MacBook Air RAM

jc244 · Oct 20, 2012, 11:49 PM

Hi. Does anyone know if or when in the future that the MacBook Air will be released with an option for 16GB RAM?

tiwizard · Oct 21, 2012, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc244

Hi. Does anyone know if or when in the future that the MacBook Air will be released with an option for 16GB RAM?

Yes, at some point in the future it will be, though no one knows when it will be offered.

mrsir2009 · Oct 21, 2012, 12:32 AM

Not in the near future - Apple is pushing the Air as the entry level laptop and the retina as the powerhouse that has stuff like 16GB of RAM

Eventually it will, though.

TC25 · Oct 21, 2012, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc244

Hi. Does anyone know if or when in the future that the MacBook Air will be released with an option for 16GB RAM?

Hi. No, no one here knows the answer to your question. Even the two who have answered don't know.

Calot · Oct 21, 2012, 01:39 PM

2GB = 2008 and 2009 models.

4GB = 2010 and 2011 models.

8GB = 2012 and 2013 models.

16GB = 2014 and 2015 models.

.... maybe. Hopefully...

tiwizard · Oct 21, 2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calot

2GB = 2008 and 2009 models.

4GB = 2010 and 2011 models.

8GB = 2012 and 2013 models.

16GB = 2014 and 2015 models.

.... maybe. Hopefully...

If I had to pick a timeline, I'd also agree with this. 2014 would be the earliest we see 16 GB of RAM in an Air.

dyn · Oct 21, 2012, 03:08 PM

If it isn't replaced by a retina version of the 13" MBP by then (if the rumours are correct that is). We'll know when Apple releases it (they are a blackbox company so there is no way of telling before)

orfeas0 · Oct 21, 2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyn

If it isn't replaced by a retina version of the 13" MBP by then (if the rumours are correct that is). We'll know when Apple releases it (they are a blackbox company so there is no way of telling before)

The macbook air won't be replaced by retina MBP. I mean 1600$ minimum price for a 13" laptop? Nahhh!

dyn · Oct 22, 2012, 12:53 PM

Wait, you are Tim Cook?

</sarcasm>

macmastersam · Oct 22, 2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calot

2GB = 2008 and 2009 models.

4GB = 2010 and 2011 models.

8GB = 2012 and 2013 models.

16GB = 2014 and 2015 models.

.... maybe. Hopefully...

you probably also have to take into account the cost of putting that much ram in by the time it is 2014 too.

Calot · Oct 22, 2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmastersam

you probably also have to take into account the cost of putting that much ram in by the time it is 2014 too.

Pretty sure the "upscale" model will have 8GB standard, and going to 16GB will probably cost 150 dollars at the most. A very good investment.

We never know.. I really hope I can get a 16GB Air in 2014

cjgonzales1900 · Jan 9, 2013, 02:46 AM

Hopefully this happens soon. I love my air but the only mistake I made when I ordered it was not upgrading the ram to 8GB, This was my first MBA and I am used to upgrading the ram in my computers later on after purchasing.

SpoekGTi · Jan 11, 2013, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjgonzales1900

Hopefully this happens soon. I love my air but the only mistake I made when I ordered it was not upgrading the ram to 8GB, This was my first MBA and I am used to upgrading the ram in my computers later on after purchasing.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 2011 models didn't have an option to upgrade the ram at all so it's not your fault for not upping the ram. You simply did not have the choice.

throAU · Jan 11, 2013, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calot

2GB = 2008 and 2009 models.

4GB = 2010 and 2011 models.

8GB = 2012 and 2013 models.

16GB = 2014 and 2015 models.

.... maybe. Hopefully...

I'd suggest that is accurate. 2014 rMBP should be able to take 32GB at least (if apple are sane), as the chipset can handle it, and by then 32GB should be available in the same number of chips that 16GB is now. Obviously it will be $$$ but this is a pro machine, right?

the cost of 16GB these days is peanuts.

Wokis · Jan 11, 2013, 03:58 AM

What might delay the size increase in entry level is if Intel upgrades their platform to DDR4, probably increasing cost of memory by a lot. However this might not happen until Skylake (2015).

ybz90 · Jan 11, 2013, 04:08 AM

I'm not sure we can expect the RAM capacities to escalate exponentially, if for no other reason, I don't expect software to necessarily require it in the next two years or so. But on topic, also don't expect anything more than 8GB for the next generation or two.

SpoekGTi · Jan 11, 2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throAU

I'd suggest that is accurate. 2014 rMBP should be able to take 32GB at least (if apple are sane), as the chipset can handle it, and by then 32GB should be available in the same number of chips that 16GB is now. Obviously it will be $$$ but this is a pro machine, right?

the cost of 16GB these days is peanuts.

Technically the 2012 model should be able to handle 32GB already because of the chipset used, Ivy bridge limits at 32GB of men addressing.

