Macbook Air M5 - will it work better for Lightroom with 32 Gbytes vs 24 Gbytes?

[bcarlson78248]

Lightroom Version Number

15.2.1

Operating System

1. macOS 26 Tahoe

I've been shopping for a new travel laptop and the weight of the Macbook Air M5 is very attractive for travel. I can buy it with either 24 Gbytes or 32 Gbytes of memory and I'm trying to determine if the memory upgrade will make Lightroom work any better.

My current home machine is a Macbook Pro M2 with 16 Gbytes of memory, and I don't have any performance issues with LIghtroom Classic. The new Macbook Air would have more memory (either 24 or 32 Gbytes) and an M5 instead of an M2 processor, but the M5 has a smaller number of cores. I don't know how these specs trade-off when it comes to Lightroom performance.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[Califdan]

When in doubt, if yourbudget allows, go for more memory. But, also consider any options you may have for Graphics Processors and Graphics memory if you have options.

I don't know what the difference in price is between the 24 vs 32 gb options, but think about it in terms of the price of a tank of gas for your car. A few tanks of gas will last you a few weeks, an extra 8gb of memory will last you several years.

Also pay attention to the configuration of the memory chips. If you need to skimp of the gb's try to leave a socket open so you can add more later if need be without having to discard your original amount. For example, if the computer has 2 sockets and you're gettng 16gb of memory, try to get a single 16gb chip rather then 2 at 8gb each.

 

[clee01l]

When in doubt, if yourbudget allows, go for more memory. But, also consider any options you may have for Graphics Processors and Graphics memory if you have options.

I don't know what the difference in price is between the 24 vs 32 gb options, but think about it in terms of the price of a tank of gas for your car. A few tanks of gas will last you a few weeks, an extra 8gb of memory will last you several years.

Also pay attention to the configuration of the memory chips. If you need to skimp of the gb's try to leave a socket open so you can add more later if need be without having to discard your original amount. For example, if the computer has 2 sockets and you're gettng 16gb of memory, try to get a single 16gb chip rather then 2 at 8gb each.

The silicon chip has CPU, GPU, and unified storage on one chip. None of your suggestions are relevant. The key factors here for performance are CPU,GPU cores and unified memory. 32 Gb of unified memory is the sweet spot for silicon Macs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Paul McFarlane]

Cletus is spot on. 32GB every time, we wouldn't consider anything less.

Dan - there is no upgrade possible on current Macs, so the RAM you choose initially is permanent.

 

[johnbeardy]

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Decide what you want and keep an eye on Apple's refurbished page.

 

[bcarlson78248]

Dan, I understand your suggestions in the context of buying a Windows machine, but in the Mac world it’s all or nothing when you pick a configuration. I can buy a MacBook Air M5 and pick the screen size, memory and SSD size options up front, but there is no choice of processor specs ( 15”GPU is a little better than base 13”), and no ability to upgrade after making the initial purchase, it’s the Apple sales methodology.

 

[Califdan]

Thanks - not that familiar with configuration options on various forms of Mac's (which surprigingly to me seem to be rather limited). Live and learn. Thanks for the info. But, if any Windows users are contemplating new HW these are things to consider.

 

[camner]

Not trying to start a Mac vs PC war, but there are advantages to a unified chip that has CPU, GPU, and memory all together on the same chip. But upgradability is NOT one of those advantages!

 

[John Forgan]

.... and no ability to upgrade after making the initial purchase, it’s the Apple sales methodology.

In the case of memory it is not a "sales methodology". The M series processors have their memory on the same chip as the CPU. Lack of memory upgradability is a price that you are paying for the great performance that these devices offer.

.

 

[Gnits]

I am a long term personal and corporate Windows user. My last several main desktops have been custom builds. I tend to buy high performance cpu, motherboard, memory and very fast M2 Nvme ssd drives, just one step down from exotic to get max performance but avoid the really exotic prices. My builds tend to be in the 3k€ to 5k€ range. My last build lasted 10 years and my current build is close to 6 years old. I guess it has a year or two or longer remaining.

For a lot of reasons…my next desktop is likely to be a Studio … Pro or Ultra, depending on options available when purchasing..

The reason.. the Apple cpu, GPU and memory are designed to sit on the same physical chip and to interoperate at max backplane speed. They are designed to interoperate and factory built and have the highest level of quality control. They are proven high performance, low maintenance, low power, small foot print, low noise devices. They now have had multiple generations of improvements and evolution.

Having selected a model I must decide on memory and internal SSD size. So be it. That is the cost of entry. I will most likely use an external OWC Thunderbolt enclosure for my external storage requirements (and may have that in situ with all my 175 k images working with my existing Windows machine pre upgrade, to minimise my upgrade path transfer).

I have a modest MacAir M2 as my current travel device. I have tried (twice) and abandoned twice trying to use a laptop as a combo main and travel device.

