2016 vs 2018 13" Upgrade

[ezekielguy86]

I'm considering upgrading my 2016 13" i5 8gb 256GB MBP to a 2018 13" i5 or i7 (cannot decide) 16gb 512gb. I use my MBP for work with an external display using multiple chrome pages, personal use, and some very light iMovie editing. The laptop works great with no real slow down issues until I have a good bit a tabs open in chrome and the ram starts to get taxed.

I guess what Im asking would it be worth me upgrading this year to the 2018 with Apple giving an $850 trade-in credit on my 2016 or should I wait for something bigger and better in the future? Also, would it be worth me paying the extra for the i7 vs the i5? I know the quad core will be good upgrade alone. Thank you in advance for any advise.

 

[Howard2k]

You hit the nail on the head - the quad core alone is going to give a decent performance improvement. But if you're happy enough with what you have, if you're not having performance issues, then maybe it's not worthwhile.

 

[ezekielguy86]

You hit the nail on the head - the quad core alone is going to give a decent performance improvement. But if you're happy enough with what you have, if you're not having performance issues, then maybe it's not worthwhile.

Thank you. I do good decent slowdowns when doing a good bit of work but not god awful. The thing that drives me nuts is using up most of my ram from just using chrome. I hate being at the end. I know that may sound silly as it isn't using it all but it bothers me. I'm actually considering maybe switching to a 15" to get the i7 6 core and ddr4. Not a major change in price and don't think to have the 15" will be a bother as I mostly use it on my desk and rarely at home in my lap.

 

[jerryk]

Thank you. I do good decent slowdowns when doing a good bit of work but not god awful. The thing that drives me nuts is using up most of my ram from just using chrome. I hate being at the end. I know that may sound silly as it isn't using it all but it bothers me. I'm actually considering maybe switching to a 15" to get the i7 6 core and ddr4. Not a major change in price and don't think to have the 15" will be a bother as I mostly use it on my desk and rarely at home in my lap.

First, a program using a lot of memory when it is what is running is not a bad thing. Actually it is a good thing. With modern operating systems the OS will give programs as much memory as it can as they run. This keeps more of a program's instructions and data in high speed memory. Only will other programs need memory will the operating system decrease the amount of memory a program running (say Chrome) is given.

If you have concerns about memory usage look at memory pressure in Activity Monitor. If it is green you are good. Remember, free memory just sitting there does no program any good.

Second, if you have the space, IMHO the 15" is much better value for the money. Bigger screen, faster processor, better speakers, etc. And by the time you start upgrading the 13" to the same memory and SSD sizes, close in money.

 

[ezekielguy86]

First, a program using a lot of memory when it is what is running is not a bad thing. Actually it is a good thing. With modern operating systems the OS will give programs as much memory as it can as they run. This keeps more of a program's instructions and data in high speed memory. Only will other programs need memory will the operating system decrease the amount of memory a program running (say Chrome) is given.

If you have concerns about memory usage look at memory pressure in Activity Monitor. If it is green you are good. Remember, free memory just sitting there does no program any good.

Second, if you have the space, IMHO the 15" is much better value for the money. Bigger screen, faster processor, better speakers, etc. And by the time you start upgrading the 13" to the same memory and SSD sizes, close in money.

Thank you. I went ahead and did it. 15" 2.2GHz i7, Radeon 555x, 16gb, 512GB.
[doublepost=1537214982][/doublepost]Also ordered a Space Grey Magic keyboard with a number pad to replace my wired silver.