I need to replace my iMac and am looking at either the MacAir M3 or MacBook Pro M4Pro. Can anyone recommend either model, and what monitors they are using? I am use to getting things out of the box and plugging them in, so the simpler the better. Will I also need a dock?
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MacBook Air 13″
Thank you. I am working 99% in admin so mainly Office centric. Watching my CPU activity today it sits around 7 on my current MacBook Air. Does the CPU increase by simply running 2 monitors? IN which case I probably need to look at the MacBook Pro.
<<. Does the CPU increase by simply running 2 monitors? >>
NO, But that is a great question, and the reason is not intuitive.
The typical data rate to support one display (up to about 4K) on a cable is around 20,000 M bits/sec. That is WAY too fast for the CPU to handle every data byte as it goes by. So the GPU can not be intimately involved. Modern Macs have a certain number of Display-Generators devices built in, one for each display it can support.
A Display-generator is an automaton that is given the display-buffer address in RAM memory, and told to send out a screenful of bytes over that cable, then let the processor know when completed. The processor only needs to set it up again every 60th second, so that tiny additional load on the CPU is NEGLIGIBLE. The GPU does nothing at all once the screen image is drawn in to the display-buffer.
What takes a beating is the pathway from RAM memory, often referred to as 'memory bandwidth'. But the Apple-silicon Macs have HUGE memory bandwidth, and do not slow down in any perceptible way when servicing an additional display.
if the above is too much "word salad", just ask again and I can elucidate further.
Both models can support dual external monitor.
It will be you call in terms of functionality need (CPU GPU...etc).
For simplicity, I would highly recommend Thunderbolt 4 hub, like CalDigit TS4 - with single cord connection solution.
Best
I will preface this by saying I am a monitor elitist. But, I have valid supporting reasons for this opinion. And they are based in math and science. Yes, the cost will be higher. Yes, it is the right thing to do.
Let’s face it, we sit in front of a computer for a significant portion of our day. Since the pandemic we have increased the amount of “screen time” we as professionals spend in front of a device. And while we battle our children to limit screen time, we simply continue to increase our own.
As Apple device users, we are blessed with exceptional built-in displays that are crisp, bright, and color accurate. Apple has been using Retina capable displays for years and this has saved a lot of eyes, heads, necks, and backs from excess strain.
This begs the question, why would you buy an inferior external display that turns your text into a Rorschach test and your images into finger painting?
Sure, the deals can be tantalizing. A $300 32” display sounds like a great deal until you realize the image quality is so low that you now live with a daily headache. Save your eyes. Treat a display like you would a mattress purchase. Humans spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping and modern humans spend an additional third (or more) on a digital device. Treat yourself to a quality display.
How do you determine what is a quality display? As with most things, the way to start is with science, math, and logic. Begin with some basic algebra.
PPI is Pixels per Inch. Apple devices rated as Retina deliver a PPI of 220 or higher. This is the benchmark for any display to ensure consistent clarity across devices. pWidth is the pixel width of the display. pHeight is the pixel height of the display. pDiagonal is the diagonal length of the display in inches.
To get the quality on an external display that you enjoy on your MacBook Pro, you want to look for an external display that can achieve a similar ~220 pixel per inch (or higher). This does not mean arbitrarily selecting a large monitor and calling it a day.
To put this into perspective, a popular (and cheap) ViewSonic (VX3276-MHD 32 Inch 1080p) is a massive 32” but has a 1080p display. Basically, ViewSonic is selling a 17” panel stretched out to 32”.
Let’s look at the math and compare the ViewSonic to the built-in display of the 16” MacBook Pro M1 Late 2021.
The ViewSonic sports a pWidth of 1920, a pHeight of 1080, and a pDiagonal of 32”. Plugging these values into the formula above reveals a remarkably low PPI of 69 PPI. Ouch! What are we, living in the 90s?
Apple’s latest MacBook Pro 16” sports a built-in Liquid Retina XDR Display with a pWidth of 3456, a pHeight of 2234, and a pDiagonal of 16”. Plugging these values into the formula above reveals the eye pleasing and Retina exceeding PPI of 257! How can you insult your MacBook Pro with a 257 PPI by connecting such an inferior external display?
The astute reader will recognize that the 16” MacBook Pro has more pixels along the height (2234) than the ViewSonic has along its width (1920). There is no competition. There is no question of quality.
Alas, quality is not cheap. However, investing in a quality display is an investment in yourself. You will thank yourself every day when you don’t have eye strain or a headache.
We are currently recommending 4 displays that are Retina-quality. However, the 5th is the Apple XDR. It should ONLY be purchased by professionals doing color accurate work (color grading, color correcting, etc.) that can pay back the investment in a project of two. Do not consider the XDR as a viable option unless it contributes to a revenue stream. This leaves three.
The Apple Studio Display is an obvious choice. It was a built in camera, excellent speakers, microphone, and provides 96 W of charging.
The LG 5k remains an excellent choice (the one with the flat base). It too has a camera, excellent speakers, microphone, and provides 96 W of charging. However, these are getting harder to find. This is the model that Apple sold on their website when they discontinued the old Thunderbolt Display. Make sure the firmware is up to date and be ready to replace the USB-c/Thunderbolt cable because the sheaths on their cable ends will separate.
There is a new Asus PA27JCV 5k that is also Retina quality. However, this is just a display with 96 W of host charging and no camera, mic, or speaker. This was recently announced and we have not received our test unit yet. However, on paper it qualifies unless you use your laptop in lid closed mode and need a camera.
And Samsung has the ViewFinity S9. But I hate the camera assembly. However, it is Retina.
Likely too much information. And sorry for the 8th grade math lesson. Take the hint from Apple. They provide us with exceptional displays. Get external displays that complement Apple's efforts.
Thank you. That makes a lot of sense and was not something I had considered. Plus I love maths - thank you.
What monitors work best with MacBook Air and Pro?
