How does the MacBook Pro M4 perform with 24GB RAM for video editing

Performance Overview

The MacBook Pro M4 models, including those with the M4 Pro chip, offer significant improvements over their predecessors. The M4 Pro chip features a 12-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, or a 14-core CPU with 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, along with a 16-core or 20-core GPU[3]. This configuration provides a substantial boost in both single-core and multi-core performance, which is crucial for video editing tasks such as rendering, color grading, and exporting.

Video Editing Performance

For video editing, the M4 Pro MacBook Pro excels in several areas:
- Rendering and Exporting: The M4 Pro's Media Engine, which includes hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW encoding and decoding, significantly enhances video processing speeds[3]. This means faster export times and smoother rendering, especially when working with high-resolution footage like 4K ProRes.
- Smooth Playback and Timeline Responsiveness: The combination of powerful CPUs and GPUs ensures that video playback remains smooth even with complex effects applied. This is particularly beneficial when working on projects that require real-time previewing of edits.
- Memory and RAM: With 24GB of RAM, you can handle multiple video streams and applications simultaneously without significant performance drops. This is ideal for projects involving multiple 4K video streams or when running multiple editing software at once[5].

Comparison with Other Models

Compared to the M3 Pro models, the M4 Pro offers improved performance due to its faster memory bandwidth and enhanced GPU capabilities[7]. While the M4 Max offers even more powerful configurations with up to a 40-core GPU and higher memory bandwidth, the M4 Pro is more than sufficient for most video editing tasks and provides excellent value for its price[6][7].

Limitations

While the MacBook Pro M4 with 24GB RAM is highly capable for video editing, it may face limitations with extremely GPU-intensive tasks or when working with very high-resolution footage like 8K. In such cases, upgrading to a model with more RAM or a more powerful GPU, like the M4 Max, might be beneficial[9].

Overall, the MacBook Pro M4 with 24GB RAM is an excellent choice for video editors seeking a balance of performance and affordability. It handles most video editing tasks efficiently, making it a strong contender in the market.