02/02/2026 10:59 pm
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
RAM Forum
5
Posts
6
Users
0
Reactions
50
Views
0
Hi everyone! I’m currently weighing my options for a new MacBook and I'm a bit hung up on the specs for the M4 Pro. One thing that really caught my eye is the memory bandwidth situation. If I remember correctly, the M3 Pro actually saw a bit of a dip down to 150 GB/s compared to the older M2 Pro’s 200 GB/s, which was a point of contention for a lot of us.
I’ve heard some buzz that Apple has significantly boosted the bandwidth on the M4 Pro—potentially up to 273 GB/s—but I want to make sure I’m reading the technical details right. I do a lot of heavy 4K video editing and occasionally run local LLMs, where that extra throughput can make a massive difference in day-to-day performance. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth paying the premium for the M4 Pro or if the M3 Pro is still 'good enough' for high-end creative work.
Has anyone seen a direct side-by-side comparison of the memory bandwidth between these two chips yet? Specifically, does the M4 Pro actually reclaim that lost ground from the M3 generation, and how much of a real-world boost are we looking at for memory-intensive tasks?
5 Answers
12
02/02/2026 11:20 pm
> Specifically, does the M4 Pro actually reclaim that lost ground from the M3 generation
Curious about one thing before you pull the trigger: what's the actual *size* of the local LLMs you're planning to run? Honestly, the 273 GB/s on the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro is a massive jump over the Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro, but if you're hitting the swap file constantly, that bandwidth wont save you. Make sure to check your VRAM needs first! gl
11
03/02/2026 12:35 am
> Specifically, does the M4 Pro actually reclaim that lost ground
Curious about one thing: are you doing those 4K edits off a super fast external drive? Honestly, the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro bandwidth is awesome, but I wanna make sure your workflow is safe from other bottlenecks first!
5
23/02/2026 11:25 am
I definitely agree that checking the VRAM needs is the move before jumping in. Ngl, the bandwidth jump on the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro is the main reason to even consider it over the M3. My budget-focused advice is to treat this as a long-term investment because you cant DIY the RAM later. Since self-service for memory is dead on MacBooks, you gotta spend the money where it counts and save elsewhere. My DIY approach is to always buy the minimum internal SSD and build my own external storage rigs. You can save hundreds of dollars by getting a fast NVMe and a Thunderbolt enclosure yourself, which basically pays for the memory upgrade to get that 273 GB/s. Also, keep in mind:
- Doing your own fan cleaning is a must for these high-bandwidth chips
- Use a high-quality cooling pad to stop the SoC from downclocking
- Skip the Apple-provided software and use open-source tools to monitor your thermals Basically, if you do the storage and maintenance yourself, the M4 Pro price tag becomes a lot more manageable!!! It is definitely the right choice for 4K and LLMs if you can swing it.
2
02/02/2026 11:15 pm
Sooo, I was looking into this too because I'm honestly always worried about overspending on specs I don't need, but iirc the jump for the M4 Pro is actually for real this time. Like, you're right about the M3 Pro dropping to 150 GB/s... I remember people being so annoyed about that! From what I've read on some tech blogs, the M4 Pro basically hits that 273 GB/s mark because it's using faster memory modules now.
I'm still a bit of a beginner with the technical side, but I mean, if you're doing heavy 4K stuff and LLMs, that bandwidth is LITERALLY what keeps things smooth. I'm pretty satisfied with how my current setup handles basic edits, but for your high-end work, the M3 Pro might feel a bit sluggish in comparison. I'd maybe check some more professional benchmarks just to be safe, but it really seems like Apple fixed that bottleneck. Good luck with the choice!!
1
02/02/2026 10:59 pm
Honestly, the jump is actually massive. I was pretty disappointed when the M3 Pro dropped to 150 GB/s... it felt like a step back, you know? But yeah, the M4 Pro is basically a beast now with 273 GB/s. For your 4K stuff and LLMs, it's night and day compared to the M3.
* M3 Pro: 150 GB/s (kinda weak tbh)
* M4 Pro: 273 GB/s (huge boost!!)
If you're doing heavy creative work, the M3 just isn't as good as expected, so definitely go for the M4 Pro if you can. It finally fixes that bandwidth issue.
