RAM versus Cores?

CameraCarl · Feb 21, 2025

My 2017 27" Retina iMac is starting to have a hard time managing high megabit files using the new Lightroom advanced capabilities, so I am in the market for a new Mac. I've decided to replace the desktop and my 2015 MacBook Pro with a new 14" Macbook Pro M4, but I can't decide which specs to get for (primarily) photo editing. For about the same money I can get 24GB RAM with a 10 Core GPU/16 Core Neural engine or 32GB RAM with a 10 core GPU/10 Core Neural engine. Am I better off spending my money on RAM or Cores since I am primarily going to be doing photo processing using Lightroom Classic with some Photoshop work for more complicated layers? I want to be able to move quickly through images when I am culling, then to make edits using AI capabilities without slowing the computer down too much.

JPAlbert · Feb 21, 2025

Get 32gb of RAM.

I predict that the "RAM needs" of the Mac OS are going to grow substantially in the next 5 years.

16-24gb may be "good enough" for today.
But, 4-5 years from now, what can we expect?

CameraCarl · Feb 23, 2025

Once I have decided to get at least 36GB of RAM, Can anyone see an advantage in paying $200-400 extra to get the Apple M4 PRO chip instead of the "regular old" M4 chip? I don't really know what the pro chip give you over the regular chip.

Nick on the Baltic · Feb 23, 2025

CameraCarl said:
Once I have decided to get at least 36GB of RAM, Can anyone see an advantage in paying $200-400 extra to get the Apple M4 PRO chip instead of the "regular old" M4 chip? I don't really know what the pro chip give you over the regular chip.

It gives you more cores, more RAM options, more storage options and increased memory bandwidth.

https://www.apple.com/uk/mac/compar...ro-14-M4,MacBook-Pro-14-M4x,MacBook-Pro-16-M4

Base RAM on the M4 is 16GB, on the M4 Pro 24GB. If you want 36GB RAM (or more) you have to go for the M4 Pro/Max.

Adam2 · Feb 23, 2025

CameraCarl said:
My 2017 27" Retina iMac is starting to have a hard time managing high megabit files using the new Lightroom advanced capabilities, so I am in the market for a new Mac. I've decided to replace the desktop and my 2015 MacBook Pro with a new 14" Macbook Pro M4, but I can't decide which specs to get for (primarily) photo editing. For about the same money I can get 24GB RAM with a 10 Core GPU/16 Core Neural engine or 32GB RAM with a 10 core GPU/10 Core Neural engine. Am I better off spending my money on RAM or Cores since I am primarily going to be doing photo processing using Lightroom Classic with some Photoshop work for more complicated layers? I want to be able to move quickly through images when I am culling, then to make edits using AI capabilities without slowing the computer down too much.

Generally, mo' memory is better than mo' cores (within reason) or generation of chip. Don't take my word for it, see Artisright on yt.

Eg..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8kMYrfjVGg&t=1033s

Daverich04 · Mar 5, 2025

Photoshop doesn’t use much in the case of Cores. Here’s a link to some info on that.

https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-faq/how-many-core-does-photoshop-use/

CameraCarl · Mar 7, 2025

Thanks everyone for your help. I decided to get a 14" MacBook Pro M4. I decided to go with 36GB RAM and 10 cores instead of more cores and less RAM. (And then, wouldn't you know it, the day I picked up the new laptop, Apple announced the new Studio.... But I keep telling myself, I have a laptop with a great screen.)

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RAM versus Cores?

CameraCarl

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JPAlbert

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CameraCarl

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Nick on the Baltic

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Adam2

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Daverich04

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CameraCarl

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