Anyone found a comparison between the 14" binned 14/30 and the 14" unbinned 16/40 config? I have a 16/40 64GB on order but after seeing some of the recent YouTube videos of the fan noise and throttling on that config I'm wondering if I should have gotten the 14/30 (36GB) instead. I also considered the M3 Pro but I need more than 18GB memory and bumping to 36GB gets it close in cost to the base Max chip.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
14" M3 Max binned vs unbinned fan noise? (14/30 vs 16/40)
- Thread starter Filmx
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Any 14" Max is going to need to use the fans and potentially throttle more than an equivalent 16" Max machine because of the size of the device and the thermals. Any difference between the different CPU/GPU models of Max chip in a 14" chassis will make little to no difference to this if you're working the chip flat out.
Personally, unless you need the power of the Max chip, especially in a 14" machine, I'd consider the M3 Pro chip. I think the M3 lineup is now very clearly segmented so that the M3 Pro is going to give the best balance of power & efficiency for most people, with the Max chip there for those who absolutely want the most powerful choices of CPU & GPU you can get.
Personally, unless you need the power of the Max chip, especially in a 14" machine, I'd consider the M3 Pro chip. I think the M3 lineup is now very clearly segmented so that the M3 Pro is going to give the best balance of power & efficiency for most people, with the Max chip there for those who absolutely want the most powerful choices of CPU & GPU you can get.
It's mostly a matter of time saving. I'm sure I could get by with a Pro model, but the Max will finish all of the demanding daily tasks I do faster. Things like importing thousands of high resolution (45mp Canon R5) files into Lightroom, applying batch AI noise reduction, converting raw to DNG files, HDR merging files, and 4k and 8k video editing and color grading.
The other day I imported ~1800 raw files into Lightroom and it took my 2020 M1 over an hour to build previews.
"Artisright" did some great tests that show some of the differences:
But if the thermals of the unbinned 16-core 14" M3 Max are limiting it to the point that it has no better performance than the 14-core binned version, and worse fan noise, then I should have gotten the binned 14-core version instead of the 16-core I ordered.
The other "issue" with the Pro is once you bump up one tier to 36GB the price gets very close to the M3 Max.
Attachments
@Filmx - So that's a perfect use case where you want and need something to be able to do your daily workflow faster. Do you do that work on the move, out in the field so to speak or at a desk?
I suspect there will be very little difference between the thermals & throttling of those two chips in the 14" chassis.
And yes, you're right, once you start to spec up the M3 Pro you're not far off a Max.
I suspect there will be very little difference between the thermals & throttling of those two chips in the 14" chassis.
And yes, you're right, once you start to spec up the M3 Pro you're not far off a Max.
Most of my work is done each night docked at a desk connected to my 48" OLED. But I also take my laptop with me every day for work and on the weekends when I'm away. I do most of my work in the front seat of my car during the day (photo edits mainly) or cafes occasionally. On the weekends it's either on a couch with the laptop on my lap or on a table. Since my main more intense editing is done when I'm docked at home I'm hoping I can position the laptop away from me in high power mode where it won't be annoying. I barely notice my 2020 M1 fans now even though they're on constantly right next to my desk due to my workflow.
I just got the 14" Max 14/30 64GB. In my brief use I have been unable to get the fans going.
Currently I have a 4k HDR video streaming, loading data into MySQL from a batch Java application, compiling a web application, also was prompting a local LLM. No fans. Temps are 56 C
--edit. 16/40 not 14/30. also if a larger LLM runs over 1 min the fans will start.
Currently I have a 4k HDR video streaming, loading data into MySQL from a batch Java application, compiling a web application, also was prompting a local LLM. No fans. Temps are 56 C
--edit. 16/40 not 14/30. also if a larger LLM runs over 1 min the fans will start.
Last edited:
I don't do photo or video work. So more CPU and memory in bursts instead of long running parallel GPU tasks.
Exactly. The Pro is fine if you aren't going to be upgrading it very much or at all....But once you start slapping a few upgrades onto it, you might as well move up to the Max level and get the better performance.
But, your average user on here is far more likely to make use of more storage and RAM, versus spending extra on the Max chip on top of upgrading the storage and RAM. Hence the user can save $400+ dollars by going with the 12/18/16 core with 36GB /2TB model versus spending over $3800 for the same with the max chip and 2TB. Why pay $400+ more for cores that will never get used?