I have had a massive unstable LrC environment for several months. It now appears stable (for last 8 weeks or so).. fingers crossed.. I have advanced diagnostic skills and could not isolate the issue. It could be a GPU driver issue, Win 11 issue or LrC build issue (or a combination). I may never know.

To me this is not a Mac or Windows debate. To me, the architecture of the shared cpu/gpu/memory is the only logical means to max performance of these devices. I regard buying a GPU for Windows as a gamble and I regard current Windows hardware as having achieved legacy status. As advanced GPU processing is now only at the early stages of development, I think it is a key requirement for the GPU, CPU and memory to coexist in the same matrix.

 

[Gnits]

I've been shopping for a new travel laptop and the weight of the Macbook Air M5 is very attractive for travel

I know people who have spent a lot of cash on full spec M4 and M5 MacBook Pros… but do not travel with them because of their weight. I was shocked at this.. but I am looking after one such device right now… and personally would not travel with it, due to its weight. My modest , min spec, MacAir M2 is close to my perfect travel device. I am not familiar with the weight and specs of current models. I recommend people handle current MacBook Pros M4 or M5 before purchase, if thinking of using as a travel device.

 

[clee01l]

In the case of memory it is not a "sales methodology". The M series processors have their memory on the same chip as the CPU. Lack of memory upgradability is a price that you are paying for the great performance that these devices offer.

.

The Mac Silicon series of computers use a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture. While those electrons travel at the speed of light, it is a speed advantage to having all of the calculating components on one chip.
Microsoft is still using a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) architecture.

 

[John Forgan]

The Mac Silicon series of computers use a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture. While those electrons travel at the speed of light, it is a speed advantage to having all of the calculating components on one chip.
Microsoft is still using a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) architecture.

I have no idea if you were agreeing or disagreeing with my post. However, electrons travel at nowhere near the speed of light. I think you are confusing them with photons?

Additionally, Microsoft is heavily investing in RISC architectures, primarily through ARM64 for Windows laptops, for example Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, and also in cloud servers.

I'm very much an Apple person, but competition is good so I hope Microsoft is successful.

 

[clee01l]

However, electrons travel at nowhere near the speed of light. I think you are confusing them with photons?

Not trying to be pedantic but "Signal Speed (Information Speed): When a switch is flipped, the electric field moves through the wire at roughly 270,000 km/s , or about 90% of the speed of light. "

The direction of personal computing is toward RISC machines. Microsoft is developing their own RISC machines but are having to play catchup to Apple which already has switched completely to RISC. Microsoft has developed their own ARM based laptops. I would expect that Microsoft is not going to be far behind. Intel and NVIDIA are collaborating to create new System on a Chip (SoC) architectures for PCs similar to the Silicon chips that Apple already has in place.

So to agree with you, it is not a sales methodology but a move toward SoC architecture that you are seeing.

 

[Gnits]

It will be interesting how SoC plays out… and who will be the winners and losers .. as the big players (eg Nvidia) need to collaborate (ie lose control) to build tech which replaces their core business. Or .. interesting mergers / aquisitions. and what will happen to the motherboard market.

Apple have a clear lead and vision on this.. so very disruptive to both the desktop and mobile markets..

 

[John Forgan]

Not trying to be pedantic but "Signal Speed (Information Speed): When a switch is flipped, the electric field moves through the wire at roughly 270,000 km/s , or about 90% of the speed of light. "

The direction of personal computing is toward RISC machines. Microsoft is developing their own RISC machines but are having to play catchup to Apple which already has switched completely to RISC. Microsoft has developed their own ARM based laptops. I would expect that Microsoft is not going to be far behind. Intel and NVIDIA are collaborating to create new System on a Chip (SoC) architectures for PCs similar to the Silicon chips that Apple already has in place.

So to agree with you, it is not a sales methodology but a move toward SoC architecture that you are seeing.

You can attempt to be as pedantic as you want, but you are changing your argument and you are still wrong. The speed of the electric field may be around the speed of light, but that is not the same as the speed of the individual electrons in a conductor.

You seem to have some knowledge of Adobe products but you do talk a terrible load of bollocks.

I appreciate that my comments may be outside of what the owners expect, but I've been paying membership for a number of years so would appreciate a full refund for my two subscriptions this year if they're not happy with my criticisms.

 

[clee01l]

You can attempt to be as pedantic as you want, but you are changing your argument and you are still wrong. The speed of the electric field may be around the speed of light, but that is not the same as the speed of the individual electrons in a conductor.

You seem to have some knowledge of Adobe products but you do talk a terrible load of bollocks.

I appreciate that my comments may be outside of what the owners expect, but I've been paying membership for a number of years so would appreciate a full refund for my two subscriptions this year if they're not happy with my criticisms.

This forum is independent of Adobe. This forum is a place to come with your lightroom issues not your Adobe issues.

This thread is closed.