Replacing Macbook Pro

[lampmusic]

As usual we are on a tight budget.


I'm seeing some discounts on previous gen 15 inch MBP.


I know future proofing would say that we should get the 16 inch (scissor).


Processor?: These days with vanilla PT what's more important 6core vs 8 core or RAM? 16 vs 32?


Anyone have experience making this switch?

[JFreak]

Today I would not buy a computer with only 16GB memory

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Today I would not buy a computer with only 16GB memory

I tend to agree with this^^^ As for cpu, the speed is as important as the number of cores(maybe more so). IOW, 6 cores at 3.3GHz would be better than 8 cores at 2.5GHz

[EGS]

Originally Posted by albee1952

... As for cpu, the speed is as important as the number of cores(maybe more so)...

Pro Tools does not (yet) take FULL advantage of all available cores. It tends to use certain cores, and leave other cores under-utilized. Pro Tools does, of course, benefit from a higher CPU speed.

Correct me if I'm wrong!!! Speed VS cores for Pro Tools? Experts?

[SigFriedChicken]

Check MacBench to compare performance stats, especially the multicore stuff.

16GB should be just enough RAM unless you are recording the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with individual lav mics.

I came close to saying that "if needed, it's easy to upgrade RAM!" but then I remembered that Apple is now in the habit of gluing the memory chips to the motherboard, so who knows.

[Ben Jenssen]

I know two things; processor speed is most important, not no. of cores, and the amount of ram you need depends on what kind of sessions you do.

If the session runs fine with 16gb, upgrading to 64gb will make no difference.

I'm running 30-40 track sessions with audio only just fine with only 8gb.

Insert some VIs and samplers, and it will break.

[JFreak]

Keyword being audio.

When you even whisper "virtual instrument" PT will almost die if you don't have 16GB and if you use them heavily you most certainly want to have at least 32 GB. I have 64GB and don't need to worry about it, but to repeat myself I would not buy a computer today with only 16GB memory.

And what comes to CPU speed, better rely on GeekBench score and not GHz because clock speed is nowhere near the truth.

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Keyword being audio.

When you even whisper "virtual instrument" PT will almost die if you don't have 16GB and if you use them heavily you most certainly want to have at least 32 GB. I have 64GB and don't need to worry about it, but to repeat myself I would not buy a computer today with only 16GB memory.

And what comes to CPU speed, better rely on GeekBench score and not GHz because clock speed is nowhere near the truth.

Yep.

And on Geekbench you should look at the single- not multicore score.

And the OP did say "tight budget" that's why I said 8gb is possible, depending on the type of session.

[JFreak]

Sure. Audio only is much more easy on hardware than VI's and heavy plugin use

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by Ben Jenssen

And on Geekbench you should look at the single- not multicore score.

That also depends. If you have one task at hand, better SC score helps. But when you have a moderate audio-only EQ+COMP mixdown of 32 tracks even then MC score starts to show its weight.