Anybody got $14K for the new Mac Studio M3 Ultra?

[mhschmieder]

I compared models last night and concluded the M4 Max Studio is the correct basis for me vs. the current Mini lineup. Partly due to heat issues with the Mini, but the price difference is small once adding things like 10K Ethernet to the Mini.

To match my current 2017 iMac specs, I need 64 GB RAM (which I did cheaply myself but must do up front via Apple on the Mini or Studio) and a 2 TB drive.

Although I have gotten my current use down to 950 GB, it is mostly because I found all the ProTools plug-in format folders and have been diligent about unchecking those boxes during updates and new product installations, when possible.

As each new OS tends to use more space, 950 GB seems too close to the bone for me to go with a 1 TB drive. There isn't much I can move off this drive, and this is after already deleting all my supposed "perpetual license" Adobe products.

I suppose if I switched to VST3-only, and stopped using Logic even for Alchemy, I could get the disc usage down further. I can't imagine how people can get by with less than 1 TB unless they are using only a dozen or so plug-ins and no VI's.

More and more products are forcing installation, at the outset and even after customization, to be on the main drive. I'm moving away from some of those vendors and eating the loss, but almost 600 GB is OS-driven usage, when I check.

At any rate, RAM usage may be OK to come down a bit with newer chip architectures, so perhaps the 36 GB that comes with the base M4 Max model is fine. To go to 48 GB or 64 GB, you must upgrade to the higher-end version of that chip.

Anyway, my price tag is $3500 after tax, if I match my seven year old iMac specs. And that's before buying a monitor!

I think I also have more options for monitors with the Studio than with the Mini, in terms of highest specs, plus a second monitor can be added, which won't fit on my desktop unless it blocks my speakers, unless I do two in portrait mode.

[James Steele]

My current M1 Max Mac Studio is also a 64GB/2TB configuration. I'm glad I went with that much. I was fortunately to have a friend who was an Apple employee at the time who offered me his 15% friends and family discount so the upgrades weren't that painful financially.

I may still go for an M4 Max Mac Studio at some point, but going to try to lay back for maybe 6 months or longer till the refurbs start showing up for sale. Maybe I can find one with a 64GB/2TB configuration. I'll wait and see I guess.

[mikehalloran]

I compared models last night and concluded the M4 Max Studio is the correct basis for me vs. the current Mini lineup. Partly due to heat issues with the Mini, but the price difference is small once adding things like 10K Ethernet to the Mini.
higher-end version of that chip.

...

I think I also have more options for monitors with the Studio than with the monitor, in terms of highest specs, plus a second monitor can be added, which won't fit on my desktop unless it blocks my speakers, unless I do two in portrait mode.

A few things...

I agree that 2TB onboard storage should be the new minimum. A bright spot is that Apple has (at least for now) removed the restrictions that kept many apps from working if you were booting from an external. MOTU Audio drivers and FCPx were among the restricted; I've tested that they now work in the latest versions of Sonoma 14.7.1 and Sequoia 15.2. The new Studios will ship with 15.3 or later next month.

What this all means is that a TB5/USB 4.2 external will boot the new Studios and run in the 6000MB/s range. That's over twice the 2700MB/s speed of the fastest TB4/3/USB 4 external. That's going to be nearly as fast as internal storage, expected to be 7200 with single NAND. Studio architecture is not simple to explain but all TB busses run full speed. Right now, nobody's shipping; OWC is taking pre-orders for a 4TB external @ $549 but the 8TB NVMe4 x4 blades have been on the market over a year and prices have come down to $600 for WD. Once TB5/USB 4.2 enclosures ship, 8TB externals should be happening under a grand. OWC is now shipping TB5 hubs under $200.

The other big difference between the Max and Ultra is that only the rear ports on the Max are TB5. The front are USB 3.3 gen2 at 1000MB/s. With the Ultra, all the USB-C ports are TB5.

If your eyes can handle 4K displays, the LGs are inexpensive and all of the 27" function in Portrait or Landscape. Rotate, then select the orientation in System Settings. Need a VESA mount for the display to rotate but the attached stands remove in a second or two revealing a VESA mount underneath. There are a bunch of other 4/5/6/8K monitors on the market now so your choices are wide open. Most do not have a built-in camera other than the LG 5K — though LG builds the Apple 5K monitors, those cameras do not support Center Stage.

My only issue with external cameras is that they occupy a port while the built-ins do not. If you like the Center Stage Camera, it's only available in Apple laptops, iPads, iPhones and the 27" Studio Display.

Besides my two LG 4Ks, I have a 27" 5K Studio Display. It's quite nice but expensive. The 12MP Center Stage camera is built-in — very good but I often disable Center Stage. My eyes really like the $300 Nanoglass option (actually plastic). This monitor requires a TB3/4/5/USB4/4.2 port on the Mac and has three USB 3.2 gen2 ports over USB-C that supply 15W bus power. It will go from Portrait to Landscape automatically when rotated but you need to order the VESA mount version for that functionality. Why Apple makes an expensive height & tilt stand ($400 option) that does not rotate is a mystery to me.

Fortunately, decent VESA stands begin around $30 on Amazon and are easy to install. Mine are clamped to the rear of my desk freeing up valuable space for cables, hubs, external drives, DVD burner, power strips etc. I'm assuming that the heavier, more expensive VESA stands feel more stable and make rotating easier one-handed but I don't really know having bought three of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Computer ... _sspa?th=1

[mhschmieder]

At any rate, I need standard USB connectivity for my audio interface, printer, media drive, and current external hard drives (my main data drive for projects is not an SSD; most samples are on SSD's via TB and my TM drive is HDD via USB).

