2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra: Lightroom Import/Export

2023-07-17 updated 2023-07-19 • SEND FEEDBACK •
Related: 2019 iMac 5K, 2019 Mac Pro, 4K and 5K display, Apple 2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra, Apple Silicon, iMac, iMac 5K, laptop, Lightroom, Mac Pro, MacBook, Macs, Other World Computing

Please buy your gear at B&H Photo and OWC/MacSales.com using any link from this site.
Consult with Lloyd, to design a complete system for photography or similar including backup and data safety

MPG tested the Apple Mac Pro with M2 Ultra #Z171000US 192GB/4TB/60GPU. 76 GPU/8TB SSD are options.

About

2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra

Ever popular Adobe Photoshop Lightroom ("Lightroom") requires that files be imported into its database before they can be worked on. Import was done with Add (don’t copy) and generate 1:1 previews in parallel, no lookup of location, etc. Time was measured until the preview-generation progress bar disappeared.

Export was high-quality level 90 JPEG at full resolution, with no extra processing involved.

Disk I/O not a factor, the files being on a fast SSD.

If below are out of date: view current Mac wishlist and all current OWC wishlists.

CLICK TO VIEW: Recommended Accessories and Storage

CLICK TO VIEW: Recommended M2 Ultra and M2 Max

Lightroom Import/Export

RAW files 45/60/100/150 megapixels: 100 Fujifilm GFX100, 100 PhaseOneIQ4 150, 100 Nikon D850, 100 Sony A7R IV

The 2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra easily beats-out the 28-core 2019 Mac Pro for Import, and edges it out on Export as well.

MPG does not understand the poor performance of the 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Max here as it makes no sense. The test was run multiple times on different days with results coming out the same to within 2 seconds each time. Speculation that it was warm conditions proved unfounded. Possibly, the use of macOS Monterey instead of macOS Ventura could be involved.

*** See test notes discussing 2019 Mac Pro and 2022 MacBook Pro M2 Max results.

2023 Mac Pro: Lightroom import and export

2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra