LG C series OLED should be within your budget. Last year’s should be cheaper, and still be great. Rocking a 2019 C9 oled here, still looking incredible.

Is it a scheduling issue or something

Yes. Hence the Intel’s release of a scheduling driver for 14th gen.

trash upgrade path and software set

What software set are you being forced into on Mac?

Until there is something new in computing that requires more performance, we really don’t need faster CPU’s.

Yeah I think we’re at a point where there are so few edge cases where dumping more raw performance improves the workflow in any significant way.

Yes, you can upgrade your CPU to save 20 minutes out of your 3 hour render. What does that get you, really? You’re either doing this at the end of the day or overnight, it makes very little difference other than a very few edge cases where someone needs to push out as many of these renders in a day.

It’s time for the software and workflows to evolve. I’ve been a longtime windows user and am seriously considering moving over to MBP that I can use as a single computer which I would just plug into a dock when I get to the office and work on what is my current desktop setup. I just don’t want to hear the fans spinning and don’t need 3-400W constantly being pumped into my room. I’ll happily take a 5% performance hit in order to have 90% reduction in power usage, 100% reduction in noise and great portability without having to constantly sync my laptop and my desktop.