Advice - 16GB worth it?

[MartinAppleGuy]

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 totally agree. Why spend the extra 200 if the OP will not benefit from it. By the time the OP needs 16Gb of RAM, the CPU and GPU are outdated anyway. The 200 is better getting put away, and then used on buying a new Macbook Pro in X years time.

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If you keep the $200, that can be put towards buying a new MBP one year earlier than you would have done. They way I have always seen it, is that unless you are benefiting from 16Gb right now, it will not be worth the purchase. And why spend an extra $200 just to increase the amount of money you will get back when selling it? Pay more to sell?!?

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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

Yeah, the OP should just stop looking at Macbook Pro's and just buy a maxed out Mac Pro and upgrade the RAM to 128Gb. Beware of the users who claim that 128GB of memory is more than enough. I suspect many of them went the 16Gb route and are stuck.


#sarcasm

 

[comatory]

Using 2GB on low-end 2010 MBA daily here. Perfectly OK for browsing and stuff.

 

[Tomr182]

It's all relative to 2 main things

1- what you actually do on the machine
2- the hardware

You need to be doing something fairly meaty to use 16gb now, I can't imagine that many users NEED it.

I've had 4gb in my whitebook from the start and that's over 6 years old. The RAM is not my limitation at all even today.

I say 8gb is plenty for the majority of people right now and likely for the next 4-5 years, and put the upgrade money towards the next machine. Would you rather upgrade and have it for 6 years, or pocket the cash and upgrade after 5 and be closer to having more upto date hardware at any given point?

 

[Hammie]

So, for someone who would be doing mostly photo editing in Lightroom/Photoshop and audio transcoding in MAX, would 8 GB be enough?

Everything else is normal web browsing, document editing, basic spreadsheet creation/manipulation, etc.

I just ordered a 16GB model, but if I could pick up an 8GB in store this weekend, I would be very happy.

These models are the same price...

2.6/16/256
2.6/8/512

This is $100 less...

2.4/16/256

Which, in your opinion, would best suit the above use pattern? I am only currently using 91GB on my current hard drive. Probably less when I move over to the new machine depending on what programs I actually reinstall.

 

[comatory]

So, for someone who would be doing mostly photo editing in Lightroom/Photoshop and audio transcoding in MAX, would 8 GB be enough?

Everything else is normal web browsing, document editing, basic spreadsheet creation/manipulation, etc.

I just ordered a 16GB model, but if I could pick up an 8GB in store this weekend, I would be very happy.

These models are the same price...

2.6/16/256
2.6/8/512

This is $100 less...

2.4/16/256

Which, in your opinion, would best suit the above use pattern? I am only currently using 91GB on my current hard drive. Probably less when I move over to the new machine depending on what programs I actually reinstall.

I think 8 gigs is fine.

 

[Fondaparinux]

If you can afford it, take the 16GB, if you can't, sell your liver on the blackmarket and take the 16 GB

I hope he's kidding about that last part.
There is a legit story about a guy in China who stole his kidney for iPads.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2126172/Chinese-boy-sells-kidney-buy-iPad-iPhone.html

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

It's all relative to 2 main things

1- what you actually do on the machine
2- the hardware

You need to be doing something fairly meaty to use 16gb now, I can't imagine that many users NEED it.

I've had 4gb in my whitebook from the start and that's over 6 years old. The RAM is not my limitation at all even today.

I say 8gb is plenty for the majority of people right now and likely for the next 4-5 years, and put the upgrade money towards the next machine. Would you rather upgrade and have it for 6 years, or pocket the cash and upgrade after 5 and be closer to having more upto date hardware at any given point?

Totally agree.

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So, for someone who would be doing mostly photo editing in Lightroom/Photoshop and audio transcoding in MAX, would 8 GB be enough?

Everything else is normal web browsing, document editing, basic spreadsheet creation/manipulation, etc.

I just ordered a 16GB model, but if I could pick up an 8GB in store this weekend, I would be very happy.

These models are the same price...

2.6/16/256
2.6/8/512

This is $100 less...

2.4/16/256

Which, in your opinion, would best suit the above use pattern? I am only currently using 91GB on my current hard drive. Probably less when I move over to the new machine depending on what programs I actually reinstall.

Up to you really. I have not been able to push my 8Gb of RAM at all (with RAM compression I was using 20.5Gb at one point ). Only if you are running VM's do you need more than 8Gb of RAM for at least the next 4-5 years. Why not go for the 2.6/8/256? Then put the money towards upgrading one year earlier?

 

[Hammie]

Up to you really. I have not been able to push my 8Gb of RAM at all (with RAM compression I was using 20.5Gb at one point ). Only if you are running VM's do you need more than 8Gb of RAM for at least the next 4-5 years. Why not go for the 2.6/8/256? Then put the money towards upgrading one year earlier?

Now that I think about it, I will be running VMWare View Client for work. This is a virtual desktop on a remote server. Nothing is actually installed on my hard drive.

Does this change things up?

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

Now that I think about it, I will be running VMWare View Client for work. This is a virtual desktop on a remote server. Nothing is actually installed on my hard drive.

