What upgrades are worth it on my next computer?
27/08/26 Filed in: Hardware
I’m going to splurge and buy a Mac Studio. Seems like a bit of overkill, but I use these things for a long tine (I still have my old Powerbook and Newton). I really am getting in to ai and thinking about different ways to use it.It’s hard to guess what one might need several years from now to take advantage of everything. I’ll look at the lease option
Below you’ll see I went from 32-40 GPU ($300) in order to increase unified memory from 48-64 ($400).
It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1200 to increase to 128?????
Also, I increased storage to 2T for $800; It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1000 to increase to 4T
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There’s a saying in Cycling. "Don’t buy upgrades. Ride up grades.” In relation to computers, what is your use case to justify the cost? I own a very expensive bike that I only ride every once in a while. It’s made of carbon fiber and makes me feel great when I’m riding but I’m not any faster.
Upgrading to 2TB storage: Great idea!
Upgrading to the faster processor: Meh. I can’t really make a case for why that would be necessary. But I’ve found in most cases, people like to upgrade things because they “think” it will make it faster. The fact is more that it’s usually not going to even be noticeable. You are talking about a car that can make it around the track in 1 minute vs one that can make it around the track in 56 seconds.
Upgrading storage: Even less noticeable than upgrading the processor. Chances are the large majority of general users will NEVER run applications that even come close to addressing the amount of memory these computers have in the modern day. To prove this, you can open activity monitor and look at memory pressure. If an application is hogging memory it’s more likely due to a problem and not just standard RAM allocation. The users that do need more memory are video editors, musicians. It’s hard to make a case for even photographers unless you are doing a massive number of batch modifications at once. And only the Pros or production houses do that.
So in the long run, the base model with increased storage is all I would personally ever consider but I do know human nature and people want what they want. It’s essentially the same as buying two dead bolts for the same door. If it makes you feel better and you can afford it, go ahead. But it’s no safer than one dead bolt.
NOTE: Keep in mind I come from a very frugal upbringing so it’s in my DNA to spend as little as possible.
Below you’ll see I went from 32-40 GPU ($300) in order to increase unified memory from 48-64 ($400).
It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1200 to increase to 128?????
Also, I increased storage to 2T for $800; It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1000 to increase to 4T
___________
There’s a saying in Cycling. "Don’t buy upgrades. Ride up grades.” In relation to computers, what is your use case to justify the cost? I own a very expensive bike that I only ride every once in a while. It’s made of carbon fiber and makes me feel great when I’m riding but I’m not any faster.
Upgrading to 2TB storage: Great idea!
Upgrading to the faster processor: Meh. I can’t really make a case for why that would be necessary. But I’ve found in most cases, people like to upgrade things because they “think” it will make it faster. The fact is more that it’s usually not going to even be noticeable. You are talking about a car that can make it around the track in 1 minute vs one that can make it around the track in 56 seconds.
Upgrading storage: Even less noticeable than upgrading the processor. Chances are the large majority of general users will NEVER run applications that even come close to addressing the amount of memory these computers have in the modern day. To prove this, you can open activity monitor and look at memory pressure. If an application is hogging memory it’s more likely due to a problem and not just standard RAM allocation. The users that do need more memory are video editors, musicians. It’s hard to make a case for even photographers unless you are doing a massive number of batch modifications at once. And only the Pros or production houses do that.
So in the long run, the base model with increased storage is all I would personally ever consider but I do know human nature and people want what they want. It’s essentially the same as buying two dead bolts for the same door. If it makes you feel better and you can afford it, go ahead. But it’s no safer than one dead bolt.
NOTE: Keep in mind I come from a very frugal upbringing so it’s in my DNA to spend as little as possible.
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