS 22.5.1. In the Performance tab of Preferences, the Advanced button shows full CPU utilization except for 30 bit.

If I was going to upgrade to a newer 16" MBP, I would for sure get the highest performance GPU available to hopefully future proof the machine as much as possible. Since, as you know the GPU cannot be upgraded in the machine.

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
Participating Frequently
September 18, 2021

Thanks Kenneth

Have you had any fan iisues on your MBP 16? I've seen a bunch of support chatter abuot fans running hot/loud especially when connected tp external monitor.

I very much appreciate your input.

Lonn