AMD or Intel or M1 for programming? Why? What you develop?

Does it really matter unless you’re doing something CPU extensive or maybe machine level stuff?

@100110111 Yeap...

@100110111 Same. What does it matter if I am developing, say, website.

Intel VS amd, same shit, different brand - yes I know they aren't the same, jeez let's not start a war over it.

Those vs M1, I think you'll only have to
worry about software compatibility more then anything.

Not everything is going to run on ARM yet, so it may be premature for you to jump on the bandwagon depending on what you're developing with, but for the typical tools it would probably be safe.

Guys , don't get me wrong... I'm sorry if I sound like one... My intention is to ask and get some information, before I buy a new laptop.

I think desktop programs tend to be more optimized on Intel than AMD, because Intel is more popular and has a longer history and better compilers. I mean programs like Photoshop / Excel, not sure if the difference is meaningful.

I wouldn't go for an M1 first gen. For productivity (and even gaming), I'd go the AMD way as of right now.

You're looking at it from the wrong point of view.

Do you want a mobile office, a game rig, a workstation...

Which OS? Linux, Mac, Win...?

What additional features - e.g. connectivity 5G / Bluetooth / WLAN / GPS...?

You're asking about the processor... It's an important part yes, but it's only one part.

A good laptop is hard to find because you have to either compromise or get custom builds.

Not an M1, too early. And if buying new these days, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go Intel at the mo.

Who tf cares

Depends on what you are programming. For general purpose AMD is probably better: cheaper and more cores. Cores are more important than single core speed.

@iiii With Ryzen 5000 AMD even has the single core performance crown... well at least until Intel releases 12th gen

@12bitfloat jokes on you. No one can buy a 5k series processor.

@iiii True

@iiii AMD 5000 series are available here (Netherlands). Graphics cards or consoles... different story.

@johnmelodyme

I think the main questions aren't about brands, but about needs.

Is mobility a must? If yes, then you're stupid, but whatever, pick a laptop. ALL laptops are overheating, underpowered, fragile pieces of crap, with horrific input devices and terrible displays.

Is offline a must? Depending on your projects, it might be an option to run your dev stuff in the cloud, and use VSCode + SSH on a $200 chromebook.

Otherwise, pick a system76 laptop for Linux. For OSX... you are beyond redemption.

If mobility is not a must (good boy!), just build a good workstation. You can build a terrific work PC for $1K, get two great $300 displays (like 2x Dell U2520D), buy a $100 mechanical keyboard (like a Ducky One 2 Horizon/Skyline), a $100 mouse (like a Logitech G Pro), a $250 IKEA sit/stand desk and a $500 second hand HM Embody chair, for the price of an average dev laptop.

x86-64...

Don't have an M1, don't want one :^)

@bittersweet and just add a used ThinkPad for 200-300$ o it and be happy. Connect remotely to your Workstation if you need the power but if you don't need to compile large programs from source it's sufficient enough.

M1 Macs only natively support one external monitor which at least for me is a deal breaker.

@olback Wow... I did not know this... I had been maybe planning on making an M1 my main dev machine but this is disqualifying.

Whelp, wish me luck all, I'm gonna go drop 7K on this last generation of Intel iMacs and I'll just get a Mac Mini for M1 iOS native dev.

@HiFiWiFiSciFi may want to hold on a bit. M1 is descended from mobile SoCs, hence the lack of IO. Whatever they put into the new iMac which is probably en route wouldn't have that issue.