because of certain app needs, I need to stay with Intel for now.
I'd like to update from my 2013 MBA. It has served me well, but ...

the huge differences with GB2 vs GB5.
Where or when would these numbers make a difference to me, especially when compared to my current driver?

I've only run out of gas on my current when I really overstuffed Pro Tools with plugs on a 64 track session.

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If there are spelling issues, please pardon, Owen the cat is sitting on my keyboard.

I doubt the i7 would be a game changer. More Ram in the i5 model is likely your best investment based on your use case.

Or more SSD - stay below 80% full so speed is not impacted.

if you spend any time watching progress bars, go for the i7. THose geekbench scores are about 50% bigger - progress bars will run about 50% faster.

What kind of budget are we talking about? and the last OS you can run?

Without me googling, doesn't Prtools love a dedicated GPU? Is it just protools that is holding you back from going newer?

Have you maybe looked into a 27" iMac?

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Isn't anything--anything--going to be way faster than a 2013 MBA (except another Intel MBA)? Even an ancient 2012 mini with a quad-core i7 should smoke it.

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AllGold
Isn't anything--anything--going to be way faster than a 2013 MBA...

I suspect that your MBA slows down for lack of cooling as much as anything else. A mini will run cooler and at top speed for longer.

The i5 should good for running Pro Tools, but the i7 is the most recommended wherever I see people doing audio.

Note that Pro Tools requires 16GB of RAM or more (32GB recommended). And you should get it with plenty of SSD storage if you like to work on your audio on the built-in drive.

And even the latest Pro Tools has big problems under Big Sur. You may need to erase that Mac and downgrade the OS.

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most of my compadres in these woods are running the i7 tricked out to 32G.
But they are not users, as it were, they are mostly rental kits.
There are so many (at least 12) rental rigs in NYC with friends that there is no reason for me to build a beast.

This past weekend I did a location shoot. There was so much being shot in NY I thought I'd have a hard time finding a rig. There were at least 6 left after I booked mine last minute.

These days a beast is a mini, 27" screen, 2 MADI I/O, Sync HD I/O, and an Omni I/O, and external PCIe frame (Sonnet) for 3 HDx cards in a rolling case that requires at least 2 people to pick it up into a truck or ...

FtS! I'm too old for that responsibility and investment, >$40k.
Knappogue 16 is a better use for $.
Especially for what rental rates have become.
Or a dp on a Dino.

I just mix post or music at home. Anytime I might need a location playback rig, it's usually 4 stems. That I can do on my UA Apollo, if need be. Same with location post.
Any recording I do at home wouldn't be more than 16 in, live.
Guitar, bass, drums, keys, scratch vocal.
That doesn't even stress the MBA '13.

PT currently is "safest" with Catalina and an Intel. I'm sure it will move to "certified" with an M1 the day I buy the Intel, but I won't cry.
As pointed out, it'll be a vast improvement over my MBA '13.

It's the newer plugs that are hungry. Izotope. The UA quad will handle pretty much all the UA plugs I can throw at it.

I will always put my projects on an ext drive. I think the larger RAM requirement is mostly for users of VI which I very seldom do .

The iMac form factor is not for me.

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If there are spelling issues, please pardon, Owen the cat is sitting on my keyboard.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2021 08:01AM by Fritz.

or a 1931 Auburn 8-98A Brougham

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If there are spelling issues, please pardon, Owen the cat is sitting on my keyboard.

I think i7 is better for real-time processes, so it may be your best bet.
But the real issue is how much would you spend for an interim rig.
When software becomes Apple silicone compatible, upgrades will be de rigour.

" But the real issue is how much would you spend for an interim rig. "

I'm thinking right there, so perhaps for the year or 2, the i5 will do me.
Why $pend an extra 2 bills if I don't need to.
Especially considering what my MBA '13 has squealed thru for 8 years.

The PT update (script) will be $200, but the Izotope upgrade and others will be >$2500. New speakers, another monitor, new desktop.
Before you know it, I'll have to lease out Owen.
And my Knappogue 16 is running low.

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If there are spelling issues, please pardon, Owen the cat is sitting on my keyboard.

My son has the identical, maxed-our MBA from 2013. Great machine. He still uses it daily (we replaced the keyboard and SSD last year).

But even a 2012 Intel machine with discrete GPU and a real fan will blow it away, as noted here. I think you could find a used 15" MacBookPro (just be sure to get 2013 or newer to avoid the GPU failure issue), and it would run circles around that otherwise wonderful MBA.

I have lots of mini's. Using a 2012 2.3 i7 mini to type this. It's a really solid performer but cannot display 4k and limited to 10.15.7

I have several 2018 Mini's and the 6 core i7 screams. A real beast, I have one companied with 80TB of TB RAID storage and 10gb ethernet. The i5 is fast, perhaps half way between the 2012 and 2018 models.

The latest M1 mini, with 16gb ram and built in SSD outruns the 6 core i7 from 2018, but not my a lot