Should I Buy An Intel Macbook In 2024??

[Awesomesauce3ds]

Hey GBAtemp! I was recently looking for a new computer for cheap, and I thought I wanted a MacBook pro. Due to it being apple, of course. I also liked the idea of the touchbar (A touchscreen bar that I just thought was really cool.) I was looking at options, and I managed to find a cheap MacBook Pro 2019 16 Inch model with the touchbar. Specs: MacBook Pro 2019, 16 Inch - (2.3 GHz.) It was around $445. Its equipped with an 8-core Intel Core i9-9880H, and I was just wondering - will it last?? I know that Intel is currently working on their 15th Gen already, but will an I9 9th gen last?? I'm looking for this purchase to last until around 2027 - 2028 if possible. Also, is an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M good paired with an Intel UHD Graphic 630 GPU chip? It has auto graphic switching for different tasks. These are dedicated graphics too. It has 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD. I'll probably be mild video editing with 2160P quality footage, be doing light to mid gaming at hopefully 70 FPS, emulating consoles (Such as the 3DS and/or Wii.) and searching the web and accessing emails. Is this a good MacBook Pro Model for me?? Will it last me until I can afford a new one?

 

[AGSE]

Hey, I actually bought one of these last year (core i7, 5300M variant) & use it to run my YT channels - though I mostly record/edit in 1080p via iMovie. It's a competent system, and I do like a lot of what it has to offer. There's some drawbacks & support for Intel on Mac is almost on life support (macOS Sequoia will probably be the last major OS upgrade, with it entering "Vintage" status after that for a few more years of security updates), so not sure about it lasting to 2027 as a primary-use device.

Emulation on Switch is sometimes surprisingly good, but sometimes terrible outright unplayable. For Wii (on Dolphin, at least) it works well. I've played parts of Zelda games & Smash Bros w/o any glaring issues. I've never tried 3DS emulation but I can't imagine it'll be a problem; those typically have had great support from years before the Apple Silicon changeover, so the coding there is pretty stable. If you decide to emulate beyond the Wii, an M-series Mac will likely be a better experience. I'm personally probably going to change this Intel system over to the OBS recording/channel-business machine after getting an M4-series (been saving up my silvers!).

I do enjoy this Mac though, way more than I thought I would. I think it's a great system, so long as you're aware of the limits of x86 (Intel) on macOS.

 

[Awesomesauce3ds]

Ok, thanks! I think I'll try to find a M1 MacBook Pro if that's any better.

 

[AGSE]

If you only think you'll need a standard M1, get the Air from Wal-Mart/Best Buy (if you're in the US) for like $650. But if you need some more processing power I'd look for a used M1 Pro MBP, especially if your primary concern is emulation. I think those were the M1-generation sweet spot.

 

[SM9911]

I might hold off on that M1 for emulation if I were you. I'm on an M2, which is way faster than what I need it for, but that also means no Intel apps, no more Boot Camp support, can't pair Wii remotes anymore without a dongle thanks to some update, etc. Powerful but I can't do much of anything that I could've done on an Intel when it comes to emulation