New MacBooks with M3 Are Here, But How To Choose If You Are a Software Engineer/Content Creator?
Buying advice from the perspective of my current job.
Traditionally, I would write a buying guide for you when I would have a chance to try the first machines with the new chipset, but this time, it will be different because the introduction of the new machines was when we had already closed the budget for this year so I will officially be able to expand the tech lab after the new year.
However, suppose you would like to see my review earlier and learn how it works in different programs and the real user experience. In that case, you have the only chance to contribute to KO-FI. So far, you have supported me there with 14% of the target amount, which is not small. The machine I have prepared the GOAL for on KO-FI is exactly the one that would currently suit my needs in case of an upgrade.
I’ve been writing articles here for almost two years. In the last few months, I’ve slowed down as I sought new ways to fund my blog when Medium failed as a platform. After their changes, the blog may pay for the coffee I brew at home to write, but it certainly doesn’t cover the technology and software I use to bring you higher-level articles.
That’s why I decided to set up KO-FI, where I’m gradually preparing exclusive content for you. I am currently using a Mac mini, which isn’t quite enough to do the job holding me back from publishing articles and videos as I have to deal mainly with commercial projects to subsidise my content creation hobby. I want to return to a time when it was a self-sustaining pipeline, and I could devote my time to writing without regret and without depriving my family.
Background story
As it happens, the paths of life are unfathomable. In the first phase, I wanted to work for NVIDIA, where I got an offer to Moscow a long time ago, as in the Czech Republic, they had only a Marketing Department for Czech and Slovakia. This is how I got to Comprimato, which was and maybe still is a start-up. In this company, they didn’t offer me the best salary or allow me to work full remotely, but I had access to the latest technologies, often under NDA weeks or months before release.
For me, as a tech nerd, it was like working in a toy store. I loved working here, but as it happens, once you want to get your own place, you can’t stay at a company where you can’t even get a mortgage after years. So I moved on. I went from a software developer with a focus on GPU programming, mainly audio/video codecs and real-time encoding, to a full-fledged Software Engineer who still handles development but is no longer paid from budgets for the DEV team but from budgets for the QA team, whose knowledge helps them create automation frameworks/architectures that ultimately save companies money.
I do this work both in the form of implementations and consulting, and I won’t lie to you. It has become a decent niche business, but one that I wouldn’t have picked up years ago.
How did I approach the configuration choices?
I am involved in a variety of activities, which include design and implementation of software architectures related to process automation, testing or data processing. So, I also have my fingers in AI and its models. However, those following me longer will know that I also write and pursue my passion related to image and video processing by writing articles and creating, as one of my friends said, impersonal videos.
Yes, my videos are impersonal, as I don’t feel comfortable in front of a camera, so I have found a way that works for me, which is using animated puppets. Hold, it is already the case, but as a result, I like it very much as I can play with new technologies and use them for valuable output. If you don’t subscribe to me on YouTube, you can fix that.
I’d be glad for any feedback. Based on my current workflow, I know where things are taking longer and where I’m hitting limits. I do have various state-of-the-art devices in my office as part of my work for various clients, but they are client devices, so I don’t do any of my leisure activities on them.
I have a dedicated Mac mini, purchased with Medium money.
Yes, by typing, I earned money on my previous machine. Unfortunately, this machine is inadequate for processing AI/ML models and making videos in my chosen format. For example, exporting the last video took over 7 hours. Yes, I can choose a different video format or not do video at all, but that would not be me. When I give up on something, I don’t give up.
So what configuration would I choose and why here again?
New with the advent of the M3 Pro chips is the ability to turn on performance mode even with the 14" MacBook Pro, but that is not possible with the M3 Max version in this body, at least according to the information I have so far. Since I have a really wide range of things I do, I would like to do more video creation, and I would like to gradually bring you courses in my area of specialization and content creation.
I would also like to use the new machine for live streaming for KO-FI members. I have some language models and larger data packages in the works. So, based on some tests with the customer’s permission on his Mac Studio, which was fitted with an M2 Ultra combined with 24 CPU cores, 76 GPU cores and 32 neural engine cores along with 128GB of unified memory and 8TB SSD storage, I concluded that I need more than 90GB of unified memory but don’t need more than 4TB of storage as 3TB of stable space is enough for the data I am currently working with.
If storage is not enough, then it is very easy to expand with external NVME drives, which can be purchased for a fraction of the price. Tests have also shown me that the new machine will very likely be just as powerful.
Now, we come to the configuration itself. I would not like to be limited in any way and to be able to handle both things related to my programming projects, which I will be happy to present to you in turn, and things related to the content creation area without limitations. So a configuration with 128GB of unified memory, and 4TB of disk space makes the most sense to me. All this is in the body of a 16" MacBook Pro, which is fitted with an M3 Max with 16CPU cores, and 40GPU cores.
The neural engine has 16 cores, but in truth, so far, I find its use rather limited, and even though I work with AI/ML models, the computations go mainly through the CPU/GPU and these dedicated chips are left below, we might change that if we can complete the goal of raising funds for this beast. For which Apple is asking about $5999, excluding tax and duty. In my neck of the woods, after factoring in all the fees, Apple is asking as much as 179,990.00 Kč, which equates to 7305 EUR.
The reason I have decided in the event of a move to the M3 to invest in this beast is simple: it will be a complete portable office/studio without having to compromise. It will be possible to use this machine constantly under full pressure, i.e. in performance mode, which will result in me being able to deliver my content faster again as I won’t be held up between steps, which the mini can’t handle effectively now.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article! If you enjoyed it, I appreciate your support through likes 👏🏻 and comments 💬. And if you want more content like this, don’t forget to follow me! Cheers 😊👌👋
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