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    4K Playback on M1 MBP?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by DusterTX, Aug 1, 2021.

  1. DusterTX

    DusterTX Notebook Enthusiast

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    Anyone know if the 13” or 16” M1 MacBook Pro can playback & edit 4K video well?

    Would I need to get it with 16 GB of memory?

    For context, I’m on the lower-end 2017 MacBook Air, and it’s not able to smoothly playback 4K 30 video from my GoPro Hero 9. I don’t think it will even work if I try 4K 60, and definitely not 5K.

    Thanks!
     
    DusterTX, Aug 1, 2021
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  2. Spartan@HIDevolution

    Spartan@HIDevolution Company Representative

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    I use an app called SVP. It makes any video play at the screen's refresh rate so even 30 FPS videos will play smoothly at around 50-60 FPS. I just tried a 4K Video and it played perfectly at 60 FPS using SVP. Im on a 24" iMac but basically the Macbook Air or Pro with the M1 chip should have no problem as well.
     
    Spartan@HIDevolution, Aug 1, 2021
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  3. kojack

    kojack Notebook Prophet

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    You still might have issues editing 4k with the M1. Many professionals have moved to M1 and back to their intel based systems because as soon as you start pushing the M1, it falls flat. 16gb of ram is not enough for heavy lifting of 4k plus video!
     
    kojack, Aug 2, 2021
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  4. DusterTX

    DusterTX Notebook Enthusiast

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    Interesting. I'm hearing different stories now. Even for short video clips from my GoPro, you think I'll have trouble with the M1 at 16GB?
     
    DusterTX, Aug 2, 2021
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  5. kojack

    kojack Notebook Prophet

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    It will do it, but it will struggle. check out this screenshot of an impartial reviewer (hard to find these days), regarding M1 vs intel based platforms. Here is a resolve 4k project of 11 min and 39 seconds rendered through a Mac Pro worth 40k, a puget PC worth 12k (3 years old at the date of video), an xps 13, and the amazing M1.

    M1 vs PC 4k video editing times. .png
     
    kojack, Aug 3, 2021
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