Question about Apple Graphics Option

[vascopereira]

Greetings,

I'm planning to get a new MacBook Pro to replace my current laptop. However I'm undecided about the choice of graphics options which are the following:

Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory

Radeon Pro Vega 16 with 4GB of HBM2 memory

Radeon Pro Vega 20 with 4GB of HBM2 memory

I understand that the recommended VRAM is 4GB. I would like to know whether would there be any difference in terms of Premiere Pro performance between these different graphic options. I want to be able to decide whether or not it would be worth going for the more expensive option or if the differences in Premiere Pro performance are so minimal that it wouldn't warrant the additional cost.

Many thanks,

[Warren Heaton]

All three will perform well.  If the savings on the GPU allows you to go with more RAM (ideally 32GB) and more internal storage (1TB great, 2TB excellent, 4TB - ridiculously expensive - but more space is more space), then perhaps opt for the 560X.  Also, whichever notebook you go with, opt for the highest processor speed that fits your budget.

[vascopereira]

Hi Warren,

Thanks for your reply.

I'm definitely opting for the 32 GB RAM, the 2.9GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i9 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz

and the 1 TB of SSD Hard Drive.

I was wondering if it would be worth or not the extra expense of going for the highest spec GPU. I wouldn't be using the laptop for gaming or watching media. In terms of visual work, I would just be using it to create videos on Premiere Pro to upload on my band's YouTube channel and to run projections on VJ software when performing live with my band.

I'm not a professional editor, just an amateur video maker.

[Warren Heaton]

vascopereira:

You should do just fine with the 560X.

-Warren

[Tino Erni]

You means the radeon pro 560x grafik? (sorry, i'm a newbe )

[Warren Heaton]

Yes, Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory.

The main difference that you're likely to find between the three GPU options is the time that it takes for something to render.

Sometimes when talking GPU differences, there's the consideration of what can or cannot be done; however, these are all 4GB GPU cards.  The main difference is going to be speed.

[Tino Erni]

Hey Warren Heaton, i read your answer about the hardware, is the Radeon Pro Vega 20 mit 4 GB VRAM testet by adobe product? I can't find it on the requirements lists

Kinds regads Tino

[Warren Heaton]

Great point, Tino.

Here's the current list of recommended AMD video adapters for GPU acceleration for Mac OpenCL/Metal:

• AMD FirePro D300
• AMD FirePro D500
• AMD FirePro D700
• AMD Radeon R9 M290X
• AMD Radeon R9 M380
• AMD Radeon R9 M390
• AMD Radeon Pro 560
• AMD Radeon Pro 570
• AMD Radeon Pro 575
• AMD Radeon Pro 580
• AMD Radeon Pro M395X
• AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56
• AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64
• Intel® HD Graphics 6000
• Intel® Iris™ Graphics 6100
• Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics 6200

Here are the options for a new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar with integrated Touch ID sensor from Apple:

• Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory and automatic graphics switching
• Intel UHD Graphics 630
• Configurable to Radeon Pro Vega 16 with 4GB of HBM2 memory or Radeon Pro Vega 20 with 4GB of HBM2 memory

More than likely, the newer Apple options are just too new for the Adobe list to have been updated as of yet.  So, we're left with guessing how the newer offerings might perform based on how the prior ones do. 

If I was upgrading my 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina to a current MacBook Pro, I know I'd choose between the 560X, Vega 16 and Vega 20.  That said, for video editing, the 560X with automatic graphics switching to the Intel UCH Graphics 630 should work really well and the Vega 16 or Vega 20 are probably overkill.  Of course, there's also how well After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator and Cinema 4D Lite benefit from the better GPUs and balance that with cost and how often the more powerful GPU might be needed.  Of course, with most of those applications (everything but C4D), CPU is usually more important than GPU.

-Warren