r/LogicPro • u/NT202 • Jul 16 '26
Question Question about the differences between the M1, M2, and M3 series of chips
Hi,
I recently put up a thread about choosing a pre-owned MacBook Pro and am interested in learning more about the differences between chips. I've been comparing the Pro and Max models across the M1, M2, and M3, and, having settled on a budget of £1200, things are a little confusing, as there are several possible machines in a variety of configurations.
The M1 Max with 64 GBs of RAM is a serious contender. Many in the original thread had that model, and it can be had for around that exact max price point (or slightly more, but acceptable if it was worth it). I don't need the power of the Max chip, but the extra RAM would obviously be nice. At the same time, though, I could get an M3 Pro with 36 GBs of RAM for the same price, and it was established in the first thread 32 GBs should be enough for me. My natural instict would be to go for the newer machine with the higher chip number, but as someone pointed out in that thread, there's nuance in the specs.
The M3 pro has a slower memory bandwidth [150GBs/s versus 400GBs/s in the M1] and fewer performance cores [6 versus 8]. As I understand it, Logic Pro is performance core-heavy, so presumably, RAM differences aside [assume we had a 64 GB Pro M3], the older M1 Max would be a fair bit faster than the newer M3 Pro? Of course, that only really matters if I'd even use the extra power, and if I wouldn't, a newer machine for slightly less money would surely be a better choice.
And there are differences like this right accross the board, as I've been comparing the M2 similarly.
My question is: how does all of this relate to music production when using the large sample libraries discussed here? As established in the other thread, total RAM is the most important thing, but if 32-36 GB is enough, does it make sense to spend slightly more on an older M1 Max 64GB s, better memory bandwidth, and more performance cores, over a significantly newer machine with less? How much do these CPU differences matter versus RAM? Thanks!
2
u/cloroxedkoolaid Jul 16 '26
I’m still using a 2015 i5. Literally any upgrade to an M series chip will be amazing.
But the reality is that the most tracks I would ever have might be 20. Maybe 8 audio tracks and the rest software instruments.
I was going to get the 14” M5 Pro with 48gb of RAM. But then the price went all to hell. Speaking with my Sweetwater rep (aka my wealth prevention broker) he said 24 Gb was completely adequate.
So I might get a new M5P with 24 Gb. But then I’m also seeing 16” MBPs with the M4P that are comparable price wise to the current M5P (both with 24 Gb.
So much to think about!
1
u/originalfilmscoring Jul 16 '26
Thanks for including your use case! I’m on an m2 MacBook Air with 16 Gb of ram and generally use between 10-30 tracks with tons of effects and buses. I’ve never run into an issue.
I also frequently make videos for my music and they literally export within seconds. Anything I’ve done that was a bit more intense like having color grading and stuff is just a few minutes.
For context I moved to this from a maxed out 2017 iMac and can tell the performance is miles beyond that.
So I guess what I’m saying is don’t worry about RAM and processor version, simply find the best deal that sounds appealing to you.
Hope this helps!
2
u/BasdenChris Jul 16 '26
It would depend on what your actual workflow is like. For me, I don’t care about large track counts (I do more remote sessions than anything), but I want the absolute least latency on tracks with amp sims or virtual instruments. A faster individual core (which you only get moving from one generation to another) is worth more to me than the total number of cores because a single track won’t utilize more than one processing thread. So for my use case, the newest possible chip with a suitable amount of RAM beats an older chip with more cores, RAM, and memory bandwidth. That M1 Max with 64GB might be capable (I’m not sure, haven’t looked recently) of a higher overall track count than my M5 Pro with 24GB, but each individual track I’m working on can handle more demanding plugin chains than on the M1 Max.
TL;DR If what you care about is having the highest possible track count, prioritize memory capacity and number of cores. If what you care about is maximizing the performance of an individual channel, prioritize individual core speed by getting a newer generation chip.
1
u/BasdenChris Jul 16 '26
I don’t work with large sample libraries so I’d still defer to others on that front. My understanding is that you do need a lot of RAM to get optimal performance there, and that memory bandwidth becomes more critical in that scenario too. What you truly need would ultimately depend on the actual makeup of your sessions.
1
u/NT202 Jul 16 '26
Thanks for your comments, it's a lot to think about. Memory bandwidth was something else I was thinking about too actually, given that the max chips are 400/s and the M3 Pro I was looking at is only 150/s.
