
They'll use whatever graphics power you can give them, which is why you see setups like a tower with a Cubix Expander with 3 GPU's in it for intensive color grading applications. The 15" and 16" MacBook Pro models have offered discrete graphics cards for nearly a decade now, meaning that they have both an integrated graphics unit and also a separate, dedicated piece of hardware for processing graphics.įilmmaking programs, especially DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro, are GPU hungry. This is incredibly common in laptops and mobile devices, but it usually means less horsepower. This means that instead of having a separate, standalone graphics card, the graphics processing unit (GPU) is built into the logic board of the laptop in an integrated system. The 13" MacBook Pro is built around integrated graphics. The main thing to figure out, though, is does it have enough power to stand up to what a filmmaker needs.
#Which mac pro to buy for video editing update#
Thus the newest update to the 13" has gotten a lot of attention with my students, readers, and even other No Film School writers since it's an appealing tool at an affordable price. The 13" size feels very portable, light, and right in a lot of ways. In fact, every time I went back to my personal 15" unit during my week of testing, I was always shocked at how "big" it feels. The 16" is a big laptop to carry around with you everywhere and the 13" just feels more like a truly portable system. The price and performance ratio of the 13" is very attractive to a lot of users. Whereas the 16" starts around there and quickly rises in cost the more you add on. Bump up memory and you could still have a very powerful machine for under $2000. The starting price for the new 13" is $1299, with $100 off for students and educators, meaning you can be in a "pro" model for only $1199. But there is an even bigger reason to consider it the "default" laptop for filmmakers: you can soup it up with the most GPU power you can afford, save money on internal storage (filmmakers use externals), and away you go.ĭespite my recommendation, however, the 13" MacBook Pro is far more common in the world of indie productions and with my students.
#Which mac pro to buy for video editing upgrade#
The 16" MacBook Pro received a massive upgrade last fall, including a new keyboard, speakers, and a microphone. The new 16" that was released late last year.
