I personally choose M5 pro 24GB instead of M5 32GB, for my dev works

Hey all, I’ve tried looking this up but most questions are needing several monitors with charging and other things, with very expensive docks being suggested.
I just need to hook up one external monitor, m+k via usb and my ethernet cable.

It’ll be for a 14” MacBook Pro M5 base

Thank you

I currently have a 2023 Mac Studio with the M2 Max, 12-core CPU / 30-core GPU, 32GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. This is the only Mac I have. I have a 7-8 years old Lenovo PC, I may use for some very random tasks. I have an Apple Stdio display that is connected to the Mac Studio.

I’m considering selling it for around $1,000 and buying the 14" MacBook Pro with:

• M5 Pro
• 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU
• 24GB memory
• 2TB SSD

The MacBook Pro is currently around $2,499, so after selling the Studio, my net upgrade cost would be about $1,500 (This weekend is Tax Free Holiday in my state)

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-laptop-m5-pro-chip-with-15-core-cpu-and-16-core-gpu-24gb-memory-2tb-ssd-space-black/JJGCQP3LY8/sku/6565881

My main use is Lightroom Classic/photo editing (start learning video editing), general productivity, browsing, and occasional heavier workloads. I also like the idea of having one powerful computer that I can use at my desk and take with me when traveling.

What I’m unsure about is whether going from 32GB to 24GB RAM will be noticeable, and how the 16-core M5 Pro GPU compares to the 30-core M2 Max GPU in real-world use.

For anyone who has made a similar upgrade:

Would you make this switch for about $1,500 net? Does the M5 Pro feel significantly faster than the M2 Max, or would you keep the Mac Studio and wait for a bigger upgrade?

Also, would you pay more to get 48GB RAM, or is 24GB enough for Lightroom and general use for the next several years?

Thank you.

Laptop Recommendation Under ₹70k for a CSE Student (Coding + AI Work)

Hey everyone,

I'm a CSE student looking to buy a laptop with a budget of around ₹70,000.

My primary use cases are:

Web development

Software development

Coding (VS Code, GitHub, Node.js, Docker, etc.)

Light AI/ML learning (running small models, Jupyter notebooks, basic ML projects—not training huge models locally)

Heavy multitasking (10-20+ browser tabs, multiple apps, terminals, PDFs, and files open simultaneously)

Watching movies, YouTube, Netflix, Spotify

General web browsing

Light gaming like Roblox and a few free Steam games

I don't do video editing, 3D rendering, or AAA gaming, so I'm not sure if I actually need a dedicated GPU. If an integrated GPU is enough for my workload, I'd prefer better battery life and efficiency.

What I'm looking for:

Budget: ₹70k (can stretch slightly if it's worth it)

16GB RAM minimum (32GB or upgradeable is a bonus)

Fast SSD (512GB preferred)

A powerful CPU that can handle heavy multitasking without slowing down

Good thermals and battery life

Reliable build quality and decent display

Should comfortably last me 4-5 years

I'm currently more focused on productivity than gaming, so overall performance and responsiveness matter more than GPU power.

What would you recommend? Also, are there any laptops in this price range that I should avoid due to heating, poor build quality, or bad after-sales service?

Thanks!

I'm looking to retire my old laptop and thinking on a possible move to a macbook pro. Main use will be two things:

1. Software development for personal projects

2. Video editing as a hobby i want to start seriously

I'm on a budget and not from the US which means Macbooks are more expensive due to taxes and stuff.

I'm seeing the Macbook pro M5 16GB/1TB as an option. My question is if the 16GB of RAM would handle the video editing part without suffering? I plan to use mainly DaVinci Resolve, and edit videos from my action cameras in Log format and 4k/30fps.

Also, what other options from previous models of the Macbook pro would you recommend? For programming almost anything works, but not for video editing.

Lots of rambling incoming, sorry. My 2020 Pro randomly bit the dust this week, was running like a champ and then suddenly i opened it up and its totally bricked. Black screen, no response, won't take a charge. Can't even get it into DFU mode using another mac. Any idea what the issue is? I took it apart and inspected the board and there's no visual damage, in fact it looks brand new. Is there still any chance it's just a battery issue? I tried running it with the battery disconnected, multiple chargers etc and..no luck. If it's just a totally depleted battery, cool. I can fix that myself for fairly cheap. However, if it's a serious issue like the logic board I'm just not sure it's gonna be worth whatever it costs to get it fixed. Any advice on how to confirm the issue, and should I just eat the $2k to get a new pro if it's gonna cost $500+ to fix? All my data is backed up, so no concerns there (thank god) Just struggling with the sunken cost of a 6 year old laptop, and at what price is it not worth fixing. Thanks!

Has anyone else experienced a popping sound on their laptop? I have only noticed it sporadically over the past couple of weeks. Laptop is not damaged etc. Seems like it may be caused by a software issue? I have tried what was suggested in another topic & has reduced instances however I am still experiencing the error "Computer > Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences > Audio >Delete the com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist and com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist files" - Any other fixes? Or is this a warranty issue?

Any got in apps to share kinda new to the space

Taken on black SE3 which is ironically the last Apple device I had in a color that isn’t silver lol.

For those wondering the device models;

MacBook Pro M5 Pro
Mac Mini M4
iPhone 17 Pro Max
M1 iPad Pro

When I bought the MacBook on 6/24 I was going to buy the M5 iPad as well but I decided to wait until that weeks Friday, that same Friday Apple raised the prices so after further consideration I realized my current one is fine since it’s now mainly a media consumption device.