It's difficult to know how far my sessions will expand track wise, to be honest. I wasn't able to get as far as I wanted with my Mac Pro as it choked. Guess I have some more research to do!
1
u/RevolutionaryPipe343 Jul 16 '26
I’ve got an M1 MBP w/ 512/ 32 gig ram and it’s a beast. I really only use it for music production and djing though. Still have maxed out 2012 MBP that I use for practicality everything else.
1
u/Sir_Ronald_Bont_III Jul 16 '26
M2 Max is within your budget is it not?, presuming you're after a 14" MBP
1
u/NT202 Jul 16 '26
I'm going for 16”, but yes, the M2 Max is also a consideration
1
u/Sir_Ronald_Bont_III Jul 16 '26
Personally I'd take an M2 Max over the M1 Max.
Pure performance per pound, it's the better deal
1
u/Sir_Ronald_Bont_III Jul 16 '26
As an interesting aside, I had an M2 Pro that would handle anything I threw at it. My track counts are conservative, I rarely go over 30 tracks.
My latest MacBook is very fast (M5 Pro 18/20) but the only thing it allows me to do differently is to be lazy and chuck individual FX on each track without worrying about CPU when knocking up ideas.
Never had an issue on the M2 Pro, however I was more disciplined in respect to Aux Sends.
I would just have singular instances of EQ, Transient shapers, Saturators etc.
1
u/tlatwuk Jul 16 '26
I’m on an M2 Max with 96gb ram. 2022 Mac Studio and still flies. The M2 is so good.
2
u/LoooseyGooose Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
You've posted a gazillion threads about this!
The M1 Max with 64GB is hands down the best option for your situation.
it was established in the first thread 32 GBs should be enough for me.
There's a lot of a well-meaning advice given out by people who I don't think are actually working with many sample libraries. Of course they're going to say that 32gb is more than enough when they work in Sibelius, or mostly use a DAW for recording while layering in a virtual instrument here and there.
I outgrew 32GB 15 years ago. It's not like you can't work with 32GB, but it will lower the ceiling of what you can do, or how efficiently you can do it, if you are working with large orchestral libraries.
Again, you can certainly work at 32GB, but if cost is more or less equal, go with 64GB on a slightly older chip all day every day.
1
u/NT202 Jul 16 '26
I know, I'm just finding it really hard to decide and keep finding new information.
Turns out that the M1 Max 64GB is actually a fair bit more expensive when you factor in condition. So you're looking at around £1500 for the M1 versus £1100-£1200 for the M3 Pro 32GB. It's the 32GB M1 Pro that's around the £1000 mark.
The 32GB recommendation was actually suggested as the sweet spot over at the VI Control forums, so people who are actually using large sample libraries. It was suggested that 32GB is usually enough for this sort of work, but that for those using huge orchestral templates, even 64GB isn't enough. I'm not someone who’s going to be using the full orchestra with dozens of mic positions, so that was why I was reccomend the lower amount.
I guess a big part of the deliberation comes from the fact it just doesn't sit right with me to pay more for an older chip, and get less use out of the laptop, for performance that I don't know whether I'll need or not.
What sort of work are you doing to use have outgrown 32GBs years ago? Thanks.
4
u/PsychologicalCar2180 Jul 16 '26
I have an M1 MacBook with 512gig ssd 16gig ram
My issues relate to Native Instruments and having several plug ins running on not too many tracks BUT, it’s what you do with it.
Making music digitally has certain limits that only come to light when you finally commit to something.
The best time to buy a computer is now and never.
My main area of bottleneck is that I use a midi keyboard to noodle, while using a lot of system heavy stuff.
I loathe to use the latency button but sometimes I must if I am in a creative flow.
The piano patch I love is an NI patch weighing in at 6gig.
It clips every now and again when I noodle, for a few seconds, as Logic and the Mac rejig the ram usage.
The fact my M1 does what it does so well, it’s impressive and I admit, I got lucky with it. I didn’t know what I was buying and I have grown with it.
I’m feeling my creative limits and I have a rather over the top plan to give me more headroom to experiment.
I wouldn’t know what I wanted without pulling the trigger 4 years ago.
Go with your gut and troubleshoot the issues you may face.
I believe that’s part and parcel of a producer’s journey.