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4GB vs. 8GB RAM Macbook Air
- Thread starter RianT
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Did you read through this thread?4GB is way too little for anything basically. It was good in 2008 but not in 2014
Did you watch the video I posted?
Do you have anything to back up your claim that "4gb is too little for anything"?
Congrats and enjoy your new babyThanks everyone! I already went out this afternoon and got myself one. $847 after tax, not too bad
The computer is blazing fast, I have no complaint so far
Not really, but if a high amount does give you peace of mind then that's something. I think going to 8 (assuming that's what you did) will position you for the future as apps do tend to get more bloated and resource hungry4GB is way too little for anything basically. It was good in 2008 but not in 2014
I've had a rMBP with 16gb, and my Mac Pro has 24GB, but my Air only has 4GB. And I haven't noticed a single difference for the normal tasks I do, whether doing web development, Photoshop work, or whatever. Unless you're running VMs constantly or loading massive photo libraries, other aspects of the Air are more likely to constrain you first than the RAM.
Clearly NO to every question asked.
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Thanks for injecting some common sense into this discussion.
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4GB is way too little for anything basically. It was good in 2008 but not in 2014
Well, that's rather strange that you say that. That's not my experience, personally. I generally don't run lots of programs (having transitioned from an older PC) at the same time. But when I do open many apps, I have no problems with performance at all.
Please post a screenshot of your proof of experience. Or is it just that you said that to be a troll? I suspect the latter, but I'll give you a fair chance. And anyways, 8GB is not the norm these days. For the macbook pro, yes, but not for most computers.
It doesn't make sense that requirements should double across generations. I get that new technologies come in, but usually people try to improve existing technologies. If anything, it would be the standardization of a new type of RAM. Since new technologies are being developed so rapidly, it wouldn't make sense to drastically increase spec requirements in a short time frame, or Apple or Microsoft would alienate a lot of their good, paying customers.
I'm getting real tired of this, 4GB is the old standard argument. Looking forward, programmers should be working on optimizing their software. So it should be that performance gets better on lesser hardware (within reason).
8GB is not the standard for all modern computers. How do I know this? Apple is selling their Airs with 4GB equipped out of the box. So are a lot of PC makers. Why would Apple continue to sell hardware that they won't soon support? They raised the RAM on the Pro most likely to distinguish it from the Air. You can argue that point either way. But anyways, 8GB is not necessary to future-proof your machine. You might be lucky to get +$100 more when selling the device.. But for your personal needs, 8GB should only be necessary for RAM-consuming software. But for the average Joe, 4GB or 8GB won't make a difference. There is no performance improvement in normal usage. If anything, the CPU or SSD will be more apparent difference. Slight speed boost and/or increased storage. But RAM? Who cares... If Joe doesn't know what RAM he needs, then he probably doesn't need to worry about RAM at all. If you know you need more RAM, chances are, you do!
But anyways, don't go and tell OP that he NEEDS 8GB when he's looking to save money. He doesn't need it. Would it be nice to have? Not necessarily. He's better off increasing internal storage. Speed and multi-tasking aren't high on his priority list.
Let's give this a rest.
PS. I'm a programming student and I elected for more storage over RAM so I could run bootcamp.
Yes. Try to open 15 tabs in chrome (average of what most of the users have), couple other programs. In the meantime open an image in photoshop and is your macbook is choked.
In a situation when you can't upgrade RAM anymore, buying 4GB today is bad bad decision. Sorry.
Everything depends on usage but even stupid browser can take so much of RAM nowadays.
Don't write me a novel.4GB is way too little for anything basically. It was good in 2008 but not in 2014
Prove your statements!
Shouldn't be a problem to post a screenshot of just safari using up 8gb RAM then.My wife has 8GB rMBP and she struggles with free memory with so many tabs opened on chrome at the same time
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Congrats and enjoy your new baby
Not really, but if a high amount does give you peace of mind then that's something. I think going to 8 (assuming that's what you did) will position you for the future as apps do tend to get more bloated and resource hungry
That's correct. I've got 16GB on my rMBP but I run VM from time to time and do Lightroom photo editing.
My wife has 8GB rMBP and she struggles with free memory with so many tabs opened on chrome at the same time
That's why when I see that people are still buying stuff with 4GB of RAM without the option of upgrade later - this is insane.
