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13" RMBP - 16GB or 512 SSD?

C

cramazing

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 17, 2012
357
58
looking to get the new 13" RMBP

price is the same but can't decide on which option.

2.6GHz 16GB 256SSD
2.6GHz 8GB 512SSD

Price is both $1799

which one do you prefer and is the better option?

My needs, I am a light user, I probably don't need the 16GB, currently using a MBA with 8GB and it has been fine, about how about the future? thats what I'm worry about.

Thanks
 
Buy with an edu discount and you can get both for $1879. No brainer for an extra $80.
 
I would choose the 512Gb SSD + 8 Gb RAM model. That's what I have on my macbook air 2013.

With this configuration I can run Windows 7 on Parallels without any issues, even game a little with SimCity running fine. This is the only occasion where my system used the entire RAM (4Gb for each OS). Apart from that, theres plenty of memory free.

I think you will fill up the 256 Gb SSD faster than you could use more than 8 Gb of RAM, if you are such a light user.
 
Nobody can really answer this question except you...

For somebody who runs lots of VMs, 256gb might be enough but 8gb isn't enough,
For 1080p porn collection, you probably need as much space as you can get, but 8gb will more more than enough memory for you.

For a light user, even 8gb of ram with 256gb storage should be great.
I guess if you really don't do much multi-tasking, a year or 2 from now, 8gb of ram would still be enough memory (specially with Maverick's compression).
 
ioannis2005gr said:
I would prefer a BTO version: 256GB PCIe+i5 2.6GHz+16GB RAM.

This is a more "future-proof" option.

Besides, check this:

http://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks

If you need space to save your files, you can buy a nice external storage disk (RAID array) for your appropriate backup process.
Click to expand...

Agreed, this would be my choice if I were to stretch my budget. You can always expand the storage in the future w/ external drives, and possibly swap the internal one day. The RAM is a done deal as its soldered on.
 
cramazing said:
no edu email
Click to expand...

Not sure what that means. I just bought a 13" retina with an educational discount. I ordered by phone. They asked what institution I worked at. They found it on their list and that was that. I'm not suggesting you fib (or am I), but it seems Apple is pretty happy to sell their computers at $100-200 off, enough that they don't ask for verification.

PS My wife works at the university, not me.
 
yeah I'm really not sure which way to go, I can get the maxed out 13" but once we are in that territory we are then in the 15" 16GB 512GB 750M range...
 
I had the same problem as you and I'll go with a MBA because of image retention. It looks like 13" rmbp are still plagued with that issue... Not going to get screwed with that issue getting worse over time and not being able to return it.
 
Jeanloup said:
I had the same problem as you and I'll go with a MBA because of image retention. It looks like 13" rmbp are still plagued with that issue... Not going to get screwed with that issue getting worse over time and not being able to return it.
Click to expand...

do you have a thread to explain us what happened? it sounds scary!
 
Explain the image retention ? It's a known issue for most people and there's plenty of topics about it. You should check the one on Apple forums : https://discussions.apple.com/message/23535472#23535472 . You'll see people have posted screenshots of their 13" rmbp haswell with IR as proof.

And if they were no IR I would get the 16GB of Ram because you can't change it later whereas the ssd can be replace even if it's no easy task. Plus there's external storage and the cloud for your stuff.
 
Last edited:
The RAM choice is permanent whereas the SSD choice is not. Though from what I gather there is only OWC who makes the SSD cards for Apple Notebooks and they are quite expensive.

I would go with 16GB ram.
 
I would go with bigger HD space. Unless you are running some intensive stuff, or you are running a metric ton of open windows... you are unlikely to need 16gbs. If you don't need it now then you are unlikely to need it 4 years from now.

16 gigs would be for someone doing a lot of movie editing or photo processing or heavy developing/parsing work. Maybe someone with heavy excel work. Things like that. Also running VMs with other OS's that eat up resources.

I don't believe that will change in the next 4 years. More programs will utilize higher amounts of ram maybe but you don't sound like someone that would use those type of programs.
 
Jeanloup said:
I had the same problem as you and I'll go with a MBA because of image retention. It looks like 13" rmbp are still plagued with that issue... Not going to get screwed with that issue getting worse over time and not being able to return it.
Click to expand...

