Is 16RAM or 24RAM best for LR & PS?
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I am using Windows 11 (but I wish I wasn't) in a laptop and I specified 16 gig of ram when I bought it. I too use PS and it is lightning fast compare to 8 gig. The latest updates for PS also recommend 16 gig. Personally I think 24 is a bit of an overkill.
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More is always better imo
OP
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At the moment I’m using a realllllly old laptop with 4 gig so I’m sure you can imagine my pain in trying to edit! I think even with 16 I’ll notice a massive difference! I was just thinking is it worth paying the extra 150 quid to have the extra there as you can’t upgrade the iMac so whatever I purchase, I’m stuck with fro a while.
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What would worry me is not being able to upgrade the graphics card as it is Integrated into the unit. with a windows based desktop computer it is easy to up date a component such as RAM - power unit- SSD extn drives for more storage space
below are 2 additional samsung SSD drives and there is another on the other side as well
sommething you cant do with what you are looking to buy
below are 2 additional samsung SSD drives and there is another on the other side as well
sommething you cant do with what you are looking to buy
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If you can afford it get the 24gb but 16gb will be fine on a Apple M CPU.
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before you rush out and buy anything computer wise ask yourself these questions
1= is it easily expandable for graphic cards-
2= the wattage of the CPU (power unit) can it power what you need. This they keep hidden , why?
3 =can you easily add more RAM
4= if you decide to do a bit of 4k vodio can the Imac handle it.
5= does it have a 4k monitor
6= can it accept more or bigger SSD drives if wanting to upgrade
7 =warranty length of
Finally more importent cost of repair if a component breaks down. with a windows based computer replacing a part is fairly easy
My wife has a mac laptop and the drive started making a noise. A very well known high street not only didn't fix it having send it away for repair. they not only replaced the wrong item but "bug***ed it up. they even wanted a huge amount to swap over the battery. I did it myself for a fraction of what they were trying to charge
1= is it easily expandable for graphic cards-
2= the wattage of the CPU (power unit) can it power what you need. This they keep hidden , why?
3 =can you easily add more RAM
4= if you decide to do a bit of 4k vodio can the Imac handle it.
5= does it have a 4k monitor
6= can it accept more or bigger SSD drives if wanting to upgrade
7 =warranty length of
Finally more importent cost of repair if a component breaks down. with a windows based computer replacing a part is fairly easy
My wife has a mac laptop and the drive started making a noise. A very well known high street not only didn't fix it having send it away for repair. they not only replaced the wrong item but "bug***ed it up. they even wanted a huge amount to swap over the battery. I did it myself for a fraction of what they were trying to charge
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Not everybody want to mess around upgrading hardware and tinkering with drivers or even worse using Windows
The new macs are more than capable of running todays modern applications including 4K video.
iMacs have a 5k monitor included and a PSU which can already handle the power required which is much much lower than a PC and you can connect as many external SSD drives as you like.
I’m sure you’ll find that the type of people buying Macs have already considered all of these things and realised they just don’t want the hassle.
I used to be in the IT business and used to build and upgrade my PCs. Then I switched to Mac. Since then I’ve never even opened one. I don’t care to, they just work, they do what I want them to.
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OP
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This goes right over my head! I’m not very technical. I just wanted a large screen to be able to edit pictures on as have just started helping with weddings and my old laptop is having none of it!
OP
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Once you buy it, you can’t upgrade from what I understand. I don’t do video - I only use LightRoom at the moment but want to learn photoshop too.
I think the key point to recognise is whether you're wanting something that is future proof to take advantage of the rate post processing/editing is moving at.
If you want to do standard editing etc then go for what you're thinking of, you'll be fine.
If you're excited about all the AI technologies coming out then I can't in good conscience say a mac is a good bet as they're just not upgradeable in any meaningful sense.
So if you're in the first camp, don't worry, crack on and enjoy
.
Plain Nev
Vincent Furnier
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Seems to me, just reading some of the threads on here, that any advantages PC's might have with regard to upgrading are being eroded by Microsoft's increasingly shackling you to a system which is basically a slave to their online presence.
They're definitely no saint but no different to Mac to be honest. If you want independence and privacy you're into Linux and being selective about what online accounts/identities you have.
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A Mac sounds like the perfect choice then. I wouldn't worry too much about not being able to upgrade it, if you get a decent spec then it should last 6+ years easily. I keep my PC builds for at least 8 years and pretty much the only upgrade is the graphics card and that's really just for gaming.
