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4 GB vs 8 GB RAM, what would you do in this situation?

J

Jonny Craig

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 9, 2012
10
0
I'm trying to decide here, it's kind of driving me crazy

The 4 GB MBA from Best buy will probably cost me around $1170 after taxes if I use my reward points.

If I get the 8 GB RAM model from an online store like B&H it will come out to $1299 flat since they don't charge shipping or tax

So it's a $130 differential

Basically what I do:

-Web browsing with an average of 4 tabs open at a time, streaming NBA games
-Movies and Music (itunes, VLC, etc)
-PDFs, powerpoint, word processing
-Minor video editing occassionally

Basically I am pretty sure 4 GB would be fine for this. My concern is that 2-3 years down the road when software and OS requirements start to increase the 4 GB will struggle to keep up. I have a short fuse for laggy computers so it makes me worry. What would you do in this situation? Is it likely that the 4 GB will indeed cause me issues within the next few years? The laptop I'm using right now has 4 GB of RAM and I got this thing in 2009 so the thought of using a 4 GB RAM laptop in 2015-2016 kind of turns me off :(
 
I

inselstudent

macrumors 6502a
Jul 27, 2012
617
4
If there's anything you're gonna notice in the next couple of years it's the missing RAM. Personally, that's what I always maximize when I buy a new computer. And it holds true especially for the MBA whose RAM cannot be upgraded once purchased.
 
J

Johnny Alien

macrumors member
Nov 17, 2012
98
0
4GB will likely be fine for quite awhile. 2GB has been enough to get most people by for a long time and many are still having no issues with it right now. I honestly think you would be fine, however, if you have the cash and don't mind spending it there is no harm in getting more and future proofing it a little more. It was only earlier this year that 4GB was what everyone was saying to get in the MBA to keep it future proof.
 
C

CoMoMacUser

macrumors 65816
Jun 28, 2012
1,022
330
Jonny Craig said:
My concern is that 2-3 years down the road when software and OS requirements start to increase the 4 GB will struggle to keep up.
Click to expand...

That's why I went with 8 GB. I knew it was a wise move when, this fall, I doubled the RAM in my 2008 iMac to 4 GB and saw an enormous performance improvement. I wouldn't have that option with my 2012 MBA, so I chose to spend the money upfront.
 
J

Jonny Craig

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 9, 2012
10
0
Yeah I think I'll just go with the 8 gb. It would suck to regret getting the 4 GB a year from now. Thanks :apple:
 
R

robdrj45

macrumors member
Jun 11, 2012
65
0
USA
At a hundred bucks, the 8G RAM is a worthwhile future-proofing upgrade. When I bought, it was an easy decision. That said, if buying the base Air is already stretching the budget, then skip the upgrade. It's not 100% necessary.
 
K

krravi

macrumors 65816
Nov 30, 2010
1,173
0
Amen to the 8 GB crowd !

I wanted a machine with 8 GB first and then the 256 GB SSD next. After configuring a new one with the above specs, the price difference between a new 256 GB and a refurb 512 GB was like 100 or so dollars. So went with the refurb.
 
J

jrasero

macrumors regular
Feb 26, 2011
114
9
NYC
Jonny Craig said:
I'm trying to decide here, it's kind of driving me crazy

The 4 GB MBA from Best buy will probably cost me around $1170 after taxes if I use my reward points.

If I get the 8 GB RAM model from an online store like B&H it will come out to $1299 flat since they don't charge shipping or tax

So it's a $130 differential

Basically what I do:

-Web browsing with an average of 4 tabs open at a time, streaming NBA games
-Movies and Music (itunes, VLC, etc)
-PDFs, powerpoint, word processing
-Minor video editing occassionally

Basically I am pretty sure 4 GB would be fine for this. My concern is that 2-3 years down the road when software and OS requirements start to increase the 4 GB will struggle to keep up. I have a short fuse for laggy computers so it makes me worry. What would you do in this situation? Is it likely that the 4 GB will indeed cause me issues within the next few years? The laptop I'm using right now has 4 GB of RAM and I got this thing in 2009 so the thought of using a 4 GB RAM laptop in 2015-2016 kind of turns me off :(
Click to expand...



I have a 2012 MBA 13" i7, 8GB, 256GB version and my twin has the 2012 MBA 13" i5, 4GB, 128GB version. Obviously mine is faster on paper but for day to day use I can't tell the difference.

2-3 years from now yes 4Gigs is going to get a little slow. I used to have the base 2010 MBA 11" and at the time 2GB was standard and at the time it ran fast. Fast forward to 2012. It still runs well but it stutters on streaming video and loads apps slower than I would like. So my answer is 4GB is fine but with time 4GB is going to show signs of being slow, plus most good computers whether PC or Mac come standard with 6-8GB Ram anyways
 
D

Dr Charter

macrumors 6502
Feb 26, 2011
277
8
Oklahoma
I went with the 11 inch base model with 4G RAM and 64gb SSD because of the price. I only did this because I had already purchased a 2012 Mini. If it were my main machine, I would have gone with 8Gb, 256. That was the key distinction for me. For what I want the Air to do (word processing, web browsing, etc.), the base model will be good for years.

I might upgrade the storage later on with a pulled SSD from EBAY or the OWC model (although the threads on here have me second guessing that option). However, with Back to my Mac and iCloud, I don't even think I'll need to do that.
 
Y

yourtoys7

macrumors 6502a
Sep 3, 2007
572
35
I'm looking for new machine and very surprised how many good deal I'm finding locally but they all with 4gb config. :rolleyes:
 
M

Miat

macrumors 6502a
Jul 13, 2012
851
805
I got 4GB because they were on special at a reseller and it would have cost an extra $285 (Australian) to get the otherwise identical 8GB version from Apple.

That is waaay too much for an extra 4GB of RAM just to future proof a machine that is 1) only going to be used for basic browsing and watching videos, etc, and 2) which I plan to replace after Apple upgrade the screen quality of the Air, then I will get an 8GB version and hang onto it for longer, (probably be my Xmas 2013 present to myself :) ).

But if you want to be doing much more than basic stuff, or plan to hang onto it for 2-3 years, then get the 8GB. If the price difference for me had been the same as for you, I would have got the extra RAM.
 
designs216

designs216

macrumors 65816
Oct 26, 2009
1,046
21
Down the rabbit hole
Sounds like you don't need a machine right away. If cost is major sticking point, you could configure "refurb.me" to let you know when an 8GB model becomes available. In my mind, the minimum will never be lower than 8GB.
 
J

Johnny Alien

macrumors member
Nov 17, 2012
98
0
Salty Pirate said:
8!!!

I just traded out my 2011 w/4GB RAM for the 2012 with 8GB. Night and day better.

I never have to worry about open programs anymore.
Click to expand...

In this case there is more at play than the amount of ram. The ram itself is a faster speed ram, the ssd drive is way faster on the 2012 than the 2011 and the graphics processor is a major improvement as well. You would see a pretty big bump even with a 2012 with 4GB of ram.
 
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