Apple Announces Macbook Pro with M2 Max and 96gb RAM.

[Justin L. Franks]

M2 Pro is a bit disappointing with only supporting 32 GB of RAM instead of the 48 GB that was expected (regular M2 = 24 GB max).

A Mac Mini with the M2 Pro and 48 GB of RAM would have been an awesome machine for a lot of us here.

 

[Justin L. Franks]

Oh man, just checked the pricing on the M2 Pro Mini.

Non-binned 12-core CPU + 32 GB RAM with 512 GB SSD = $2K, same price as the Mac Studio with the M1 Max and same RAM and SSD.

 

[Justin L. Franks]

I wonder when we see the m2 Mac Pro. Probably this year!?

Not that I am likely to buy it ... the only reason could be user-upgradeable RAM (DDR5). But that seems very unlikely with the architecture of those chips. All of them had memory on the chip. I just wonder, how can they keep up with the memory requirements of the last Mac Pro? It seems, 1.5 Tb of RAM won't be possible with this technology. I suppose, there won't be a 1.5 Tb option then ...

This is all just speculation of course.

Mac Pro is going to be an "Extreme"-branded version of the chip. So M2 Extreme. And it will be four M2 Maxes stuck together.

This would give up to 384 GB of RAM right on the SoC. That's pretty incredible.

And further expandability could be done with user-replaceable sticks of RAM. But it would be slower than the memory on the SoC die, and would need some sort of scheduling in the OS to determine what stays on the fast on-die RAM, and what gets pushed out to the slower "external" RAM.

 

[Nick Batzdorf]

I'm interested in the new Mini M2pro. The thing is here in Australia the M2pro Mini, specced up to where I'd like it, is only $50 less than the Studio M1 in a config I like. Now I'm waiting to see if someone does some real world comparisons of Logic Pro performance between a base Studio M1 and a maxed Mini M2 to see if one does significantly out perform the other. Reckon there won't be much in it.

As I wrote, it looks to me like the prices of machines with the same upgrades are consistent. You're right that doesn't include the M2 vs. M1 chip, but other than that it's the same - if you want more graphics cores it's $200 more, then the memory and storage are the same price, etc.

As far as I can see, the only difference (other than the M2) is that the Mac Mini starts at a lower level.

My opinion: any of these machines with enough memory would be totally suitable for a professional music studio.

Oh man, just checked the pricing on the M2 Pro Mini.

Non-binned 12-core CPU + 32 GB RAM with 512 GB SSD = $2K, same price as the Mac Studio with the M1 Max and same RAM and SSD.

That's a much more succinct way of saying what I just wrote.

 

[rmak]

I'm interested in the new Mini M2pro. The thing is here in Australia the M2pro Mini, specced up to where I'd like it, is only $50 less than the Studio M1 in a config I like. Now I'm waiting to see if someone does some real world comparisons of Logic Pro performance between a base Studio M1 and a maxed Mini M2 to see if one does significantly out perform the other. Reckon there won't be much in it.

I’m very interested in this as well. I’m likely getting one of these two machines to replace my 2016 mbp. I’m also curious if it’s worth the wait for the m2 Mac Studio

 

[Astronaut FX]

I’m very interested in this as well. I’m likely getting one of these two machines to replace my 2016 mbp. I’m also curious if it’s worth the wait for the m2 Mac Studio

Yep, that’s my quandary. I know an M1 Studio Max would meet my needs. But with most if not all of the other models having now moved to M2, I have to believe that’s coming. It’s just a matter of when, and how much.

 

[Justin L. Franks]

Yep, that’s my quandary. I know an M1 Studio Max would meet my needs. But with most if not all of the other models having now moved to M2, I have to believe that’s coming. It’s just a matter of when, and how much.

The updated Mac Studio will probably be announced at WWDC in June. Or in the fall at the absolute latest. Pricing should remain the same, since the base models of the M2 Pro / M2 Max 14" and 16" MBP's are the same as the M1 versions. Same with the M2 Mac Mini versus the M1 version.

 

[Nick Batzdorf]

Yep, that’s my quandary. I know an M1 Studio Max would meet my needs. But with most if not all of the other models having now moved to M2, I have to believe that’s coming. It’s just a matter of when, and how much.

But who cares? You're not going to run out of horsepower.

Some things have changed since the beginning of the information age, but this hasn't: you buy a new machine when you need it, knowing full well that there's going to be a better one coming out soon after.

What's changed is that the upgrade cycles are quite a bit longer, thank goodness.

Anyway, if you do need an M2 when it comes out, you sell the M1 for most of what you paid for it.