Does this change things up?

How much do you dedicate to it? If you are only dedication 1 or 2Gb, you won't have a problem. If you dedicate 4Gb, you will still have nice performance in both View Client and OSX, but you might not get as much out of your MBP (in terms of years) with 8Gb of RAM if you are having to dedicate 4Gb of RAM to the VM. If it is 2Gb or less, I'd just get the 8Gb. I have done a lot more heavy stuff on my iMac with 8Gb of RAM than what you have listed you will do, and my RAM pressure is still green.

If you wish to know more about what I have done on my 8Gb of RAM, as well as the test's I have carried out (it terms of how OSX handles it as well as App Caching, RAM compression...), just ask

 

[Hammie]

How much do you dedicate to it? If you are only dedication 1 or 2Gb, you won't have a problem. If you dedicate 4Gb, you will still have nice performance in both View Client and OSX, but you might not get as much out of your MBP (in terms of years) with 8Gb of RAM if you are having to dedicate 4Gb of RAM to the VM. If it is 2Gb or less, I'd just get the 8Gb. I have done a lot more heavy stuff on my iMac with 8Gb of RAM than what you have listed you will do, and my RAM pressure is still green.

If you wish to know more about what I have done on my 8Gb of RAM, as well as the test's I have carried out (it terms of how OSX handles it as well as App Caching, RAM compression...), just ask

I dont have it yet. Im waiting for my work to finalize my configuration. I have not really thought about it. While accessing my work stuff, im not sure how much personal stuff that i would do.

Still undecided... Get one today with 8 gb or wait a week for one with 16gb.

Will the 2.4 vs 2.6 make much difference with vmware view client?

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

I dont have it yet. Im waiting for my work to finalize my configuration. I have not really thought about it. While accessing my work stuff, im not sure how much personal stuff that i would do.

Still undecided... Get one today with 8 gb or wait a week for one with 16gb.

Will the 2.4 vs 2.6 make much difference with vmware view client?

You will only notice the CPU difference when rendering and exporting a long HD video (or doing some heavy number crunching like encoding). If you are not planing on doing that, just get the 2.4/256/8 today.

 

[Tomr182]

just bought my macbook pro yay!

how are you all seeing your RAM usage, and compression and TRIM etc? This is alien to me coming from a whitebook

 

[JTravers]

No resources need to be dedicated for a VMware View Client. The VM is running on the server, and the Client app is just logging on to that VM. 8GB vs 16GB isn't an issue. It would only be an issue if you were actually running a VM locally on your machine and needed to dedicate resources to it. In that case, I might lean towards 16GB, but it's still not absolutely necessary.

 

[joe-h2o]

Get 16gb. End of story.

(Ok maybe not the end, but really... if you ever imagine you will run iphoto or like opening up lots of windows, you need the memory.)

Comments like this are hilarious.

I run a pretty hefty VM with Win 7 on my rMBP along with any number of other apps (including lots of windows) with 8GB and it is absolutely fine.

Pageouts: 0

8GB of RAM is ample for all but the very heaviest workloads.

 

[MH01]

If you can afford it. Otherwise 8 will be fine, you will upgrade a few times before 16 gb is recommended for an os.

 

[Hammie]

You will only notice the CPU difference when rendering and exporting a long HD video (or doing some heavy number crunching like encoding). If you are not planing on doing that, just get the 2.4/256/8 today.

No resources need to be dedicated for a VMware View Client. The VM is running on the server, and the Client app is just logging on to that VM. 8GB vs 16GB isn't an issue. It would only be an issue if you were actually running a VM locally on your machine and needed to dedicate resources to it. In that case, I might lean towards 16GB, but it's still not absolutely necessary.

I ended up getting the 2.4/8/256 yesterday.

Like you said, the VMware Client doesn't need to dedicate local resources. Since I am an engineer, my virtual image will be running Win 7 with 4GB RAM and 10GB of cloud storage for my files. My Outlook PST files utilize a different storage allocation. I think I have 10 GB for them as well.

 

[MH01]

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.

You can sleep soundly with only 16GB???

I have night terrors knowing my desktop has only 32GB, had I gone 64GB I'd sleep like a baby.

On a serious note, there is nothing around the corner that requires 16GB.... Nothing . Modern OS are becoming more efficient and not bloated. Example being mavericks. 8GB is an overkill.

Basically anyone asking if they need 8 or 16, does not even need 8. The people that need 16, will not be asking on forums, they know exactly what they want

 

[imageWIS]

You can sleep soundly with only 16GB???

I have night terrors knowing my desktop has only 32GB, had I gone 64GB I'd sleep like a baby.

On a serious note, there is nothing around the corner that requires 16GB.... Nothing . Modern OS are becoming more efficient and not bloated. Example being mavericks. 8GB is an overkill.

Basically anyone asking if they need 8 or 16, does not even need 8. The people that need 16, will not be asking on forums, they know exactly what they want

I agree, which is why I ordered my 13" MBPr with 16 GB, I know what my usage re: RAM is and I bought accordingly.

