2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max: Recommended Models and Accessories
Related: Apple MacBook Pro M3, Apple Silicon, backup, computer display, display connectivity, DisplayPort, GPU, laptop, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Macs, Other World Computing, OWC Thunderbay, SSD, Thunderbolt, video tech, weather events
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Consult with Lloyd, to design a complete system for photography or similar including backup and data safety
MPG tested both the 14-inch and 16-inch models Apple 2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max 128GB /4TB, model Z1AU002AK and model Z1AF001AN. See all Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max.
Consult with Lloyd to design a complete system for photography or similar including backup and data safety.
Incredible performance from the 2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra!
Executive summary
- Realistic performance gains of M3 Max vs M2 Max are typically around 10%.
- Realistic performance gains of M3 Max vs M1 Max are typically in the 15% to 25% range, but can be greater in specific cases.
- M3 Max is typically 10% faster than M2 Ultra, dropping to 80% of the speed of M2 Ultra when all CPU and/or GPU cores are used. Some exceptions are seen.
- The M2 Ultra 60 GPU cores outrun the 40 of the M3 Max chip most of the time, but not always—software plays a decisive role*.
- One test disappoints badly: Photoshop (java) scripting is subject to some peculiar overhead, throttling performance heavily. Intel machines are still top of the heap here.
- Not tested: the 76 core GPU option. In the best case this could increase performance by 25% for GPU-intensive tasks.
* Increased overhead and/or contention, see Gunther's law of computational scalability.
Which model?
This work is not free; it is very time consuming with no direct reward. I need your support. Thank you for buying your Macs and other gear at B&H Photo, which provided the machine for testing. Subscribing to my photographic publications is another way to help support work like this—consider that AppleCare alone is $350 on $4000 to $7000 machine.
I deem the fan noise excessive, at least for my workflow. Wait for a Mac Studio M3 Max (or Ultra) unless you must have a laptop, as it will be a far better cooled device.
It is hard to go wrong with a 4TB SSD and 40 GPU cores. Spend more on an 8TB SSD only if this is a primary machine and/or you do huge projects out and about.
View: current Mac wishlist and all current OWC wishlists.
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Getting a deal
As this was written, M1 Max models were still being discounted at savings up to $2100 on maxed-out models. For the true power user, fastest is best regardless of cost, but for those of us with a budget, saving that kind of money particularly on a secondary computer might make a lot of sense, which is why I (MPG Lloyd) bought the M1 Max back in spring 2023.
Backup, peripherals, etc
Budget for peripherals. Also for AppleCare, given the pathetic 1-year warranty.
Memory Upgrades • External SSD • Internal SSD • External Storage • Hard Drives • Port Expansion • Cables
Backup
Everyone should have an absolute minimum of two backups drives and preferably four: two always-attached, and two offsite. Single drives are best for offsite backup (separable and multiply redundant on power supply).
The OWC Thunderbay 4 makes an excellent “always attached” backup unit for Time Machine and clones spread across its 4 drives (use the drives individually, not RAID).
See the OWC storage wishlist.
Primary storage
Most photographers are going to need large storage like the OWC Thunderbay 4 or OWC Thunderbay 8.
See the OWC storage wishlist.
Port expansion
To attach Mini DisplayPort display, the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock is best.
See the OWC port expansion wishlist.
See also OWC Offers Dual DisplayPort and dual HDMI Adapter for Thunderbolt 3 Macs or PCs.