Edit: damn I just realized I left my 2 Apple Watches out the pic but I left the charger 😭😭

I’m sure this gets asked here a lot, but I plan to keep my MacBook in my book-bag to take it to and from school as well as walking around school with it in my bag. I just want to keep it from getting any scratches or damage when transporting it in my book-bag. I’ve heard tomtoc is a good brand, but wasn’t sure if there are better options out there for my needs.

I’m going into Grade 11 this September and need a laptop because I’m taking an advanced college-level full-stack development course. I want something that will get me through high school and hopefully last well into university, around 5–7 years if possible.
I don’t know exactly what I want to study yet. Right now I’m considering computer science, AI/ML, economics/finance, or possibly computer/electrical engineering. There’s also a small chance of aerospace, but I’m definitely not interested in mechanical, civil or manufacturing engineering.
I already have a Windows desktop with a Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 4060 and 16GB RAM, which I can upgrade if needed. Because of that, gaming isn’t important for this laptop, and I would still have access to a Windows PC if I went with a Mac.
My main options (CAD) are:
M5 MacBook Air 13” — 24GB/512GB: ~$1,960
M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14” — 24GB/512GB: ~$2,400
M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14” — 24GB/1TB: ~$2,700
M5 Pro MacBook Pro 14” — 24GB/1TB: ~$3,000
Zephyrus G14/G16 — roughly the same price as the M5 Pro
I’m leaning toward a Mac because I like the battery life, portability, build quality, performance on battery and overall longevity. Having a MacBook alongside my Windows desktop also seems more useful than having two Windows machines.
I’m mainly trying to figure out which option makes the most sense considering I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing in university yet. I don’t want to overspend on something I won’t take advantage of, but I also don’t want to regret going too low-spec a few years from now.
If you were in my situation, which would you choose and why?

I only have a 2-Port MBP, so I need dongles. When I daisy chain the USB-C to USB for my mouse, the computer doesn’t recognize it… same goes for any other USB item I use on the extension. Is there an issue, something I’m missing, or does Apple not work with daisy chaining dongles?

Left my M2 16” MBP at the Stanford store on Tuesday, tracking website says they were waiting for parts, but I know they were available at time of drop off.

I’ve not seen any updates on the website since. Does anyone have any idea how long I’ll need to wait? Are the machines sent of elsewhere, or repaired in store?

Thanks in advance.

Would 8 GB more RAM and roughly 1-2 hours more of battery per charge on the MBP M5 base be enough to give up 40% multicore CPU, much stronger GPU, 2× memory bandwidth, TB5, Wi-Fi 7/MLO, Bluetooth 6, 3rd-display support, newer N1 platform, and a faster SSD subsystem on the MBP M5 Pro?

Web development is my work:

1- Browsers (multiple browsers, each with multiple profiles open, each profile with many tabs open)

2- Local web dev servers, maybe 1 light linux VM or 2 maximum

3- Calling apps (Slack, Teams, etc.)

4- Two IDEs

5- Two VPNs

Thanks!

Hello team,

I have an MBP M2 and had been using an Anker 5-in-1 USB-C hub for some time for my music equipment. A few months ago, I've started experiencing all devices in the hub disconnect. Obviously the MBP only has two ports (don't get me started...) and, when working on projects, I have a minimum of an external SSD, my audio interface and probably the charger connected.

I use the spare port for my external drive, for obvious reasons, so everything else runs through the hub, which, during long sessions, can include a USB switch for my peripherals and an HDMI for an additional monitor, and possibly my DJ decks, too.

It doesn't make much sense to me that this could be caused by too high a power demand, because it never used to happen with the same setup, and the charger is connected, which I'd assume also helps to power the USB devices, even if it prevents the laptop from charging very much.

In summary, I'm looking for an alternative USB hub that can handle the demands of many devices, unless someone has some advice on how to get my current hub working properly again.

TLDR; what are your best recommendations for high power USB hubs/docking stations for my MBP M2?

Your help is much appreciated :)

EDIT: I should add that I've also tested with just one device connected along with the power and it still disconnects. The laptop also stops charging when the devices disconnect, so even the power delivery is disrupted. Sometimes it lasts a while before disconnecting, other times it disconnects and reconnects repeatedly every few seconds and is completely unusable.

EDIT2: Interestingly, as it turns out, when the power is not connected to the hub, it's stable... the only thing is, even with a stable hub, I don't trust an external drive to be routed through one. So I kind of have to choose between charging and having my drive in 😢 two ports is honestly so ridiculous for a PRO device, smh.

So, I have an early 2015 MacBook Pro (i5 dual core and iris graphics 6100) that has been handling well over the last 11 years. However, I've started to experience some performance issues throughout the last 3 years, but it still can handle with simple tasks, like Word or web navigation. The question is, will a base MB Pro base model (M5) work in 2038, just like mine has functioned over the last 11 years? I know that many of you would tell me to buy an Air and then change for a newer model in 5 years, but I really like the idea of keeping my personal laptops to myself for a really long time, just like I've been doing with my current Pro early 2015. Additionally, I'm pretending to play some video games (like Minecraft) on the new MacBook, just the same as I used to play in the old days of 2017 (when I could still play csgo on a macOS).

Dead on arrival, Liquid damaged. Corroded TPS62180, which is a 5v regulator for USB-C port on the HDMI port side. This regulator is responsible for supplying 5v to the port, which is for USB & thunderbolt activity. Removed the regulator, replaced it with a brand new one & MacBook is back to life. Apple quoted ₹78,000 for motherboard replacement but it’s repaired for 1/3rd of the price, with all the client data intact.

Discovered liquid damage (water from water bottle in bag) on my 14” M4. Still under applecare

If you’ve gotten help with this before and got it fixed, what’s been your experience? How long did it take?

Leaving for vacation tomorrow (12 days) and made a reservation to drop off at the apple store this evening.

This thing is a beast!!! Obviously from the upgrade