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8gb or 16gb?

N

Nlynn527

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 5, 2012
134
3
I know there are other similar threads, but I'm hoping someone can help me with my decision.

I bought a 2018 13 inch MBP base model last week, and I'm regretting not buying the 512gb model. I am considering exchanging for that model today. However, my question is, while I'm at it, should I also upgrade to 16gb RAM? The only downside is I'd have to order this and be without a computer for about a week. Not the end of the world. The difference is $180 for the RAM with my education discount. I use it primarily for school. Word, excel, Powerpoint, email, iTunes, web browsing, occasional Netflix steaming, etc. I do also need to be able to run Windows via Parallels for work when I work from home.

Thanks in advance!
 
Everything on your list could be done in 8GB of RAM just fine -- except for the Parallels virtualization. If you are going to do that with any regularity, 16 GB is more than recommended.
 
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Nlynn527 said:
I know there are other similar threads, but I'm hoping someone can help me with my decision.

I bought a 2018 13 inch MBP base model last week, and I'm regretting not buying the 512gb model. I am considering exchanging for that model today. However, my question is, while I'm at it, should I also upgrade to 16gb RAM? The only downside is I'd have to order this and be without a computer for about a week. Not the end of the world. The difference is $180 for the RAM with my education discount. I use it primarily for school. Word, excel, Powerpoint, email, iTunes, web browsing, occasional Netflix steaming, etc. I do also need to be able to run Windows via Parallels for work when I work from home.

Thanks in advance!
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I went with the base 13” Touchbar and have been very happy with the performance. I have the same use cases as you. I think 16gb is largely unnecessary for those tasks.
 
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As others have said, running virtualization pushes you into the "need 16 GB now" camp. 8 is just too tight. Moreover, RAM requirements are not decreasing with time, so spending a couple hundred more now will help to significantly extend the life of your machine. No one ever regrets getting too much RAM.
 
unobtainium said:
I went with the base 13” Touchbar and have been very happy with the performance. I have the same use cases as you. I think 16gb is largely unnecessary for those tasks.
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Do you also use parallels? That is my main concern. Everything else runs smoothly with just 8.
 
Just my two cents, but If you're going to spend the money, do yourself a favor and get the 16GB of ram.

For reference, I have a 2016 nTB MBP, and, while it admittedly has a LOT less grunt than the 2018 model, I actually find that one of my biggest annoyances is not the lack of CPU speed, but the 8GB of ram.
You see, the thing is, I rarely get annoyed with the machine when using pro or prosumer apps (mainly photo editing). I understand the machine only has two cores and 15W to work with, and I set my expectations accordingly.
It's when I've got Safari open with a bunch of tabs, along with Mail, Tweetbot, Messages (etc) and maybe Pages/Keynote/Word/Excel. The paging to SSD is noticeable, frequent, and disruptive.

On all of the machines I've used with 16GB (or more) of ram however, I've never even come close to paging, and the difference makes a world of difference. While I'm sure a quad core CPU would help muscle through some of that slowdown (part of the reason I'm upgrading), I can't help but think ram requirements will only go up from here on out.

Even if you're one of those people who aggressively and actively manages your ram by closing tabs/background apps (TL : DR I'm not), I just don't see a good reason to kneecap the future performance and longevity of your machine by foregoing a simple upgrade.

Anyway, whatever you choose I hope you enjoy your new machine, I know I'm looking forward to getting mine :D
 
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If Parallels is even on the list of possibilities, go 16 for sure. You can do it with 8, but you'll do it better with 16.
 
mikethebigo said:
If Parallels is even on the list of possibilities, go 16 for sure. You can do it with 8, but you'll do it better with 16.
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I've run some small VMs on my iMac in the past, I agree, though virtualization is a memory hog, and get 16 just to be safe
 
Thanks everyone! I think I will definitely get the 16gb. My local Apple store has an i7/16/1TB in stock for $2700. Not sure I need the i7, but I wouldn't have to be without a computer for over a week. Hmmmm....
 
Nlynn527 said:
Thanks everyone! I think I will definitely get the 16gb. My local Apple store has an i7/16/1TB in stock for $2700. Not sure I need the i7, but I wouldn't have to be without a computer for over a week. Hmmmm....
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Dooo ittt I love mine.

Plus so much less hassle if there’s a reason you need to return/exchange :D
 
Exactly. Say yours comes with a bad touchbar/screen/etc. You walk it into a store and get a exchange on the spot. Otherwise for BTO you have to wait for another to be built and shipped. Small difference, but kind of reassuring in a way.
 
mikethebigo said:
Exactly. Say yours comes with a bad touchbar/screen/etc. You walk it into a store and get a exchange on the spot. Otherwise for BTO you have to wait for another to be built and shipped. Small difference, but kind of reassuring in a way.
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True. I’m just trying to justify the extra $300 for the i7.
 
mikethebigo said:
It's tough, I agree. The extra cash for 1TB is tough to justify too, considering cloud and external storage.
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teksurv said:
I'd just go for it. It's close to what you wanted, I agree that 16gb is the way to go, and it's in stock now.
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Am i going to notice much of a difference with the i7? Also, how about future resale value? I hope to keep this for AT LEAST 5-6 years. Would the i7 and 1TB have a better resale value over i5/512 5 years from now? Trying to justify it to the husband..... :)
 
Go with 16gb for sure.

The way I see it is this; storage can technically always be ‘upgraded’ Sure it’ll be external, but the SSD products today are the size of a credit card and as thick as a centimetre. Unless your wallet is really being squeezed and you need terabytes of storage, external SSD is the way to go.

Case in point, I ordered the 256gb/16gb MBP with TB. To upgrade to 512gb of storage would cost me £180, which is a lot of money. So instead I bought a 500gb G-Tech G-Drive R series SSD, for just £128. A no brainier given its new, blazing fast and super rugged.

If I had gone with 8gb of RAM instead and put the money towards the extra internal storage, I wouldn’t be able to have multiple spaces open with lots of productivity apps, VM software and Safari tabs without considerable memory pressure.
 
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Thanks all! I just ordered a 13inch i5/16/512 for pick up at my local Apple store on 8/8. Hoping it gets there sooner :)
 
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Awesome, have the very same config (since Wednesday) and am loving it so far.
 
Nlynn527 said:
Thanks all! I just ordered a 13inch i5/16/512 for pick up at my local Apple store on 8/8. Hoping it gets there sooner :)
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Congrats, it could very well arrive sooner then expected, my order was a week sooner.
 
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