14" MacBook Pro - ML and Programming

Laptops Suggest a Laptop
1

Good day!!

I find myself debating on what is the config that best suits me… and I am looking for some external feedback.

Context: Spain. Use for AI and ML development (research and development).
My current personal laptop (which I plan to keep) is running a custom Arch build,which solves my Linux itch, but it is getting a bit old. I have a work laptop, used exclusively for work. I want a new personal laptop for my own AI research and development projects. I do not plan on running models locally (I just SSH into VMs since I have tons of credits and need the more powerful setups there, mostly working with LLMs atm). Most of the work done localy is VSCode programming, spinning off docker containers for testing web-dev setups and writing notes.

So I am doubting between too configs:

(from cheapest to most expensive)

- M4 Pro 12C with 24GB RAM w/ 512 TB

  • M5 with 32GB RAM w/ 1 TB (+ 40 €)
  • M5 with 32GB RAM w/ 1 TB (+ 265 €)
  • M4 Pro 14C with 24GB RAM w/ 1 TB ( +440 €)

Upgrades are so expensive in apple, I just don’t know if they’re worth it… Not trying to future proof here, just get for what I need. I went for processor over RAM in my last laptop and I slightly regret it.

P.S I have student discount

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2

Can you tell me the final price for all those configs and your max budget?

3

They’re all within budget.

M4 Pro 12 C - 2159
M5 24GB - 2199
M5 32GB - 2424
M4 Pro 14C - 2599

I can probably find some better deals tomorrow on black friday, but I am comfortable paying that

My objective price range was 2000-2500, but I would be willing to spend the extra 100 if it really makes a difference.

I am even considering getting an Air for the portability and build a more powerful desktop, but I don’t want the hassle of having to deal with hardware issues for this one.

4

If you are not running LLMs locally, then the last configuration should be perfectly fine, and it will be the most powerful one for the tasks that you require.

5

The 12 core M4 pro is good enough for your usecase- it has the capacity to run llms locally. Although the M5 macbook pro is also a good choice. I say get the M4 pro 14 core cpu 20 core GPU only if you want more GPU performance. If not then the M5 is a better choice. A hybrid approach would be a M4 pro 12 core cpu 16 core GPU. It’s like the sweet spot between the M5 and the M4 pro 14 core in terms of CPU and GPU performance.

6

Thank you both for the insights.

I just feel like macbooks are too expensive, and, even though i have the budget, i have found attractive options for $1000 off.

For example, a Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 for $1200 less with 32GB RAM, 3K screen and an Intel Core Ultra 9-285H.

But I guess if you have the money, macbooks are just it. First time out of the student “saving” mentality, so thanks again to you both.

Happy thanksgiving btw :slight_smile:

7

My friend recently bought the yoga pro 7, core ultra 7 3k display model. I simply love the display and the keyboard. Although it’s good for coding not ideal for AI dev unless you use Google Collab or Kaggle. I’m a student myself :sweat_smile: you were talking about MacBooks a lot so I thought you prefer macbooks and you got the cash.

8

Oh no, don’t get me wrong, I did want a macbook hahaha

It’s just, even though I have the budget it was not so long ago I lived in a student budget and my mind is still in saving mode.

I will mainly use external VMs, so might consider it. Will have to try both physically to make a final decision I guess.

Have a great day!

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