Dear Community,
I recently upgraded my 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD) to a 2023 MacBook Pro M2 Max (12-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD). The MacBook Pro 16-inch was a significant improvement over my 2016 model and handled my R5 files with ease. However, as my editing demands grew, I began experiencing more frequent slowdowns.
I decided to move to a brand new 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 Max (partially funded by my employer) for its portability and expected performance boost for my workflow. After migrating my files and selling the 16-inch model, I was excited about the upgrade. However, I have noticed that even on this newer machine, I sometimes encounter jerky performance, leading to increased fan noise and heat buildup, which is frustrating.
While many praise the MacBook Pro M2 Max for its fast file importing and exporting capabilities, few discuss or measure its performance during high-volume editing sessions.
I am a volume shooter, mainly capturing events and weddings. My typical editing workflow consists of using only Lightroom with GPU enabled (AUTO) and a 100GB Camera Raw cache.
I suspect there might be something wrong with my editing workflow, and I would greatly appreciate your input on how to optimize it to make the most of the supposed power of this machine. Alternatively, I wonder if high-end devices like this struggle with handling R5 RAW files regardless of the setup.
Thank you for your insights and suggestions.
I recently upgraded my 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD) to a 2023 MacBook Pro M2 Max (12-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD). The MacBook Pro 16-inch was a significant improvement over my 2016 model and handled my R5 files with ease. However, as my editing demands grew, I began experiencing more frequent slowdowns.
I decided to move to a brand new 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 Max (partially funded by my employer) for its portability and expected performance boost for my workflow. After migrating my files and selling the 16-inch model, I was excited about the upgrade. However, I have noticed that even on this newer machine, I sometimes encounter jerky performance, leading to increased fan noise and heat buildup, which is frustrating.
While many praise the MacBook Pro M2 Max for its fast file importing and exporting capabilities, few discuss or measure its performance during high-volume editing sessions.
I am a volume shooter, mainly capturing events and weddings. My typical editing workflow consists of using only Lightroom with GPU enabled (AUTO) and a 100GB Camera Raw cache.
- First, I quickly cull images from the Library Module with no issues.
- However, after applying one of my basic presets and syncing it across the gallery (involving adjustments in Basic, Tone Curve, HSL, Color Grade, Detail, Lens Correction, and Calibration), I notice a decline in performance after editing around 60-90 images.
- As I continue to work on approximately 150-180 images, the RAM usage nears its limit.
- Beyond 250 images, RAM flooding occurs, leading to significant slowdowns, accompanied by loud fan noise and excessive heat.
- The Crop tool, which was smooth at the beginning, becomes choppy.
I suspect there might be something wrong with my editing workflow, and I would greatly appreciate your input on how to optimize it to make the most of the supposed power of this machine. Alternatively, I wonder if high-end devices like this struggle with handling R5 RAW files regardless of the setup.
Thank you for your insights and suggestions.
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