I agree, when I bought my first iMac I went for the then top model a 2.8 i7 , it has 12 gb memory that was back in 2009, so 15 years ago, I would still be using that today but last month a friend offered me a 2017 imac for £150 an offer I simply could not refuse.
I will add that the people I know who've recently upgraded from older iMac (the 2017 one is an example) have bought mac minis over a new iMac
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Amen to that,also used to build my gaming pc’s,since moving to macs in 2012 never looked back,till today
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You’ll be amazed how great it runs.just enjoy.
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I agree. Not a mac person myself, but as the decision has been made the other comments are irrelevant and don't help the OP.
However, I have just ordered a laptop, and for that particular laptop, these were my graphics card options
And I could have gone up to two 8TB drives,
I have a Asus Zenbook duo with expandable 32gb ram (decent 12th gen i9 and a 3070ti 8Gb). I've recently purchased the new 16" base MacBook pro with M4Pro and 24gb ram. The Mac is considerably faster than the windows system. My Asus was purchased from John Lewis and comes with their incredible (on paper) 3 year warranty, which is why I haven't sold it. In my own testing the ram useage on both is similar. I typically only have chrome, YouTube music and maybe one or two more tabs open whilst editing.
I don't tinker with things but if (and it is an if) the Asus is still with me and working after the initial warranty, I'll get my buddy who runs a pc doctor type business to upgrade the ram for me. Or, I'll give it my son or daughter for college work.
Places like PC specialist are good for laptops and such.
We don't have a desktop at home, everyone has a laptop or Chromebook but I'm planning a Mac mini purchase myself in the near future. The cost of the new M4 models seems very good for what you get, especially with the education discount
I don't tinker with things but if (and it is an if) the Asus is still with me and working after the initial warranty, I'll get my buddy who runs a pc doctor type business to upgrade the ram for me. Or, I'll give it my son or daughter for college work.
Places like PC specialist are good for laptops and such.
We don't have a desktop at home, everyone has a laptop or Chromebook but I'm planning a Mac mini purchase myself in the near future. The cost of the new M4 models seems very good for what you get, especially with the education discount
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Without knowing which i9 you have, the M4 (also don't know which pro you have, how many cores) single core speed is about twice the single core speed of most i9 13gen.
The OP mentioned 10 cores in the first post, but I didn't see which processor, however as long as it is an Apple M series and not an Intel chip, it will be fast
Without knowing which i9 you have, the M4 (also don't know which pro you have, how many cores) single core speed is about twice the single core speed of most i9 13gen.
The OP mentioned 10 cores in the first post, but I didn't see which processor, however as long as it is an Apple M series and not an Intel chip, it will be fast
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That's is my Asus I believe. I went with the base M4 Pro 16" MacBook. If people are interested I posted the affinity benchmark scores the other week.
Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor
Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor (24M Cache, up to 5.00 GHz) - Product Specifications | Intel
Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor (24M Cache, up to 5.00 GHz) quick reference with specifications, features, and technologies.
www.intel.com
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Pound Coin
Horatio Nelson
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As others have said, horses for courses.
All new Macs will do 4k video.
Mac laptops stopped using hdd in about 2016, and the hdds were quite easy to replace. Batteries last many years, my 5 year old battery is still going very well, and my backup machine is nearly 10 years old, battery also very usable. Daughter’s MB is 10 years old and I replaced the battery last year with an ifixit kit. It had been her main Uni and postgrad machine, so battery had taken a beating.
One of the benefits of non-repairable system on a chip computers (like the Apple M series chips) is that there are fewer connections and wires to work loose. In my experience, ‘Windows’ laptops creak and groan when you pick them up, there’s so much flex in the chassis and build!
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lindsay
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I'm not sufficiently tech-savvy these days on pc's to really talk about them - but every Mac I've owned in the last 15 years has been totally god for a minimum of 7 years and some 10+. I've never had to replace a MacBook battery. My old 24in iMac (2009 model) lasted 8 years before upgrade was needed, the 2017 27in one is still working but I just don't use it any more due to having newer MacBook Air and Mac mini.
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Most AI is done on remote servers.I think the key point to recognise is whether you're wanting something that is future proof to take advantage of the rate post processing/editing is moving at.
If you want to do standard editing etc then go for what you're thinking of, you'll be fine.
If you're excited about all the AI technologies coming out then I can't in good conscience say a mac is a good bet as they're just not upgradeable in any meaningful sense.
