8GB to 16GB memory on Mac Mini M1

[circatee]

Evening all.

Curious, did you purchase and use an 8GB memory Mac Mini M1, then replaced it with a 16GB unit?
If so, was the change worth it, for your needs?

 

[StealthRider]

Evening all.

Curious, did you purchase and use an 8GB memory Mac Mini M1, then replaced it with a 16GB unit?
If so, was the change worth it, for your needs?

Believe the M1 memory is on the processor - if you want it upgraded, you have to buy it that way.

 

[circatee]

Believe the M1 memory is on the processor - if you want it upgraded, you have to buy it that way.

Right, I believe so. However, I was more curious with those that initially purchased the 8GB model, then switched 'up'...

 

[The Clark]

Right, I believe so. However, I was more curious with those that initially purchased the 8GB model, then switched 'up'...

Financially and practically speaking this makes 0 sense and isn't an option. If you want 16gb, you need to buy it preconfigured.

 

[circatee]

Financially and practically speaking this makes 0 sense and isn't an option. If you want 16gb, you need to buy it preconfigured.

Sorry, a tad confused. I am fully aware that one has to order the unit with either 8GB OR 16GB memory.
Again, I was more curious about anyone who purchased and received an 8GB model, then returned (kept, or whatever) and ordered a 16GB model instead.

Thus, was it a night and day difference in use, between the two. I hope that makes sense.

 

[The Clark]

Sorry, a tad confused. I am fully aware that one has to order the unit with either 8GB OR 16GB memory.
Again, I was more curious about anyone who purchased and received an 8GB model, then returned (kept, or whatever) and ordered a 16GB model instead.

Thus, was it a night and day difference in use, between the two. I hope that makes sense.

My apologies, I misunderstood. I thought you were referencing switching out the internals.

I bought an 8gb m1 Mac Mini when they launched and after one week returned it.. and it's not because the performance was awful or anything, but I do a lot of video editing for my YT channel and I was noticing that with 4k footage it was really struggling. It's been a lot better ever since upgrading to 16gb, almost no hickups. What are you using the machine for?

 

[circatee]

My apologies, I misunderstood. I thought you were referencing switching out the internals.

I bought an 8gb m1 Mac Mini when they launched and after one week returned it.. and it's not because the performance was awful or anything, but I do a lot of video editing for my YT channel and I was noticing that with 4k footage it was really struggling. It's been a lot better ever since upgrading to 16gb, almost no hickups. What are you using the machine for?

To be honest, I am merely using the Mac Mini to learn Mac OS, and have a second 'computer' as an option.
So, no real video editing and such. Albeit, I will try to learn to use iMovie. Another reason I am on the fence about 8GB or 16GB. Not doing YouTube or anything like that.

Considering the cost of the unit, I often wonder if I should just remain with the 8GB. It will only be a matter of time before Apple release another variant of the M1, with a plethora of options, and such. So, the idea is partly to merely wait and see. As we know, when it comes to technology, it changes QUICKLY!

 

[circatee]

Current memory use is:

Opened apps:
iMovie
Outlook
Local Email Client
Microsoft Teams
Whatsapp
Activity Monitor
iMessage
Google Chrome (5 tabs, across two windows)

 

[The Clark]

With this information I would highly recommend that you stick with 8gb. I don't think you'd benefit from going with 16gb unless you intend on keeping the machine for over 3-4 years.

 

[pldelisle]

16 GB.

 

[Partron22]

I got an 8GB model. Managed to get an "Out of Memory, Close an App" message during the Migration process from Sierra to Big Sur. Haven't seen it since, but too many apps does seem to slow the Mini down. I'm keeping it, but if you're doing intensive video editing or similar, it's probably worth paying Apple's ridiculous price for that extra 8GB.