I mention in passing that most 'normal usage' people don't understand why people need faster / more powerful machines and are often naysayers when it comes to certain upgrades only because THEY don't use them. It's always important to know what your use will be and anyone giving advice must take YOU into consideration, not themselves.

 

[iPaintCode]

I ended up getting the 2.4/8/256 yesterday.

Like you said, the VMware Client doesn't need to dedicate local resources. Since I am an engineer, my virtual image will be running Win 7 with 4GB RAM and 10GB of cloud storage for my files. My Outlook PST files utilize a different storage allocation. I think I have 10 GB for them as well.

I ended up in the same situation where I debated 8gb vs 16gb for my mobile/travel/office needs (I use a 2013 27" iMac at home office) and considering I was temporarily using my wife's 2011 13" Air 1.8/4/256 and didn't have any issues. I debated a 13" Air w/8 or a refurbed 13" 2.4/8/256 rMBP, it was a no brainer to get the 13" 2.4/8/256 rMBP.

As a Front End Developer I have to work with 50-100mb Photoshop files (once in a while 250mb) and with Photoshop CC open, Text Editor (5-15 JavaScript, LESS and HMTL Template files open), Spotify, Chrome, Chrome DevTools, Safari (only for work web mail, Chrome no workie) Terminal, Remote Desktop Connection, Lync, Messages, Mail, Notes and a few other dev apps. I never heard the fan (2013 has single fan now I think) kick on, never got hot, never felt like I was paging even though I probably have, though never felt dire needs to check; or care.

I could have ordered a 2.4/16/256 but even with my EPP discount I would have paid an extra 300 dollars. Now with that said a very good friend of mine is an EXTREME minimalist and has done all his iOS app development (Xcode), Front End Dev (running a VM as well) and he rocks a base 2012 Air 11" with 64GB SSD and 4GB ram. His only complaint has been the battery life of the 2012, NEVER machines light specs, but then again he's an extremist in that spectrum.

 

[Juanma8]

Funny this thread is still alive.
I finally bought the 8/ 256. VERY HAPPY with it.
love my new macbook pro.

thank you all

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

I ended up getting the 2.4/8/256 yesterday.

Like you said, the VMware Client doesn't need to dedicate local resources. Since I am an engineer, my virtual image will be running Win 7 with 4GB RAM and 10GB of cloud storage for my files. My Outlook PST files utilize a different storage allocation. I think I have 10 GB for them as well.

Great choice

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Funny this thread is still alive.
I finally bought the 8/ 256. VERY HAPPY with it.
love my new macbook pro.

thank you all

Hope you enjoy your purchase

 

[barnettgs]

You can sleep soundly with only 16GB???

I have night terrors knowing my desktop has only 32GB, had I gone 64GB I'd sleep like a baby.

On a serious note, there is nothing around the corner that requires 16GB.... Nothing . Modern OS are becoming more efficient and not bloated. Example being mavericks. 8GB is an overkill.

Basically anyone asking if they need 8 or 16, does not even need 8. The people that need 16, will not be asking on forums, they know exactly what they want

You are talking about today's computers and software so we do not know what is around the corner. Of course, you should sleep soundly because the desktop is easily upgradable, MBP does not.

The problem with MBP is the memory is soldered in and it is really hard to know how much is enough. The size of applications for both PC and Mac over the years do increase quite a lot over the time.

I first bought MBP 2007 with 2 GB and it was enough for a couple of years or more, then upgraded to 4 GB then 6 GB. It came with Tiger OS X which was light and snappy on default memory.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

anybody who is buying more memory than they need or can conceivably need because apple soldered the RAM chip is doing exactly what apple wanted them to do. Apple won.

 

[MH01]

You are talking about today's computers and software so we do not know what is around the corner. Of course, you should sleep soundly because the desktop is easily upgradable, MBP does not.

The problem with MBP is the memory is soldered in and it is really hard to know how much is enough. The size of applications for both PC and Mac over the years do increase quite a lot over the time.

I first bought MBP 2007 with 2 GB and it was enough for a couple of years or more, then upgraded to 4 GB then 6 GB. It came with Tiger OS X which was light and snappy on default memory.

Nah, my desktop will be replaced within 2 years, the architecture will be too old. I was just being cheeky

The difference between us I guess is that I upgrade within a couple of years, due to CPU/GPU upgrades (these are far more important to me than ram).

I assume your 7 year old MBP is doing just fine with 6GB?

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

Nah, my desktop will be replaced within 2 years, the architecture will be too old. I was just being cheeky

The difference between us I guess is that I upgrade within a couple of years, due to CPU/GPU upgrades (these are far more important to me than ram).

I assume your 7 year old MBP is doing just fine with 6GB?

I agree. The estimated time that 8Gb will be the minimum requirement of OSX will be roughly 2018-2020. By that time, even if you had 16Gb your processor and GPU will not be up to the job anyway. 16Gb of RAM is only worth while if you are benefiting from it right away (and right now, the only way for someone to benefit from it is using VM's).