I thought there was a thread where someone had installed Mavericks and it allocated more RAM for their HD4000/5000. I guess the question is if that RAM would be used under the resolutions at which you could game on an Air?
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8GB vs 4GB on new Haswells?
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I thought there was a thread where someone had installed Mavericks and it allocated more RAM for their HD4000/5000. I guess the question is if that RAM would be used under the resolutions at which you could game on an Air?
I only have 3 applications (Safari, Powerpoint, and Preview) open, look at how much RAM is being utilized. OS X will put that RAM to use. Notice how there are 0 page outs. 4GB will cause you to constantly page out to the hard drive. Even on a fresh reboot, it will hover above 3GB used without any applications opened.
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I subscribe to the belief that it's always best to get the best machine you can afford, especially if it's going to be your primary machine, and doubly so if you don't plan on upgrading to a new machine for years to come.
So if you can afford 8GB and plan on holding onto your MBA for 30+ months, you might as well spring for more RAM.
So if you can afford 8GB and plan on holding onto your MBA for 30+ months, you might as well spring for more RAM.
^^^yes.
If I were just web browsing, document editing, casual photo editing and working with home videos, not using any other OS, and very light browser gaming, I'd get the 4gb.
Since I do web/app development and some casual gaming (Warcraft, diablo, etc), I opted for the 8gb. Also since I plan on keeping the machine for a while and the MBAs can't use aftermarket RAM, I justified the 8gb upgrade (but not the i7).
If I were just web browsing, document editing, casual photo editing and working with home videos, not using any other OS, and very light browser gaming, I'd get the 4gb.
Since I do web/app development and some casual gaming (Warcraft, diablo, etc), I opted for the 8gb. Also since I plan on keeping the machine for a while and the MBAs can't use aftermarket RAM, I justified the 8gb upgrade (but not the i7).
I purchased mines at BB which only offer the base model so I guess I'm going to give it some thought.
I don't know if the rest of the internals of MacBook Airs (or even Pros) is really future proof enough to warrant going above and beyond in RAM. The CPUs are good but nothing screaming fast, basically "what you would expect", and GPU are, whenever required, always the bottleneck, generally being considered "low end" by the rest of the tech world.
I don't keep Apple laptops for more than 2 years anymore, it's not worth it, just sell and replace with every other upgrade, same as the iPhone.
The only Mac Apple produce that I would keep for longer than that costs $2000 sadly. This is my main gripe with Apple, lack of a reasonable value, expandable desktop.
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Afaik it's SSU space you allocate to the GPU?
I don't keep Apple laptops for more than 2 years anymore, it's not worth it, just sell and replace with every other upgrade, same as the iPhone.
The only Mac Apple produce that I would keep for longer than that costs $2000 sadly. This is my main gripe with Apple, lack of a reasonable value, expandable desktop.
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Afaik it's SSU space you allocate to the GPU?
They had a loaded model and Apple didn't!? Surprised but wish I'd thought to check that out!
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The critical part of this is how many of those things you do at the same time. I upgraded my MBP from 4 to 8 and quite regularly push past 4gb in use with two or three items on your list going on simultaneously. It's just not always about the individual task demands, but often about the multitasking needs of the user. Just a thought.
Unless there is something specific you are doing that requires 8 gigs, you don't need it at all. If you have lots of cash to spend, then go ahead max out your machine, why not? Load it up! In terms of usefulness, like I said, if there isn't something specific that requires 8 gigs, it's not necessary. I used to max out the memory all the time. It's a waste of money I find now.
Quite different animals...and both extremely useful in their own right...wipe the memory of spending the cash on the two of them...and keep 'em both
That's not true...at ALL!!! I've got a core i7/4GB/256GB 2011 Air, no page outs and I've got Chrome open right now (7 tabs), Safari (4 tabs), Mail, iPhoto and I'm doing some recording in Adobe Audition. OSx will use the memory it has if it needs it and it's available. If not, OSx is extremely good at memory management and will release from idle applications (or recently closed programs) when necessary to complete the current task. As well, the 2013 MBAs have 800Mb/s NAND storage. While not half as fast as RAM...it's pretty damn close. Paging in/out on this fast of SS storage won't be noticeable in the least if you're not pulling off professional applications (IE: After Effects and available frames). If you are planning to use professional, creative software for editing video, rendering and transcoding...the MBA might not be the right choice. For audio and still photography though---even the monster D800 Nikon RAW files....manipulation will be incredibly 'zippy' --- even with 'only' 4GB of RAM. As well...with Mavericks, it sounds as though memory management and power/efficiency management are priorities.
While 8GB of RAM is an excellent choice for some, it's not wise for most IMHO.
How old is your MBP? Does it also have an SSD? How fast? Significant factors when determining configuration of a 'new' machine, especially a MBA vs MBP.
OP---Even doing Window's virtualization/emulation...Parallels has come a LONG way as well helping manage memory. You also have the opportunity to use BootCamp for your other OS'es. This will allow you to devote all 4GB of RAM to each OS while in use.
on the re-sale market, often folks are ignorant to things like RAM and CPU. Storage, they're more aware...but it's folks like us that value the amount of RAM, Cache size, CPU, GPU, etc...more than the average Joe/Jane. Faster CPU, more RAM...and often, even the bigger SSD will not return the same value when you pop it up on Craigslist. For further proof, check out 'completed auctions' on eBay for past MBAs.
J
OSX will use the RAM that is available. For example, something that may only take 1 gb of RAM will actually try to use 2gb if it is available. Only on these forums will you see people push so hard for the 8gb upgrade. I would say get the 4gb ram b.c by time you actually need 8gb of RAM it will be time to upgrade your laptop anyways. Unless you do seriously intensive task, 4gb will serve you just fine. I run VM's all the time and never encounter any issues with only 4gb, and it will not be an issue in the future. SSD decrease the need for more RAM too.