Your average user on here shouldn't be looking at an M3 Pro unbinned 12/18 with 36GB of memory. If someone is looking into that machine then I'd imagine they have a "pro" workflow with demanding tasks (photo/video editing, coding, audio, etc.). If that's the case then I think the better value in that price range is the binned base M3 Max ($3200) instead of the handicapped M3 Pro chip ($2800). The Max chip is a far better value for just $400 (15%) more.
This Youtube video posted by Lukas a useful example of the 14” Macbook Pro with M3-max (14/30) 36GB RAM running various intensive apps including Cinebench. No throttling down in the 1st video during a Cinebench, but a little throttling down in the second video during the Cinebench test (but only for the CPU). No throttling down in the other applications tested. Interestingly the GPU tests caused less thermal gain than the CPU.
Video 1 :
Video 2 :
The results are encouraging!
Better value for Macbook Pro is the M2, they are around. For many usages they are close to M3 Pro, when equalising the price with bigger configurations, they are well worth throwing in the mix. The m3 Max for some though is decent step up, on paper at least.
It’s impossible to buy this configuration. 64GB memory only available on the 16/40.
In recent weeks, the default answer to people who post here wondering which MBP to buy seems to be "go for the M3 Max", regardless of what their actual workflow looks like.
For all this talk of binned v unbinned (I've no idea how that's become a thing now, seems to almost be a status symbol for some), I think the revised MBP lineup is pitching the M3 Pro as the machine for most users who don't have very specific needs or specialised workflows which need all those GPU cores, crazy amounts of RAM and the absolute fastest chip possible.
I have noticed the same thing on here. And to conflate the biased rhetoric, the M3 Pro is often diminished if not verbally crippled to those seeking advice. The same type comments happen with the M3. Most of the time, the type of responses mentioned are from MBP users who are mad that the term "pro" has been diluted if not perverted by the lowly non "pro" people.
There is also a more radical M3 Max subset on here who are have worked themselves into a frenzy from reading forum posts and watching YT videos over the Max fans coming on. This group reads about such under load and they have convinced themselves there is something wrong with the 14" Max and continue the fallacy of a problem with the 14" and they start the return process for the 16" Max.
These kinds of forum responses make it harder for a new Mac person / upgrader seeking advice to get an unbiased, informed repsonse to their question or concern.
The M3 Pro does have a reduced memory bandwidth compared to the M2 Pro.
www.macrumors.com
Apple M3 Pro Chip Has 25% Less Memory Bandwidth Than M1/M2 Pro
Apple's latest M3 Pro chip in the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro has 25% less memory bandwidth than the M1 Pro and M2 Pro chips used in...
www.macrumors.com
It's all academic. A user is not going to be able to tell the slight difference in the tech specs. Only people on MR who are spec chasers will complain and convince themselves it is a critical failure and unusable.The M3 Pro does have a reduced memory bandwidth compared to the M2 Pro.
Apple M3 Pro Chip Has 25% Less Memory Bandwidth Than M1/M2 Pro
Apple's latest M3 Pro chip in the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro has 25% less memory bandwidth than the M1 Pro and M2 Pro chips used in...
I also have the M3 Max 14” 30 core and no fan noise for any day to day tasks.
I came from the M1 Pro 12 core (which is now used by my wife), and I originally purchased the M3 Pro 12 core. No issues with either but decided to upgrade. Only difference I can point to is probably 10-20% less battery life which is a fair trade off for the performance.
I came from the M1 Pro 12 core (which is now used by my wife), and I originally purchased the M3 Pro 12 core. No issues with either but decided to upgrade. Only difference I can point to is probably 10-20% less battery life which is a fair trade off for the performance.
I got the same spec but for me the price difference was minimal. Apple Educational pricing for the Pro 18 gpu, 36 ram and 1tb + Apple care was $150 cheaper than the M3 Max base with $250 off at Best Buy. I also have total tech so AC+ comes wiht my purchases. but if you were to get the base Pro than there is a big gap of around $1200 but I dont want 18gb ram and this machine is more power than I know what to do with so I wont be upgrading until 2030
I guess you have never ran multiple local LLMs? All specs have use cases that can make a difference to specific workflows.