I dunno, this isn't high on my list of things that would keep me awake at night.

 

[Mike Greene]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Nick. Truth be told, the only reason I bought the Mac Studio a few months ago was because it had such large RAM and SSD options, which I couldn't get with a Mac Mini. The M1 chip was also an attraction, but not so much because of the power, but rather because I'd be at the beginning of a product cycle, and in theory, maximize the time the computer will still be "current."

It's already soooo much more powerful than what I need. Mind you, I'm not doing the intense orchestral tracks that a lot of people here are doing, but even then, I wonder if the difference between the M1 and M2 chips would really matter? If someone is running a 200-track template, is the bottleneck more likely to be RAM, or CPU power?

 

[Symphonichrome]

Deleted

 

[Nick Batzdorf]

The M1 chip was also an attraction, but not so much because of the power, but rather because I'd be at the beginning of a product cycle, and in theory, maximize the time the computer will still be "current."

What intrigues me is the 16-core neural engine. Who is working on what to take advantage of those chips?

 

[BMW_84]

I just bought a 14” M1 Max MBP with 64gb of RAM and 2 TB storage 3 weeks ago and now the M2 Max comes out. Is it worth exchanging and upgrading?

 

[Nick Batzdorf]

I just bought a 14” M1 Max MBP with 64gb of RAM and 2 TB storage 3 weeks ago and now the M2 Max comes out. Is it worth exchanging and upgrading?

My opinion: why not. Does Apple still have a 30-day return policy?

 

[Vik]

I am using a 2021 16" MBP M1 Max but always on the lookout for new and shiny

But does that laptop provide you with the horsepower you need?

 

[Vik]

I just bought a 14” M1 Max MBP with 64gb of RAM and 2 TB storage 3 weeks ago and now the M2 Max comes out. Is it worth exchanging and upgrading?

Only you know if you’re having enough horsepower already.

 

[Symphonichrome]

Deleted

 

[HCMarkus]

I just bought a 14” M1 Max MBP with 64gb of RAM and 2 TB storage 3 weeks ago and now the M2 Max comes out. Is it worth exchanging and upgrading?

Same Price? Still within the 30 day window? Why not? (unless you need it immediately... not sure what the lead time is for the M2s)

Don't know that you'll need the overall power, but the better single-core performance may well come in handy.

 

[NoamL]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Nick. Truth be told, the only reason I bought the Mac Studio a few months ago was because it had such large RAM and SSD options, which I couldn't get with a Mac Mini. The M1 chip was also an attraction, but not so much because of the power, but rather because I'd be at the beginning of a product cycle, and in theory, maximize the time the computer will still be "current."

It's already soooo much more powerful than what I need. Mind you, I'm not doing the intense orchestral tracks that a lot of people here are doing, but even then, I wonder if the difference between the M1 and M2 chips would really matter? If someone is running a 200-track template, is the bottleneck more likely to be RAM, or CPU power?

I do full orchestra mockups and also find an M1Max Studio has more than enough power.

Reasons for a composer to look beyond an M1 Studio:

- they're doing some other workflows on the machine? graphics/video?

- M2 has improved single core speeds. But how much? geekbench says the M1Max scores about 1750 (even in laptop form factor) while the M2Max scores about 2000. Compared to a late-'19 Mac Pro (Intel) scoring 1150.

- more RAM. but you can already get 128GB with the Studio!

 

[David Kudell]

This is all just speculation of course.

Mac Pro is going to be an "Extreme"-branded version of the chip. So M2 Extreme. And it will be four M2 Maxes stuck together.

This would give up to 384 GB of RAM right on the SoC. That's pretty incredible.

And further expandability could be done with user-replaceable sticks of RAM. But it would be slower than the memory on the SoC die, and would need some sort of scheduling in the OS to determine what stays on the fast on-die RAM, and what gets pushed out to the slower "external" RAM.

That was the prevailing thought, until the recent rumor came out that Apple killed the “extreme” chip, and the Mac Pro will now have an M2 ultra as the top option. Which should top out at 192GB.

I’m actually fine with this because the ultra has plenty of CPU power. But I do hope there’s a way to add extra DDR memory sticks.

 

[BMW_84]

Same Price? Still within the 30 day window? Why not? (unless you need it immediately... not sure what the lead time is for the M2s)

Don't know that you'll need the overall power, but the better single-core performance may well come in handy.

I connected with Apple. Apple.com has a 14 day return policy. So I missed that by a week. They were willing to grant me an exception however the trade-in I did on my 2018 MBP would no longer apply so that was a deal breaker for me. I’m sticking with the M1 Max.