You will 100% be fine with 4gb of RAM....this is the biggest waste of $100 I see a lot of people make. True it is only $100 to some people, but to others it is $100!!
The extra 4GB is at the very most 10% of the cost of the MB Air so cost is relative.
Since it can't be upgraded later it's well worth the nominal extra cost.
Since it can't be upgraded later it's well worth the nominal extra cost.
Exactly. In fact, I wish they had a 16GB option. I'm sure they could do it but they don't want to encroach on MBP sales (same with no retina, etc.).
That can be a lot depending on the person...especially when it is an upgrade 90% of people will never need or notice.
It can be a lot, no doubt. IMHO it's worth the investment. The extra RAM is worth it for resale value and if one plans on using it for more than two or three years because needs grow and software inevitably bloats. But you are right, not everyone will notice it.
I totally agree that if you plan on using the laptop for a long time it is a good investment. In terms of resell people just want a Mac. The ram upgrade never really effects resale. The people who take the smallest hit are people who buy the base models. Every each I buy a new base model and lose at most $200 or $17 month.
It has applied to my exotic configurations, as well. I don't lose much, if any, and sometimes with upgrades that I do myself, I gain money (optibay SSD, for example) because people don't want to risk it themselves.
That would definitely be a money making upgrade. I see the people buying ultimate configs hit the hardest.
I disagree on the resell point. Within the last week, I Craigslisted an 8gb MBP for $100 more than another local seller who only had a 4gb machine, same specs otherwise. He still has the machine a week later.
The RAM was aftermarket, so it was way cheaper and gave a better return. On these MBAs, you can't aftermarket the RAM. Still, it should be enough for you to get its value back upon its resell.
The RAM was aftermarket, so it was way cheaper and gave a better return. On these MBAs, you can't aftermarket the RAM. Still, it should be enough for you to get its value back upon its resell.
I typically have Coda 2, Chrome, Safari with several tabs open, Mamp and iTunes ( rarely I open Photoshop CS) running and I'm considering getting a base model with a 246SSD.
Is the i5 and only 4GB RAM. Enough for my tasks?
I'll upgrade next year to the new MacBook Air but from now until the 2014 update I want to be ad to work without RAM or processor issues.
I'm coming from an Early MBP 2011 Sandy Bridge i5 with 16GB of RAM beach balling all over the place with 1TB 5400 RPM HD.
I'll appreciate some advice, thanks!
Is the i5 and only 4GB RAM. Enough for my tasks?
I'll upgrade next year to the new MacBook Air but from now until the 2014 update I want to be ad to work without RAM or processor issues.
I'm coming from an Early MBP 2011 Sandy Bridge i5 with 16GB of RAM beach balling all over the place with 1TB 5400 RPM HD.
I'll appreciate some advice, thanks!
I think of it this way:
Whenever you're buying a desktop/laptop that is upgradeable, then only get what you need today.
If it's NOT upgradeable, go for the highest level you can afford.
That said, if you can get the 8GB, then get it. You should have no regrets later.
Whenever you're buying a desktop/laptop that is upgradeable, then only get what you need today.
If it's NOT upgradeable, go for the highest level you can afford.
That said, if you can get the 8GB, then get it. You should have no regrets later.
Is MBA '13 better in memory management than MBP Mid 2010
Is MBA '13 better in memory management than MBP Mid 2010. Sometimes I have not enough RAM and it appears rainbow ball. I wonder if in the same way of work on MBA it will not appear, so MBA will be better in memory management. On both Mountain Lion.
Is MBA '13 better in memory management than MBP Mid 2010. Sometimes I have not enough RAM and it appears rainbow ball. I wonder if in the same way of work on MBA it will not appear, so MBA will be better in memory management. On both Mountain Lion.
I can get 8GB that is not the problem but that does not mean that I should and that's why I'm trying to find out.
The thing is that I have an ultimate in order i7/8gb/512ssd. But by reading on this forum it looks like I'll take a big hit next year when I try to resell to upgrade to the new Air (I'll definitely do) as it will have a resell value similar to a base model.
And the main concern also is that I want to maximize battery life to its fullest ad I'm afraid the added ram and more powerful processor will contribute to more battery drain than in the lower ram lower powered base models and also more heat and faster fan start times.
Going from the ultimate at $1749 to a i5/4gb/256ssd at $1199 is almost $600 difference.
I do not play games on a laptop at all, I never did so my question again is that I typically have Coda 2, Chrome, Safari with several tabs open, Mamp and
I'm coming from an Early MBP 2011 Sandy Bridge i5 with 16GB of RAM beach balling all over the place with 1TB 5400 RPM HD.
Is the i5/4gb/256ssd enough for this or I'll struggle on the RAM? And it is better to get the ultimate?
I'll appreciate some advice, thanks!
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I went with 8G (still waiting for the machine though) following this rationale.
It is only (?!) 100 €/$ more. If things go as with my previous machine I will keep this for about 4 years (48 months) so the additional cost will be a little over 2/month over that time (about 1 coffee/month?). On alternative the reselling value will be at least 100 $/€ for an 8G than for a 4G.
If you can afford 100 more go for it if only as an investments.
I went with 8G (still waiting for the machine though
) following this rationale.It is only (?!) 100 €/$ more. If things go as with my previous machine I will keep this for about 4 years (48 months) so the additional cost will be a little over 2/month over that time (about 1 coffee/month?). On alternative the reselling value will be at least 100 $/€ for an 8G than for a 4G.
If you can afford 100 more go for it if only as an investments.