So if you're in the first camp, don't worry, crack on and enjoy
Have you ever used one of the latest macs?
Pound Coin
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Video has been the use that has grown the need for higher spec machines. Still image requirements haven’t changed that much.
ancient_mariner
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FWIW there comes a point where more memory makes no real difference. I had a 2009 MacBook that came with 2gb, but upgrading to 4 really helped, however moving up to 8 made no difference because the processor was just too slow. That shouldn't be a problem with the M series Macs.
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all this talk about upgrading graphics cards and storage when you buy might apply to a Windows machine but is irrelevant on a Mac.
Apple uses totally different architecture than PC's, M4 Macs are light years ahead of your typical windows box, just get a base Mac and it will do what you need straight out of the box.
If you need extra storage then a Nvme card in a Thunderbolt caddy will just plug in the back. You can get a 2Tb drive for less than £150
Apple uses totally different architecture than PC's, M4 Macs are light years ahead of your typical windows box, just get a base Mac and it will do what you need straight out of the box.
If you need extra storage then a Nvme card in a Thunderbolt caddy will just plug in the back. You can get a 2Tb drive for less than £150
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So would the PC if you spent the same amount as you would on the mac
The M4 needs to be compared to a Ryzen 7950X to be fair
With Apple you need to buy the future now, with a PC you can buy it later
From what the OP says, they made the right choice, others would choose differently
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that gpu costs nearly as much as a Mac miniSo would the PC if you spent the same amount as you would on the mac
The M4 needs to be compared to a Ryzen 7950X to be fair
With Apple you need to buy the future now, with a PC you can buy it later
From what the OP says, they made the right choice, others would choose differently
I very much doubt you could get a PC comparable for the same amount of money.
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That GPU is in fact a processor, not a GPU
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Just goes to show how much I know about PC's
so how much would RAM, GPU, storage, power supply, case. fans cost, a fair bit I would guess.
so how much would RAM, GPU, storage, power supply, case. fans cost, a fair bit I would guess.
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32GB RAM. 4TB disc, 27" monitor, 24GB XFX RADEON™ RX 7900 XTX graphics, 850W PSU about 2k6 inc, my son spent about 1k more on a macbookJust goes to show how much I know about PC's
so how much would RAM, GPU, storage, power supply, case. fans cost, a fair bit I would guess.
With my limited experience (and I've moved from PC to Mac Mini) if you keep a PC for a few years it's not a case of bunging in a bit more RAM when your software starts struggling; I got told oh you'll need a new motherboard, processor..etc so you virtually start again.
If you want to keep at the cutting edge then go PC. If you're not fussed about that then either Mac or PC will do the job depending on your preference
If you want to keep at the cutting edge then go PC. If you're not fussed about that then either Mac or PC will do the job depending on your preference
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Hi all,
I’m looking to get the 10 core iMac. Is it worth upgrading to the 24g RAM option or will the 16 be sufficient? I’ll only be running LightRoom and PhotoShop simultaneously for photo edits.
Thanks
Think of RAM as a real life furniture like a real life desk or a real life dinning table.
The more application software you have open and running, like iTunes, browser, Microsoft Word, etc., etc., in addition to having Lightroom and Photoshop open and running, the more it slows down.
Just like in the real world, the more other paperwork, books, magazines, stuff you leave all over your desk or table, the more it clutter up your work area, making it difficult for you to write in your notebook, specially with all other stuff getting in the way.
Regardless of how much RAM you aim for when upgrading, it becomes a moot point if you keep opening too many other software, all simultaneously.
Sometimes some people blame their computer, when the simple problem is that they, themselves are at fault for giving the computer too much work to do.
If it was up to me, go for either way, 16GB or 24GB but only depending on budget, and just focus on how you use the computer, like close any application software you don't need. Just like buy whatever size of desk I need, and keep it clear of a lot of clutter, so I have plenty of room to work with.
My work flow is often to keep it simple: Focus on using Lightroom first, export any photos I need into a folder, when I've done with Lightroom, I then focus on more editing in Photoshop.
Whichever RAM you go for, hope your photo editing work goes well.
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Very true to a point but modern Mac’s do handle memory a bit differently and can release memory from idle applications especially when those apps are native to the M system.
The solid state drives in Macs are also very fast so even if memory does fill up and you start to use swap memory the system doesn’t really slow down much at all.
The main concern is writing to swap memory too much as solid state drives can only be written to a finite number of times. So there is concern that the drive could fail prematurely if swap is used too much.