 

[mantan]

It seems like with the optimization of the M1 chip, the 8GB model is really good for most users. One thing I've learned in my short time in this part of the forum is that a lot of MR Mac users are power users. I let myself go down a rabbit hole of questioning the right monitor, bluetooth accessories, amount of ram based on the posts here. And didn't have any problems at all. My Mini has been fantastic.

 

[nobodyjustwalks]

To be honest, I am merely using the Mac Mini to learn Mac OS, and have a second 'computer' as an option.
So, no real video editing and such. Albeit, I will try to learn to use iMovie. Another reason I am on the fence about 8GB or 16GB. Not doing YouTube or anything like that.

Considering the cost of the unit, I often wonder if I should just remain with the 8GB. It will only be a matter of time before Apple release another variant of the M1, with a plethora of options, and such. So, the idea is partly to merely wait and see. As we know, when it comes to technology, it changes QUICKLY!

If as you said you're just using the M1 to "learn" about Mac OS then there is absolutely no reason to upgrade. I have the M1 with 8 GB and it is fine for ALL of the mundane things that I do. I usually have 25 tabs open in Safari, M1 connected to a 65" 4K tv and 32" LG UltraFine monitor @4K 60Hz with no issues. The M1 is literally lifting 5 lb dumbbells in this scenario. Doesn't even break a sweat, if anything it's overkill. The dang thing is so quiet sometimes I literally imagine the fan being on and then I put my ear on the cold aluminum frame and it is dead silent. The benchmark for the M1, the unified memory, the optimized OS, the super fast SSD, yes you'll be fine. Many if not most posts on this forum and elsewhere will make you think every third person on planet earth is editing 4K video, Final Cut, Adobe, etc, etc. Basic usage? You'll be way, way okay.

 

[circatee]

As for my second visit, I purchased the Mac Mini M1, 8GB memory,. 512GB storage.

 

[Carlson-online]

Although your memory pressure is good, look and see that your Swap (ie, your SSD) is in use.

Here's mine from a 16GB with similar amount of RAM in "use". Notice my swap is not being used at all...

 

[circatee]

Although your memory pressure is good, look and see that your Swap (ie, your SSD) is in use.

Here's mine from a 16GB with similar amount of RAM in "use". Notice my swap is not being used at all...

Hmm, that is interesting...

 

[MacCheetah3]

Although your memory pressure is good, look and see that your Swap (ie, your SSD) is in use.

Here's mine from a 16GB with similar amount of RAM in "use". Notice my swap is not being used at all...

Hmm, that is interesting...

The usage could be because the free space has dipped below a certain threshold or at one point the RAM requirement was high enough to require swapping but only temporary.

As per a comment in a different thread...

Once some memory has been put into the swapfile it will not be recovered until either it is needed again by the process/app that owns it, or the process/app terminates. But it will only go back to zero after a reboot.

 

[richpjr]

Although your memory pressure is good, look and see that your Swap (ie, your SSD) is in use.

Here's mine from a 16GB with similar amount of RAM in "use". Notice my swap is not being used at all...

With the reports of possible wearing out the SSDs because of so much read/write activity on the M1 models, I'd go for 16GB myself to reduce swapping.

 

[circatee]

I will be sticking with 8GB memory for now. Maybe on the next model, I might increase the memory in the configuration choice. For me, my Mac Mini is my 'second' machine and not as high a priority as my Windows 10 Pro computer...

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I will be sticking with 8GB memory for now. Maybe on the next model, I might increase the memory in the configuration choice. For me, my Mac Mini is my 'second' machine and not as high a priority as my Windows 10 Pro computer...

Sounds very reasonable!

 

[BishUK]

I bought the 8GB simply because it was my first ever Mac and I didn't want to spend too much in case I wanted to revert back to a PC. Since I got it I've been amazed by the performance of such a small box and soon got to grips with MacOS. I don't have a heavy workflow so 8GB has been fine, having said that I will probably upgrade depending on the what the specs of the next M1 Macs are like. Unlike a lot of tech Apple does hold it's price well so should still get a bit for my Mini.