$600 is a lot to spend for 1 TB extra, even as SSD vs. HDD. Like I said, the ONLY things on my internal drive are stuff that can't live anywhere else, but Mike is indicating this won't be true any longer, so maybe I'll go with a 1 TB drive.

[mikehalloran]

At any rate, I need standard USB connectivity for my audio interface, printer, media drive, and current external hard drives (my main data drive for projects is not an SSD; most samples are on SSD's via TB and my TM drive is HDD via USB).
…

The Apple TB5 and USB 3.2 gen2 ports over USB-C are backward compatible with USB 2/1.1 with the right adapters or cables. The pair of USB 3.1 gen1 ports over USB-A, likewise.

These USB-A to USB-C adapters work great with standard USB 2 cables. According to Amazon, I've bought four pair.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CVX3516?re ... tle_2&th=1

[mhschmieder]

Cool; those are way better than the TB4 (or maybe TB3) adapters I bought for USB-2 going into my OWC TB hub.

I hadn't had time to investigate TB5 yet, so wasn't sure if it was a complete departure like someone falsely said on GS.

How about iLok? It actually works plugged into the USB-2 slot of my OWC TB dock vs. directly plugged into the 2017 iMac.

[mikehalloran]

Cool; those are way better than the TB4 (or maybe TB3) adapters I bought for USB-2 going into my OWC TB hub.

I hadn't had time to investigate TB5 yet, so wasn't sure if it was a complete departure like someone falsely said on GS.

Intel has made a mess of Thunderbolt over Windows. Apple supports USB 4.2 and in the specs claim backward compatibility–I am assuming that the new Studio will be identical to the M1/M2 in that regard (I tested this thoroughly on my Studio and M1 MBAir). OWC’s TB5 hubs, likewise advertise being backwards compatible with USB 2 — I expect it to be the same as their TB4/3 hubs of which I own a pair.

How about iLok? It actually works plugged into the USB-2 slot of my OWC TB dock vs. directly plugged into the 2017 iMac.

My iLok 3 is plugged through one of those USB-A to USC-C adapters into a TB4/3 port of my OWC hub. No wake from sleep or “this iLok cannot be found”. Yes, I could have plugged it into the spare USB-A port but... Like a Valley Girl, I wanted to be “for sure, for sure.”

[mhschmieder]

That all sounds promising, and as my two direct-reports switched recently from macOS to Windows 11, and both are now contemplating going to Linux, I'm not exactly encouraged to go the full DIY approach for less dough on the other side.

[joelfriedman]

BTW: just saw this which sort of explains the M3 Ultra.
https://www.macworld.com/article/263402 ... to-be.html

[timware99]

OOPS, I REALIZE THERE'S A PREVIOUS PAGE, SO NEVERMIND FOR THE MOMENT!

I'm about to upgrade to either the Mac Studio M4 Max or the M3 Ultra. I'm debating which way to go here.

Some folks have said it's better to bump up the memory and storage on the M4, others that the M3 Ultra is the best way to go.

Luke Miani looks at it from the perspective of cost, logic, and future upgrades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgMOC3nnCIM

I use DP 11 and the newer 828. I don't do video editing, just MIDI and audio recording via DP.

Does anyone here know which option would be best for me? I definitely know that either would a significant upgrade from my iMac Pro 2017 (3.2 GHz 8-Core Xeon W with 32 GB of memory).

I'd decided that perhaps getting the M4 Max but with 16-core CPU/40-core GPU, 64GB of memory and 2TB of storage would be a good option.

Thanks for any guidance! Tim

[nk_e]

FWIW, I just bought an M3 Ultra. The main reason I bought that as opposed to an M4 is the GPU cores. I need those for various projects in DaVinci Resolve Studio. (I'm also moving up from an iMacPro.)

If I didn't need the GPU grunt, an M4 Max would have suited my audio needs entirely. As it stands, the single core difference between an M3 and an M4 is not trivial and single core headroom is where bottle necks often occur in our DAW centric world.

I plan to upgrade my storage next. I have everything on SSDs, but will try to migrate to NVMs as budget permits.

FWIW, YMMV, IMHO and all of that. Good luck! (You won't go wrong with either.)

[HCMarkus]

I think nk_e's thinking is correct... I've got an M1 Ultra, but would opt for the M4 Max today. I'm not a video guy or AI dev, just audio.

[James Steele]

I think nk_e's thinking is correct... I've got an M1 Ultra, but would opt for the M4 Max today. I'm not a video guy or AI dev, just audio.

Same with me. As rarely as I do video, I could survive with a little longer rendering times. Besides... I don't even have a camera right now that does 4K, and with regular 1080p HD in FCP, my M1 Max chugs along just fine.

[timware99]

Actually, having read this full thread, I went for the Mac Studio M4 Max, 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine/
64GB memory/2TB of storage. I'm sure I'll be fine with this significant upgrade to my iPad Pro 2017 8-core/32GB memory/1TB storage.

I only do audio with DP. Heck, just doubling the memory should put significantly more zip in my workflow.

Tim

[James Steele]

Actually, having read this full thread, I went for the Mac Studio M4 Max, 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine/
64GB memory/2TB of storage. I'm sure I'll be fine with this significant upgrade to my iPad Pro 2017 8-core/32GB memory/1TB storage.

I only do audio with DP. Heck, just doubling the memory should put significantly more zip in my workflow.

Tim

I think for me personally, the 64GB/2TB configuration is the sweet spot. That’s what my M1 Max Mac Studio is. Please share your impressions with us once you get DP installed. Love to know how they get along! Congrats!