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Advice - 16GB worth it?
- Thread starter Juanma8
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I hate to say it, but I was not being sarcastic. While I use aperture (60+k images) and not iPhoto, I do find my system out of memory on a very regular basis. Add in that I use my browser with my job and have lots of windows up and I use vmware fusion... I'm crushed for memory. I have to shut down one before I start the next.
So, is it something you MUST have? No, but for the cost I highly recommend it.
If you are processing archives 20000 or more of 20MP++ photos in Lightroom or Aperture, you should get a desktop machine. If it is a hobby, you should never put more dough than you need into it, upgrade when you start to get paid.
If you need anything more powerful than the baseline Macbook Pro, get a job that pays for it. If you are loosing clients because of your computers lag, buy a more powerful one.
If you need anything more powerful than the baseline Macbook Pro, get a job that pays for it. If you are loosing clients because of your computers lag, buy a more powerful one.
That still doesn't justify the purchase. God forbid you even page out at all.....your computer will explode!!!
That $200 properly invested could actually pay for your next computer. Now are you still "so glad"?
No, I don't have a mac. But when I want to buy electronic devices, I always choose for the mid-range item available.
I must agree with this. It is calculated that 8Gb of RAM will be the min in 2018/2019. By that time, the processor and GPU will be holding you back wether or not you have 16Gb of RAM.
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That doesn't mean you are pushing it. If your RAM pressure is still green, RAM is only getting filled up due to heavy caching. This can be cleared instantly when needed by the system. RAM cache can still be cleared, as well as RAM being compressed, before it pages-out (i.e you have ran out). With RAM compression, I was able to push my 8Gb of RAM in my iMac all the way to 18.5Gb before it started to page out, then went all the way up to 20.5 when it go super slow.
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With RAM compression, I had all of my applications open, iMovie doing some exporting, and 100 tabs split between Chrome and Safari (around 50/50 each) and I was using 15.14Gb of RAM with my 8Gb of RAM iMac . And it still never touched swap. And my RAM compression was green. This is due to the heavy caching OSX does (to make apps launch instantly, rather than fetching data from backing storage which is a much slower process) as well as RAM compression. RAM compression uses the WKdm compression algorithm allowing data held in RAM to be compressed and decompressed almost instantly meaning you can have a lot more running before you run out of RAM. As said above, I use using 15.15Gb of RAM (and my iMac has 8Gb). What this means, is that the data within RAM consisted of 15.14Gb (with some being compressed to make it fit on the 2X4Gb modules, but then instantly decompressed when needed).
Another thing to note, is that when I was using this much, my iMac was still very responsive (90% as responsive when compared to not pushing it). RAM pressure was also green, meaning I could push around 17Gb of RAM on my 8Gb system.
It takes the same effort to up upgrade to 16GB as does to 8GB. The only negative in with 16GB is a higher cost.
I am lost at folks implying you can have too much memory, too much or too fast storage and have a CPU or GPU that is too powerful.
If your budget allows, crank it up!
I am lost at folks implying you can have too much memory, too much or too fast storage and have a CPU or GPU that is too powerful.
If your budget allows, crank it up!
If you have an investment program that will turn $200 into $1600 over five years at today's interest rates, I'd like the name of your broker.
Get the 16 GB and you will sleep soundly!
Nobody knows what is around in the corner in the fast moving technology world so go for 16 GB.
Mine was 2 GB in 2007 when I bought my MBP and now it has 6 GB, 3 times more.
Nobody knows what is around in the corner in the fast moving technology world so go for 16 GB.
Mine was 2 GB in 2007 when I bought my MBP and now it has 6 GB, 3 times more.
I always say that if you need 16GB, you will know you need 16GB.
I have 16GB in my Retina. And no, I might not *need* 16GB, but having it allows me to have 6 Virtual Machines open, each with 2GB RAM allocated, and not have any degradation of system performance. So for me, it was worthwhile.
If you're just browsing Facebook, you do not need 16GB.
I have 16GB in my Retina. And no, I might not *need* 16GB, but having it allows me to have 6 Virtual Machines open, each with 2GB RAM allocated, and not have any degradation of system performance. So for me, it was worthwhile.
If you're just browsing Facebook, you do not need 16GB.
But let's say, for 2 VM'S, you should be ok with 8GB?
Another point is that iGPU will take 1.5GB(as with 10.9.3) so you are left with 6.5GB, no ?
"Intel Iris Pro Graphics
Apple computers using Intel Iris Pro Graphics as the primary GPU dynamically allocates up to 1 GB of system memory.
Products with Intel Iris Pro Graphics:
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)".
It uses upto 1Gb of RAM was VRAM. That is the on of the reason's I bought the 750m.
OP:
I would upgrade it in a heartbeat. You said that you wanted this to be fast and last a LONG time. Given that the memory is only $200, you can NEVER upgrade it in the future, and you want it to last a long time...well it seems obvious to me.
Beware of the users who claim that 8GB of memory is more than enough. I suspect many of them went the 8Gb route and are stuck.
What if you want to do something more in the future? A year or two down the road you may want to do something that is more demanding on the computer.
There are just too many good reasons to upgrade to 16Gb of memory.
Good Luck!
-P
I would upgrade it in a heartbeat. You said that you wanted this to be fast and last a LONG time. Given that the memory is only $200, you can NEVER upgrade it in the future, and you want it to last a long time...well it seems obvious to me.
Beware of the users who claim that 8GB of memory is more than enough. I suspect many of them went the 8Gb route and are stuck.
What if you want to do something more in the future? A year or two down the road you may want to do something that is more demanding on the computer.
There are just too many good reasons to upgrade to 16Gb of memory.
Good Luck!
-P
I can think of very few reasons anyone would NEED 16 gigs of ram if they are not working with multiple VM's or doing heavy editing. Unless your argument is that "hey it's just 200 dollars now I can tell everyone that I have 16 gigs of ram because that's an impressive number." The op will hit a brick wall with that processor before he ever feels the need for 16 gigs of ram. The diminishing returns on the benefits of increasing ram kick in heavily after the 8 gig mark, which sadly most people are misinformed about. Even if the OP were to go with 32 gigs of ram (not possible i know) he would still have to replace the machine due to the processor and graphics limitations if he wanted to do these "new and demanding" things...ram isn't the answer to all things electronic
I went for 16gb (and also the i7 for that matter). I figured it might come in useful if I keep the computer for like five years, which has been the average life for my prior laptops. And if I don't decide to keep it for five years, the better specs should make it easier to sell.
Though I fully acknowledge that the 16gb and i7 were more for peace of mind rather than for anything else.
Though I fully acknowledge that the 16gb and i7 were more for peace of mind rather than for anything else.
It depends what you definition of a long time is. If it is 4+ years then we are talking about $8.33 a month. Do you really want to doubt for the next 4 years if you should have spent an extra $8 on some ram. Personally I wouldn't even hesitate, you are getting double the ram for a 13% increase in price.
If you like to keep your macs for as long as possible, 16gb is an absolute must. My previous mac laptop was a 2011 MacBook Air, would have stuck with it for another couple of years but it was becoming hard work with only 4gb ram, the max option at purchase. It gave me an excuse to get a 15" rMBP, heh, but I absolutely would have deferred my purchase to late '14 or maybe '15 if my old mba had 8gb ram. I'd rather not have to face that eventuality with this rmbp so plumped for 16gb despite, mostly, only really needing 8gb or so.