 

[mackcat]

First, I bought a Mac mini with 8GB of memory. I got it on sale for $599, so I figured I'd at least try it out. In the few weeks I've had it, I have determined that 8GB of memory just isn't enough for me, as fast as the computer usually is. I tend to have a pretty large number of things open at any given time. Think 15+ browser windows with at least a few tabs each, plus Mail, iMessage, Notes, Roon, and whatever else I'm using.

Every so often, I notice it slow down, I go look at Activity Monitor, and I see that memory pressure was just in the red, sometimes at multiple times. Memory usage usually is 6GB+, with at least a few gigabytes of swap. Sometimes, when waking the computer up, it freezes and the memory pressure skyrockets, taking at least a minute or two to become fully responsive again. What causes this, I really don't know. I have also had some occasional display flickering, which may be related

Now, I just sold my 2017 MacBook Pro (2 USB-C ports, 16GB), and decided to buy a refurbished 16GB MacBook Air once it came available. I just got it yesterday, and I have to say that I'm very impressed. It's just another world compared to my old one. It is extremely snappy, and I have yet to see memory pressure go into yellow or red. I also haven't noticed any glitchiness, compared to the Mac mini. What's interesting is that, even with only 11GB of 16GB currently used, there is still about 8GB of swap. I don't really care about that, as long as the computer stays fast and it doesn't drastically shorten the life of the SSD.

 

[gnasher729]

With the reports of possible wearing out the SSDs because of so much read/write activity on the M1 models, I'd go for 16GB myself to reduce swapping.

That's not a good reason at all. The reported read/write activity is so absurdly enormous, it's not caused by anything sensible, like swapping needed because of 8 GB RAM. Someone reported numbers that meant 30 Megabyte per second being written continuously, every second of each hour, 24/7, for two full months. The problem is either fake, or some software produces incorrect readings, or someone started an SSD benchmark and forgot to stop it, or something is going horrendously wrong. It's not something that happens in normal situations.

 

[circatee]

First, I bought a Mac mini with 8GB of memory. I got it on sale for $599, so I figured I'd at least try it out. In the few weeks I've had it, I have determined that 8GB of memory just isn't enough for me, as fast as the computer usually is. I tend to have a pretty large number of things open at any given time. Think 15+ browser windows with at least a few tabs each, plus Mail, iMessage, Notes, Roon, and whatever else I'm using.

Every so often, I notice it slow down, I go look at Activity Monitor, and I see that memory pressure was just in the red, sometimes at multiple times. Memory usage usually is 6GB+, with at least a few gigabytes of swap. Sometimes, when waking the computer up, it freezes and the memory pressure skyrockets, taking at least a minute or two to become fully responsive again. What causes this, I really don't know. I have also had some occasional display flickering, which may be related

Now, I just sold my 2017 MacBook Pro (2 USB-C ports, 16GB), and decided to buy a refurbished 16GB MacBook Air once it came available. I just got it yesterday, and I have to say that I'm very impressed. It's just another world compared to my old one. It is extremely snappy, and I have yet to see memory pressure go into yellow or red. I also haven't noticed any glitchiness, compared to the Mac mini. What's interesting is that, even with only 11GB of 16GB currently used, there is still about 8GB of swap. I don't really care about that, as long as the computer stays fast and it doesn't drastically shorten the life of the SSD.

View attachment 1739939

Curious, at the time of taking that image, what application were running/being used?

 

[richpjr]

That's not a good reason at all. The reported read/write activity is so absurdly enormous, it's not caused by anything sensible, like swapping needed because of 8 GB RAM. Someone reported numbers that meant 30 Megabyte per second being written continuously, every second of each hour, 24/7, for two full months. The problem is either fake, or some software produces incorrect readings, or someone started an SSD benchmark and forgot to stop it, or something is going horrendously wrong. It's not something that happens in normal situations.

I'm not sure it's a bad reason until more is known - one way or another.