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Most efficient computer system for X2D files

Gesey

New Member
I currently have an Apple Mac Studio M2 max with 32 GB Ram, 512 GB memory. Is it worth it to upgrade to an M4 Max with 64GB Ram, would I see an increase in speed in processing my files?
I also process 60 Mb Leica files and the computer is much faster. Any ideas will be appreciated.
 
I currently have an Apple Mac Studio M2 max with 32 GB Ram, 512 GB memory. Is it worth it to upgrade to an M4 Max with 64GB Ram, would I see an increase in speed in processing my files?
I also process 60 Mb Leica files and the computer is much faster. Any ideas will be appreciated.
I swelled Apple's profits just yesterday by ordering a new iPad Air. I made an error when ordering my last one, when I was quite unwell with chemotherapy 18 months ago and my brain was far from its best. I did not tick the box for extra memory and so unintentionally ended up with a 64GB iPad. Since getting the X2D-100C a couple of months ago, with its 140MB 3F images, I keep running out of space and have had to do some serious housekeeping every time there is an iOS update, just to have enough space to run the update. I have now bought a 256GB 11 inch iPad with an M3 chip and one of the new Sandisk iExpand Deluxe 256GB iPad extenders (this was about 1/4 of the price of an additional 256 GB on board from Apple. This iPad has an M3 chip, which I suspect will be fast enough for my purposes. I do my post processing on an M2 Macbook Air, using Phocus and Photoshop, which is OK but not really as fast as I would like and the screen is too small. I am considering buying a second hand 5K 27inch iMac Pro. For some odd reason, they seem to be cheaper than getting a used high quality UHD 5K 27" monitor from the likes of BenQ or Eizo.

Wilson
 
I currently have an Apple Mac Studio M2 max with 32 GB Ram, 512 GB memory. Is it worth it to upgrade to an M4 Max with 64GB Ram, would I see an increase in speed in processing my files?
I also process 60 Mb Leica files and the computer is much faster. Any ideas will be appreciated.
Any Apple M3 Max or M4 Max system with 64GB or 128GB of RAM will be noticeably faster than your current system. I opted for an Apple MacBook Pro w/M3 Max and 128GB of RAM and I couldn’t be happier. It plows through large RAW files without a hitch, whether you’re using Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop, Phocus or some other image processing application. It’s also a nice bonus that they support Thunderbolt 4 or 5 external SSD’s, if you like external working disks or backups.
 
BTW anyone thinking of getting a Sandisk iXpand USB stick with the idea that you can off load files onto it from an iPad - don't. Sandisk have withdrawn the proper iOS memory management app iXpand Drive and replaced it with the horrible Memory Zone App, which does not permit you to select the source to copy from or the location to copy to. Over-simplified to the point of being near useless. I want to be able to offload my 3F and JPEG files from Phocus iOS on my iPad to the stick but there appears to be no way to do that. Totally ticked off. Why can't these bloody software wonks keep their noses out of something that is working properly only to replace it with something that does not work.
 
I had a 2017 iMac 27” with the terrific 5k screen. Now A* stopped supporting it I’ve gotten the Mac Studio M4 Pro which is perfect for photo and video. Initially I got the Mac mini m4 pro but it got quite hot … and as it’s just desktop and not for portable work, I returned it in favour of the new Studio. The studio runs cold even after a lot of continued use. Highly recommend with the 64Gb RAM and 4/8Tb SSD. I got a 4Tb external SSD for the Mini which also ran worryingly hot with a lot of data …my Mini had a 1Tb internal SSD because I believed the pundits …, they’re wrong. I did save some £900 but spent many hours managing stotage and to me, MY time is worth more! Lol
 
Thanks Patrick, do you recommend a 4K monitor or 5K?
I love the Apple Studio 27” 5k
There’s talk of a new model anytime now.
Others say models like those of benq for example are cheaper and as good as Apple’s own. I know that Apple products work together seamlessly so I stay with them.
A number of YouTubers - Matt Erwin for example - now shoot in 8k.
Your choice - but I do like my 5k!
 
BTW anyone thinking of getting a Sandisk iXpand USB stick with the idea that you can off load files onto it from an iPad - don't. Sandisk have withdrawn the proper iOS memory management app iXpand Drive and replaced it with the horrible Memory Zone App, which does not permit you to select the source to copy from or the location to copy to. Over-simplified to the point of being near useless. I want to be able to offload my 3F and JPEG files from Phocus iOS on my iPad to the stick but there appears to be no way to do that. Totally ticked off. Why can't these bloody software wonks keep their noses out of something that is working properly only to replace it with something that does not work.
I use this though it’s not the fastest . I don’t shoot more than a hundred or so but my workflow is :

Camera -> iPad m2 pro -> SSD using the usb-c data cable


SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB up to 550MB/s read Solid State Drive​

 
Sadly I don't think that will work with my M3 iPad Air. I think the direct connection to external SSD drives is Pro iPads only. I don't think the Air iPads can provide enough power through their USB-C connector. I have a Samsung version of that drive so I will try tomorrow but I am not optimistic. It probably would work if I bought the Apple Camera connection dongle and then used with a charger connected to provide the power, so I have ordered an Apple USB-C AV Multiport adapter.
 
My Samsung 1 TB SSD drive did not work when I just tried it on my iPad Air, because although it has a USB-C connector, it is Thunderbolt (3 I think). I have an older Porsche SSD drive that has a USB(3)-A connector with the blue tongue inside, which should work with the USB-C Multiport adapter I have ordered and which should arrive today. I suspect I will need to keep either a charge cable or powerpack connected to the AV adapter for accessory power, given the limited output power from my iPad Air.
 
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