Computer Update

[David Eichler]

I have a 2017 iMac i7,  Quad Core, 4.3, 4.2Ghz, with a Radeon Pro 580 8GB, 32mb of Ram and a 560GB SSD. This setup won't work with the the most recent Mac OS or the most recent version of Lightroom Classic. I only process stills and use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop extensively. In your opinion, what would be the minimum updated configuration that would give me at least the basic processing ability I have now and would allow me to use the latest version of Lightroom Classic? It doesn't have to be the latest model or be an iMac.

[David Eichler]

Thanks. But that was not my question. I asking about the minimum to replace and use current LR Classic and Mac OS. And it doesn't have to be one of the latest models. That is, cost is somewhat of an issue. Assume I want to keep cost to a minimum.

Last year I bought a Mac Studio (M1 Max chipset) and it was the second time I was surprised by the overall speed of OS & software (first time was when Apple switched from the Motorola to the IBM PowerPC chips). Because it's my workstation, I loaded it with everything except the 8TB SSD. I really enjoy its speed and stability.

Last week my i7 Macbook pro began showing power issues so I bought a 16" Macbook pro with the M3 "pro" CPU (not the max) & 36GB RAM, 512GB SSD. It's clearly faster, more sprite than my i7 Macbook.

Lotsa software updated, including the all the Adobe apps (from the i7 to the ARM hardware). So far, no problems at all. I've shot both my Fujifilm GFX and Canon DSLR tethered and everything functioned without issue.

Price was ~$2800 out the door (I had in-store "points").

Apple offers a non-pro, non-max M3 chip, but I don't know its specs or how it compares to the other chips.

The MacBook's monitor is the best yet, IMO.

Details here:

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-m3-pro-12-core-cpu-18-core-gpu-16-late-2023-specs.html

[Jonathan Cross]

FWIW, I have an M1 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. I do almost all stills with the latest LR and PS plus the usual Apple software and Microsoft 365. I keep 3 months of everyday photos on the internal SSD and projects and the archive on external portable SSDs. My cameras are Fuji X series, so 26MP, but if I am printing big, I use super resolution to upscale to 104MB, and am very happy with the speed with which these are handled with both LR and PS open at the same time. I swap from LR to PS and back via the Edit in tab and return to LR, all working fast. Incremental Time Machine, which I use once a week, takes about 10 minutes to a SSD.

Perhaps this config or better may be OK for you, and maybe Apple refurb may have a suitable machine if you do not want to buy new. SOC on Macs has made a big difference. I do not know about Macbooks as I want a bigger screen and do not want a second screen for a laptop.

Happy hunting.

Jonathan

[digitaldog]

Lightroom Classic min requirements: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/system-requirements.html Photoshop: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html Monterey minimum and an old Intel but really, just get an M1 with decent RAM (I'd go 32MB) and you'll be fine for years.

[MDL_SD]

The bottom line is that any of the Apple processors should be fine for you.  I use a 14" MacBook Pro with the m1 max chip, 64GB memory and a 2 TB SSD.  My cameras are the Sony a7R IV and a7RV so 61 mp images.  Lightroom Classic, PS, Helicon Focus and the Topaz routines run really well and I am not frustrated by any lack of speed for what I do (all still images, no video).

As others have said, look at the Apple refurbished machines and at earlier processor versions versus the current m3 processor.  I would get at least 32GB of memory and would urge you to go for as much memory as you can afford/buy.

[David Eichler]

Lightroom Classic min requirements: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/system-requirements.html Photoshop: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html Monterey minimum and an old Intel but really, just get an M1 with decent RAM (I'd go 32MB) and you'll be fine for years.

Thanks. That is what I was looking for.