No image retention on my 13" rMBP. I ordered 2 13" rMBP before, neither of them had IR.
 
I'd go for the most RAM, as you can't upgrade the RAM yourself. But you CAN move to a bigger SSD down the road.

At least, this is what I understand to be true.

Correct me if I'm wrong!
 
terzinator said:
I'd go for the most RAM, as you can't upgrade the RAM yourself. But you CAN move to a bigger SSD down the road.

At least, this is what I understand to be true.

Correct me if I'm wrong!
Click to expand...

It is assumed that eventually someone will make aftermarket SSDs for these. Currently they don't. You can also buy externals for really cheap. I have one on my network that I can access from anywhere that I have wifi.

I only recommend the storage space as apposed to ram because its unlikely he will ever need the ram. Storage is something that almost everyone needs. Even if you can get bigger ones down the road... they are likely to be really expensive. Then you need the know how to change them out or you need some more cash to pay someone to do it for you.
 
Scott7975 said:
It is assumed that eventually someone will make aftermarket SSDs for these. Currently they don't. You can also buy externals for really cheap. I have one on my network that I can access from anywhere that I have wifi.

I only recommend the storage space as apposed to ram because its unlikely he will ever need the ram. Storage is something that almost everyone needs. Even if you can get bigger ones down the road... they are likely to be really expensive. Then you need the know how to change them out or you need some more cash to pay someone to do it for you.
Click to expand...
But the OWC Aura drives are built for the MBA… and seem to be easily replaced... not the same with the rMBP?

From an external site:

Upgrade Obstacles & SSD Details

Apple does not intend for end users to upgrade the SSD in these models themselves. The company even has used uncommon "pentalobe" screws -- sometimes called five-point Torx screws -- to discourage access. However, access is straightforward with the correct screwdriver, the SSD is simple to access, and upgrades are not blocked in firmware, either.
 
terzinator said:
But the OWC Aura drives are built for the MBA… and seem to be easily replaced... not the same with the rMBP?
Click to expand...

Im new to Mac but from what I have read around here... the new macs are running with pci-e ssds and no one makes them yet. I don't know if that's accurate but I read that in a few threads here.

It may be easy to change but that doesn't apply to everybody. A lot of things are easy for me to do, but I still see people that cant even change their own oil in their car.
 
Scott7975 said:
Im new to Mac but from what I have read around here... the new macs are running with pci-e ssds and no one makes them yet. I don't know if that's accurate but I read that in a few threads here.

It may be easy to change but that doesn't apply to everybody. A lot of things are easy for me to do, but I still see people that cant even change their own oil in their car.
Click to expand...
I thought OWC aura would work in the new rMBPs… Actually gonna call them about that this week to confirm.

But, my feeling is, things change quickly… if you wait a little bit, there will be a drive available that will work. But the RAM, you're stuck with what you buy.
 
terzinator said:
I thought OWC aura would work in the new rMBPs… Actually gonna call them about that this week to confirm.

But, my feeling is, things change quickly… if you wait a little bit, there will be a drive available that will work. But the RAM, you're stuck with what you buy.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am sure someone will make them eventually if not already. You are also correct that you are stuck with the RAM you buy. I just look at what the needs are and what the needs are likely to be down the road. I don't see him needing more then 8, but then again he didn't exactly say what he does and just said he was a light user.

Im personally getting 16GBs but for what I do, even if I don't use it now, I am likely to need it down the road. I have come close to maxxing the 8 on my desktop pc. Im sure with an Apple that I will atleast boot camp windows, if not use VMs... that I will max 8.
 
ioannis2005gr said:
I'm not sure but as far as I understand, IR problem appears gradually.
Click to expand...

Indeed. For me it started only after 3 months. I hope you won't have the issue but so far every owner of the 13" retina I'v met experienced the problem at some point ...
 
Jeanloup said:
Indeed. For me it started only after 3 months. I hope you won't have the issue but so far every owner of the 13" retina I'v met experienced the problem at some point ...
Click to expand...

This is ridiculous and completely unacceptable!

APPLE should be informed and replaces all defective monitors as soon as possible.

Also, APPLE should get rid of LG IPS monitors and improve quality control in China...

SAMSUNG monitors appear less problems, as far as I know. :rolleyes:
 
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