If you buy PC laptop, in most cases you can add memory later. That's fine. If you run out you can buy more but not with MB
1. Screenshot or it didn't happen.
2. Chrome isn't optimized to run on OS X. Use Safari or whatever you say is irrelevant.
3. 4GB RAM is equivalent to 8GB RAM on OS X (Virtual memory). So, again, no. It's not a bad decision.
In case you don't know to take a screenshot, which you probably don't, It's command + shift + 3. Upload the picture to imgur or something and then add the image here.
Won't give you that, sorry. My usage for safari is rather small. I use heavy memory programs for photo editing. Different scenario.
Chrome counts. Since even chrome is not able to max out 8gb.
I highly advice against chrome, though. I think it can harm your cpu in certain cases and blocks obscene amounts of ram.
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Your claim was, that just browsing will use up RAM.
Please withdraw that statement then.
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Alright, give us screenshots for your heavy memory programs.
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Harm the cpu? I highly doubt that a poorly written browser will harm the internal components, but do you have a source?
What's people's problem against Safari? I switched from IE (which I will say was a very good browser despite others claims)
I changed my statement, since I can't provide a source.
A while ago I used chrome to upload images and my macbook became hot and the fans went crazy.
I've heard similar accounts from other people.
I assume it could harm the cpu.
No chrome for me anymore. I love Safari.
Whether or not it could harm the CPU, I believe you when you say that happened. Sigh, me too. I like integration with the touchpad. Chrome supports them too, but it's not nearly as nice an experience. And Safari's better on the battery.
This is my usage on 15inch retina. Opened are:
14 Safari tabs:
Lightroom
Photoshop
Photoshop Elements
+ few other apps
OS interface is in polish
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Open some tabs in Safari browse to the Verge website. Browse through the website then look at usage. Why are the "tests" on Apple hardware using google and other non Apple software to "prove" their point? This thread is entertaining.
Your link doesn't work.This is my usage on 15inch retina. Opened are:
14 Safari tabs:
Lightroom
Photoshop
Photoshop Elements
+ few other apps
OS interface is in polish
Image
That screenshot might be interesting, but noone is doubting, that you can max out RAM multitasking all the apps you are running there. That was not your previous statement!
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I did that and ram pressure is rock bottom.
What is your point?
What tests? What non
software?I do not understand your post.
That's correct. I've got 16GB on my rMBP but I run VM from time to time and do Lightroom photo editing.
My wife has 8GB rMBP and she struggles with free memory with so many tabs opened on chrome at the same time
That's why when I see that people are still buying stuff with 4GB of RAM without the option of upgrade later - this is insane.
If you buy PC laptop, in most cases you can add memory later. That's fine. If you run out you can buy more but not with MB
Buy a PC and be happy then. Tinker away with the hardware components. Some people love doing that.
Partly what's also under discussion is the nature and form of the MBA. You can't expect to have Mac Pro levels of hardware inside something that fits two comfortably in a manila envelope. When the OP asks a question regarding what's best for a MBA, and described his 'workload' as basically light use and web browsing, then 4GB is perfectly fine.
Link is fixed now, it was dropbox fault
My statement is still that 4GB is really too small. Safari itself can use up all RAM when there are 20+ tabs open + stuff like netflix, youtube etc.
In my case it was nearly 1.7GB just for Safari itself.
Won't take long to eat up all 4GB with few more apps opened.
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In case where money is an issue, 4GB would have to be sufficient. End of story.
This is my usage on 15inch retina. Opened are:
14 Safari tabs:
Lightroom
Photoshop
Photoshop Elements
+ few other apps
OS interface is in polish
Image
That is considerably more RAM intensive than the web browsing, text editing, and note taking mentioned by the OP.
Nobody is arguing that you cannot max out 4 GB. We are arguing that the OP wouldn't, nor would anyone else with similar usage.
Your link still doesn't work and safari alone will never max out 4gb.Link is fixed now, it was dropbox fault
My statement is still that 4GB is really too small. Safari itself can use up all RAM when there are 20+ tabs open + stuff like netflix, youtube etc.
In my case it was nearly 1.7GB just for Safari itself.
Won't take long to eat up all 4GB with few more apps opened.
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In case where money is an issue, 4GB would have to be sufficient. End of story.
You keep repeating the same misinformation and you haven't provided anything to back it up with.
Just did exactly what you said and here is a screenshot of every app opened including Activity Monitor. I really do not know why some people struggle to do simple web browsing with 8gb ram and I am doing so much more with 4gb.
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they are not struggling, they are lying for whatever personal reason they have.
None of those people has ever been able to provide any documentation of their 'struggle'.