But as stated before, Airs are the entry level notebooks for Apple. The next max mem upgrade will be announced around the 2014 model i think simply because lets face it 8GB is more than enough for an on the road machine until then.

If i see what i throw at this thing and how easy it handles everything (and yes i use VM's a lot) i cant blame apple for maxing it out now on 8GB and maybe in 2014 on 16GB.

For atleast i know i bought this one last july and i' keeping it till my son goes to the 1st grade of school that would make the MBA around 3 to 3,5 yrs old, and then it's probably time for an upgrade

throAU · Jan 11, 2013, 10:25 PM

Don't get me wrong - 8gb is plenty for most people today, even 4gb is "enough"

But when RAM is $80 for 16GB at RETAIL prices and 8GB is about $40 - not offering the option for 16GB it makes sense to offer those sizes.

RAM prices have roughly halved since they introduced the current form factor/design Airs, so if they want to keep the price/margin, it wouldn't hurt apple to use components which are at the same price point as when those machines were put out...

For apple, having more machines with big RAM capacities out there frees them to be a little more liberal with RAM consumption on OS X applications in future to either add features, optimize for speed rather than RAM consumption, etc.

kage207 · Jan 11, 2013, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

Not in the near future - Apple is pushing the Air as the entry level laptop and the retina as the powerhouse that has stuff like 16GB of RAM

Eventually it will, though.

You know the 13" rMBP doesn't have an option of 16GB, right?
http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/

Oct 20, 2012, 11:49 PM	#1
jc244 macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	MacBook Air RAM Hi. Does anyone know if or when in the future that the MacBook Air will be released with an option for 16GB RAM?
	0

Oct 21, 2012, 12:32 AM	#3
mrsir2009 macrumors 604 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wellington, New Zealand	Not in the near future - Apple is pushing the Air as the entry level laptop and the retina as the powerhouse that has stuff like 16GB of RAM Eventually it will, though. __________________ How to Prevent your Mac from Overheating
	0

Jan 9, 2013, 02:46 AM	#12
cjgonzales1900 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2009	Hopefully this happens soon. I love my air but the only mistake I made when I ordered it was not upgrading the ram to 8GB, This was my first MBA and I am used to upgrading the ram in my computers later on after purchasing. __________________ 2011 MacBook Air 1.7GHz i5 4GB 128GB SSD 2012 iPhone 5 Black 16GB 2013 Mac Mini 2.5GHz i5 16GB 500GB HD
	0

Jan 11, 2013, 03:58 AM	#15
Wokis macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Stockholm, Sweden	What might delay the size increase in entry level is if Intel upgrades their platform to DDR4, probably increasing cost of memory by a lot. However this might not happen until Skylake (2015). __________________ 13" Macbook Air 2012, i5-3427U, Intel HD 4000, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD \| iPad Mini 16GB White \| iPhone 5 32GB Black
	0

Jan 11, 2013, 04:08 AM	#16
ybz90 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2009	I'm not sure we can expect the RAM capacities to escalate exponentially, if for no other reason, I don't expect software to necessarily require it in the next two years or so. But on topic, also don't expect anything more than 8GB for the next generation or two. __________________ Buy my Thunderbolt Display and Drobo (and other cool stuff)!
	0

Oct 21, 2012, 01:39 PM	#5
Calot macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2012	2GB = 2008 and 2009 models. 4GB = 2010 and 2011 models. 8GB = 2012 and 2013 models. 16GB = 2014 and 2015 models. .... maybe. Hopefully...
	1

Oct 21, 2012, 03:08 PM	#7
dyn macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: .nl	If it isn't replaced by a retina version of the 13" MBP by then (if the rumours are correct that is). We'll know when Apple releases it (they are a blackbox company so there is no way of telling before)
	0

Oct 22, 2012, 12:53 PM	#9
dyn macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: .nl	Wait, you are Tim Cook? </sarcasm>
	0

Jan 11, 2013, 10:25 PM	#18
throAU macrumors 68020 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Don't get me wrong - 8gb is plenty for most people today, even 4gb is "enough" But when RAM is $80 for 16GB at RETAIL prices and 8GB is about $40 - not offering the option for 16GB it makes sense to offer those sizes. RAM prices have roughly halved since they introduced the current form factor/design Airs, so if they want to keep the price/margin, it wouldn't hurt apple to use components which are at the same price point as when those machines were put out... For apple, having more machines with big RAM capacities out there frees them to be a little more liberal with RAM consumption on OS X applications in future to either add features, optimize for speed rather than RAM consumption, etc. __________________ MBP (early 2011) - Core i7 2720 2.2ghz, Hires Glossy, 16GB, Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Mac Mini (mid 2007) - Core2 Duo 1.8, 2gb, 320gb 7200 rpm iPhone 4S, iPad 4
	0

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