Advice on a new Mac for Flme

Flame Hardware Questions
1

Hi folks,

I’m looking to buy a new Mac for Flame.

I’m freelance so don’t need huge storage but looking for a good allrounder. I’m never quite sure what I’ll need it for.

Looks like M3 Ultra Mac Studio is the way to go.

Has anyone seen how the 2 Core configs on offer compare?

28 core CPU, 60 core GPU

vs

32 core CPU, 80 core GPU.

Also looks like I’ll really need 256GB which is a crazy price, but 96GB is the other option.

And lastly, storage.

Much as I’d love the Thunderblade x12 it’s probably overkill in size and cost for me.

I’m thinking 4TB will do me. There’s a fast OWC drive OWC Envoy 4TB Ultra Thunderbolt 5 for £1,100.

But for that maybe I’m better off with Mac internal storage of 4TB.

Any thoughts most welcome :slight_smile:

2

While I’m inclined to always max out a computer, I will note that I’ve been running Flame on an M1 laptop with 64 gigs of memory and it’s been a perfectly fine experience. I keep waiting for a reason to upgrade to a studio, but it’s yet to land, and the laptop keeps doing amazing work.

I’ve got a little 4-slot thunderbolt 3 NVME raid that I use as a cache, but I hear you on the internal storage. I think with whatever my upgrade will be, I’ll have the cache local and just sync necessary files over to one of my raids as a backup. The local drives on macs are insanely fast.

3

I would max out the ram over anything else. I do believe there is the M5 ultra coming out in a month or two. if you can wait that is. I use OWC thunder blades X12s and they are great. if I were you id get two. if you can two of the OWC. envoys - 8TB if you can. Separate the cache from the project files. you could get away with a couple of 4s maybe. I went for a 1TB internal (apple SSDs are super expensive) and m3 ultra Total Number of Cores: 32 (24 Performance and 8 Efficiency) and Memory: 256 GB. works a treat!

4

Thanks guys.

Ooh M5 Ultra… probably worth waiting for that I’d say.
Yeah 256GB Ram seems a top priority.

Aren’t the Thunderblade x12s like £3,000+ each. I think (I hope!) that’s overkill and way too expensive for me.
Good advice on the separate cache. I was wondering about that.

An external cheaper option might be better than Apple’s 4TB internal maybe? But £1,000 for 4TB isn’t bad compared with the OWC options.

I am wondering about the

28 core CPU, 60 core GPU

vs

32 core CPU, 80 core GPU. Has anyone had any experience on how different more cores feel?

Thanks again

thing though.

5

I’ve seen reporting but haven’t looked closely since i’m not in the market for new system - with the memory shortages, several high-end models are out of stock. Check that out before getting too set on a config.

6

I’m actually now considering a refurbished M2 Ultra as a starting point.

More cost effective.

The new systems are crazy prices, probably overkill for a freelancer.

Maybe I’ll try and hang in there 2 years behind the cutting edge. :rofl:

Thinking of what Andy said and just been chatting to a another Flame guy.

Buy cheaper now and upgrade again in a couple of years maybe.

Thanks for all your help guys

7

I got the nod that data centres are using up all the NVMEs. so I got two X12s and a bunch of Envoys at the old prices. now they’ve gone up by 25% I think. Main thing with the Mac studio is to get the Ultra as the double silicons is where all the speed is gained. I think the amount of cores will be less noticeable.

8

General advice for Flame is to get as much GPU as you can afford. If you can swing the extra cores, you’ll use them.

9

That is still a solid system. I’ve been using it along my P620 Linux box and interaction is quite good, albeit renders are half as fast.

10

only thing about the internal storage and the envoys is that they are single disks - so you cant raid them. I used to use the thunderblade X8s as a stupid single drive and twice I have them fail in two years. but it did get me into the habit of backing up every night to an older HDD raid. I run the X12s as raids.