Mac Studio

[JJL12345]

Hi Brian! I’m one of the 2017, 27” people who have been waiting for the Mac Studio upgrade. I just saw that it looks like it’s available mid-March. Is this the one your Mac Upgrade pinned post talks about? 

Edited March 6 by JJL12345
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[Brian]

Yes, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Hold off for a few days. March 12th is the release date.

[JJL12345]

Thanks so much. I have 64gb RAM with my current iMac 27” - and things are running too slow for my liking. Will I need the 1k upgrade to 128gb? 

[PEJ]

I am a professional photographer and have always had Macs.  My desktop is running TOO slow also and now I am trying to decide between 2 different configurations of the new Mac Studio  M3 Ultra:

28-core CPU,  60-core GPU with 96GB of memory and 2TB SSD storage

OR

32-core CPU, 80-core GPU with 96GB of memory and 2TB SSD storage

This is the LAST computer I will be purchasing (because I am old!)  and hope to "future proof" it as much as possible. 

Any thoughts based on your expertise are appreciated.  Thank you!

 

 

Edited March 8 by PEJ

[Brian]

Honestly? I'd get the new M4 Mac Studio that's about to be released. Unless you edit 4K / 8K video, you will never take advantage of what makes a Mac Ultra so powerful over a Mac Max because the main difference between the two is Video Decoders built into the chip AND the Bandwidth to the Memory. For Photoshop work, it's just still Photos. Photoshop isn't coded to take advantage of the power of the M3 Ultra Chip. It's like buying a high-end car, such as a Bugatti Tourbillon, and all you do is drive to the Grocery Store, the Post Office and your job during the week that's 10 miles away. Maybe visit your Best Friend in the next town over. You aren't "opening-it-up" on some remote highway somewhere...but you do have bragging rights.

While I totally get where you are coming from, similar to the "Last Camera Syndrome," in trying to future-proof, I also hate wasting money. All because "Ultra" sounds cooler than "Max."  

That's Apple's Legendary Marketing, we didn't know we "Needed" a ______________ (iPhone, iPod, iPad, Mac etc.) until Apple released/made one.

The truth is, no computer will be your last. Of course, you can delay the inevitable, but to truly have just ONE computer in your future? Not possible, unless you are planning on dying within the next 10 years. The reason is the software, it keeps changing. Especially the macOS. Eventually, it will be upgraded and your fancy M3 Ultra that you blew $4200+ on will become obsolete because that newest/latest macOS won't support it. Then software from Adobe or Microsoft will require a certain level of macOS that you may not be able to install, because you are stuck on an older macOS. See where I'm coming from? 

For the longest time, I delayed updating my macOS on my 2017 Mac, because it's a 2017 Mac and until Apple gets around to the xx.xx.6 or xx.xx.7 releases, there tends to be bugs, especially with Adobe's products. Once you get to .7 or .6 on the end, the macOS is matured and really stable. BUT! I recently discovered that my Microsoft OneDrive stopped working...all due to my outdated macOS. In fact, the other updates for my Microsoft Office also wouldn't install until I updated my macOS. Now, I've held off for Photoshop Updates, but I'm sure at some point, I will be forced to upgrade to an even newer macOS and be limited to an unsupported version...all because I have a 2017 iMac that isn't supported by the macOS a few years from now. 

So the bottom line is, while your Mac Hardware may last 10-15 years, the software that runs on it won't. Yes, it's important to "Buy It Right - Buy It Once," you will never win the "Catch-Up / Future Proof" Game. 

OK, so now back to your question. My answer? Neither. 

What would I buy for your situation? 

 

Then the Standard Mac Studio Display to go with it:

Then Add Monthly Apple Care until cancelled, a new Keyboard and Mouse:

Then Review your purchase and make sure AppleCare is on everything:
 

For a Grand Sub-Total of $5,956.00 (Plus any applicable local sales tax.) 

So depending on your location, that could be $350 - $500 more. So let's say your new Mac is $6500-ish.

Would you need 128GB of RAM? Not really. For you, 64GB is fine. Again, if you were editing video and using A LOT of RAM Hungry Plug-ins, OR you were running Virtual Computers at the same time you are editing photos, then 128GB would be a good idea. A 2TB Drive isn't truly needed, and I'd recommending going with a 1TB internal, then taking those savings and investing in a much larger External Thunderbolt 3/4  Hard Drive, at least 12TB - 18TB. Then be sure to add a 4TB dedicated USB-C External Drive for Time Machine Backups. So that adds another $1000 to your cost, conversationally speaking.

$7500 for a new computer. Sheesh.