Recommendations for graphics card in Macbook Pro 16

[Lonn Lorenz]

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.

[KR Seals]

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.

[Lonn Lorenz]

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

[Conrad_C]

---

@KR Seals wrote:

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.

---

The highest performance GPU may not actually be the best option. The top GPU option for the current 16" MacBook Pro is the AMD Radeon 5600M with 8GB of HBM2 memory. The first problem with it is that it’s an $800 upgrade. The second problem is that while it is very powerful, most of that power is not used by Photoshop. I have seen good reviews of that GPU for things like high end video editing or connecting multiple 6K displays, where a GPU like that can really be applied, but for 2D graphics it looks like $800 of overkill.

The third problem is that the current 16-inch MacBook Pro is still powered by an Intel CPU. But Apple is almost halfway through their stated two-year transition to Apple Silicon. Although Apple has not mentioned when an Apple Silicon 16" MacBook Pro will appear, it is widely expected to ship before the end of this year. If the transformative success of the Apple Silicon MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro is any indication, when the 16-inch MacBook Pro goes Apple Silicon, it will be a major upgrade in performance and battery life over Intel, with a powerful GPU — and all that could immediately neutralize any future-proofing done to Intel-based MacBook Pros, because they probably won’t be able to keep up with Apple Silicon no matter how much you paid to upgrade their specs.

If it’s possible to wait a couple months to see what happens with the 16", it would be good to do that instead of buying the Intel 16" now. Or, if you must buy an Intel 16" now, don’t go too far paying for upgrades since it could be outclassed before the end of the year.

[Lonn Lorenz]

Thanks all for great comments and guidance. I am open to all suggestions and appreciate the idea of waiting. I just am not certain of the Apple Silicon - being so new and all.

I certainly do not want to spend extra if it's not worth it. I was simply trying to avoid the AMD Radeon Pro 5500m since I've seen so many having troubles. I haven't seen other cards beyond AMD as options for custom builds.

Thanks again all

Lonn

[Lonn Lorenz]

I'm curious if you / aall have feedback on Apple Silicon laptops. Mostly I do 2D, but also 3D modelling and rendering. I do some video editing and want to learn more.

So I'm interested in opinions on functionality of Silicon and if newer MBP are stable.

With much appreciation.

Lonn

[KR Seals]

@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.

[KR Seals]

@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 🙂

[Conrad_C]

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.

[TheDigitalDog]

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

[KR Seals]

@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.

[Lumigraphics]

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