MacBook Pro M4 Pro Options
Nov 14 2024
Given that I'm now ok with a 512 GB SSD, since I'm putting my home directory and games on an external drive, what MacBook Pro M4 options are there? Almost all sales are for stock models, which are the ones you pick on the Apple Store with Select which then allows you to configure further.
MBP 14" M4 Pro 12/16 24 GB Memory/512 GB SSD ($2000) - Used to be that the lowest end M3 Pro also had slightly less good internals (e.g. memory bandwidth or number and type of ports). Not the case anymore. M4 Pro no matter the version have the same specs and even 16" MBP doesn't get better other than the display itself. Now, if you go to an M4 you get Thunderbolt 4 instead of Thunderbolt 5 (and less memory bandwidth) and if you go with an M4 Max you can have four external displays instead of just two.
One thing I realized is that MBP have three Thunderbolt, an HDMI, and a MagSafe 3 port which is effectively one more usable port than my Intel MBP where the four Thunderbolt ports are used for power, usb hub, and two displays. With a MBP M4 I'll have an extra Thunderbolt port which I can use to directly connect an external SSD drive.
MBP 14" M4 Pro 14/20 24 GB Memory/1 TB SSD ($2400) - The upper of affordable. Better CPU and more SSD space, though I guess at this point I'd rather have more memory than SSD but not an option for stock configurations.
MBP 16" M4 Pro 14/20 48 GB Memory/512 GB SSD ($2900) - For stock config you have to go to 16" to get 48 GB memory. Rather pricey upgrade so pretty much out of the question.
Nov 20: Bought the low end MBP 14" M4 Pro 12/16 24 GB Memory/512 GB SSD for $1750 at B&H Foto and Electronics. Also bought a Samsung T7 4TB for $285 which is the same price as on Amazon. Total with tax $2235.
MBP 14" M4 Pro 12/16 24 GB Memory/512 GB SSD ($2000) - Used to be that the lowest end M3 Pro also had slightly less good internals (e.g. memory bandwidth or number and type of ports). Not the case anymore. M4 Pro no matter the version have the same specs and even 16" MBP doesn't get better other than the display itself. Now, if you go to an M4 you get Thunderbolt 4 instead of Thunderbolt 5 (and less memory bandwidth) and if you go with an M4 Max you can have four external displays instead of just two.
One thing I realized is that MBP have three Thunderbolt, an HDMI, and a MagSafe 3 port which is effectively one more usable port than my Intel MBP where the four Thunderbolt ports are used for power, usb hub, and two displays. With a MBP M4 I'll have an extra Thunderbolt port which I can use to directly connect an external SSD drive.
MBP 14" M4 Pro 14/20 24 GB Memory/1 TB SSD ($2400) - The upper of affordable. Better CPU and more SSD space, though I guess at this point I'd rather have more memory than SSD but not an option for stock configurations.
MBP 16" M4 Pro 14/20 48 GB Memory/512 GB SSD ($2900) - For stock config you have to go to 16" to get 48 GB memory. Rather pricey upgrade so pretty much out of the question.
Nov 20: Bought the low end MBP 14" M4 Pro 12/16 24 GB Memory/512 GB SSD for $1750 at B&H Foto and Electronics. Also bought a Samsung T7 4TB for $285 which is the same price as on Amazon. Total with tax $2235.