Best 8-Core 2019 MacBook Pros Running Pro Apps
June 24th, 2019 by rob-ART morgan, mad scientist
Does the 2019 MacBook Pro 15-inch with 2.4GHz 8-Core CPU run PRO APPS faster than the 2.3GHz 8-Core model? And do the gains make it a good value?
GRAPH LEGEND
2019 rMBP 2.4 8c = MacBook Pro 2.4GHz 8-core Intel i9, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz, 32GB* of 2400MHz DDR4 memory, Radeon Pro Vega 20 GPU (4GB HBM2 memory), 2TB PCIe-based flash storage
2019 rMBP 2.3 8c = MacBook Pro 2.3GHz 8-core Intel i9, Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz, 16GB* of 2400MHz DDR4 memory*, Radeon Pro 560X GPU (4GB GDDR5 memory), 512GB PCIe-based flash storage
*Though the two test units had different amounts of main memory, the tests did not max out the 16TB of the 2.3GHz model.
LIGHTROOM CLASSIC - Export
Export 100 Sony camera images (7952x5304) as full sized JPEG. (LOWER time in seconds = FASTER.)
LIGHTROOM CLASSIC - Enhance
Enhanced 12 images using only GPU. (LOWER time in seconds = FASTER.)
FINAL CUT PRO X - BruceX
FCPX 10.4.5 exports BruceX 5K sample project to ProRes 4444 XQ. (LOWER time in seconds = FASTER.)
AJA SYSTEM TEST - Flash Storage
Using 16G test size, compare sequential transfer speeds of 512G to 2TB PCIe-based flash storage option. (HIGHER time in megabytes per second = FASTER.)
INSIGHTS
The 2.4GHz 8-Core 2019 MacBook Pro's base processor frequency is 4% higher than the 2.3GHz 8-Core model. But the advantage in the real world depends on what Pro App you run. And, specifically, what functions you use.
The Lightroom Classic Export function is pure CPU and stresses all cores. The 2.4GHz model completes the task 8.4% faster than the 2.3GHz model.
The Lightroom Classic Enhance feature is pure GPU. The optional Pro Vega 20 GPU completes the task 17% faster than the Pro 560X GPU.
The Final Cut Pro X transcode of the BruceX 5K project is a mix of CPU and GPU. The 2.4GHz model completes the task 14% faster than the 2.3GHz model.
Comparably equipped, the 2.4GHz 8-Core version of the 2019 MacBook Pro 15-inch costs 4% to 7% more than the 2.3GHz 8-Core version. Considering the 8% gain we saw in Lightroom's pure CPU performance, the 2.4GHz model is a good value. (And the 17% faster Pro Vega 20 GPU at 8% more $$ is a good value, too.)
The 2TB PCIe-based flash storage READs 8% faster than the 512G PCIe-based flash storage. It WRITEs 63% faster. And since you can't upgrade the flash storage, this gives you another reason to absorb the cost of higher storage capacity at time of purchase.
Mahalo to a 'remote mad scientist' code named "at large in Gotham City" who helped me produce these comparison results.
Comments? Suggestions? Feel free to email me,
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