Are 16gb ram enough for 14" 10CCPU 16GPU 1TB model? Rookie question

[inigou]

Hi. I purchased this base model (14" 10CCPU 16GPU 1TB 16gb ram?) and have doubts about returning /selling it and getting 32gb ram instead.
Im thinking in mid/long term.
My usage will not be very demanding as I already have a powerful pc, so im getting it to get introduced in mac world (by now only had iphones, ipads) but wouldnt want to get the wrong one. Gonna use for watching films, soft video editing, web brownsing and media consumption.
I use to get the mid range products, specs and storage for iphones/ipads so doubts are raising now thinking on mid future. At leats until next gen comes out.
Many thanks and sorry, im a noob at mac.

 

[CalMin]

This is a common question which is answered very well here.

 

[inigou]

This is a common question which is answered very well here.

Many thanks for your answer,
So that is how performs now.
How will perform next year for example? Ther would be any differences then, with all kind of software or OS updates?

 

[astorre]

So that is how performs now.
How will perform next year for example? Ther would be any differences then, with all kind of software or OS updates?

time to dust off that crystal ball and ask it, also next lottery numbers would be fine

 

[inigou]

time to dust off that crystal ball and ask it, also next lottery numbers would be fine

Just want to know im getting the correct configuration.
As i said, im a rookie at macbook world, son dont know how often equipments use to get renewed, and how OS use to hold up over time with base model specs. Wouldnt want to see myself next year blaming for not spending a bunch of dollars more for that ram having already paid a fortune for a base model.
I know most of you might laught with my questions, but is what forums are for, newbies like me

 

[DMG35]

You aren't going to need more than 16GB. You are wasting your money if you purchase more than that and your device will work like it does the day you get it a year from now.

 

[chengengaun]

My usage will not be very demanding as I already have a powerful pc, so im getting it to get introduced in mac world (by now only had iphones, ipads) but wouldnt want to get the wrong one. Gonna use for watching films, soft video editing, web brownsing and media consumption.

Yes, in fact the base model MacBook Air M1 is more than enough for the tasks even for the coming years, and the model you get is overkill for such tasks. But I guess you’d appreciate the extra features like the display. (For watching films I’d save the money and buy a proper big screen TV.)

Macs retain their values very well (provided you take good care of them). If you are not satisfied a few years later you can always sell it and trade for a newer model.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

I worked with a MacBook Air for like almost a year! The 14" base model is really really good, honestly unless you work at 3D or heavy effects production/video editing the base model is more than fine!

 

[CalMin]

Many thanks for your answer,
So that is how performs now.
How will perform next year for example? Ther would be any differences then, with all kind of software or OS updates?

No-one knows this. Sure Apple might 'load up' the OS with features that require more RAM, but they are still selling plenty of machines with 8GB. Most likely by the time 16GB is insufficient, your CPU will be long in the tooth and it will time for a new MacBook.

Just want to know im getting the correct configuration.
As i said, im a rookie at macbook world, son dont know how often equipments use to get renewed, and how OS use to hold up over time with base model specs. Wouldnt want to see myself next year blaming for not spending a bunch of dollars more for that ram having already paid a fortune for a base model.
I know most of you might laught with my questions, but is what forums are for, newbies like me

Look - at the end of the day it is just money. If the $400 extra for RAM doesn't break the bank and helps you sleep better at night, then by all means buy it. The chances are that for most of the life of the machine it will just sit there underutilized - but at least it will be there if you need it.

Apple creates a lot of anxiety with the configuration of these machines. Back in the day you could buy the machine that you need now and then upgrade the RAM and storage when your needs changed. I used to do that all the time with computers and was able to keep them for years. These days, you have to try and guess your future needs if you plan to keep the machine for a long time - and at these prices you mostly likely will want to!

As for me, I have the 14" / 16GB / 1TB / M1 Pro spec. It's lightning fast and very quiet. Nothing that I can do in my normal Office / productivity workflow can even get this machine to run its fans. That includes a Windows 11 ARM VM in Parallels running some old Adobe software through x86 emulation, plus a ton of open browser windows and tabs, all the MS Office apps, 50GB email and a 40GB Devonthink database - all with Apple Music and half a dozen productivity apps open in the background. This machine is a beast. On weekends - Light video editing is a breeze and Apple Photos runs like butter. I suspect that it will be fine for 3-5 years and then I'll trade it up for the next shiny new thing Apple makes. ?

 

[inigou]

No-one knows this. Sure Apple might 'load up' the OS with features that require more RAM, but they are still selling plenty of machines with 8GB. Most likely by the time 16GB is insufficient, your CPU will be long in the tooth and it will time for a new MacBook.



Look - at the end of the day it is just money. If the $400 extra for RAM doesn't break the bank and helps you sleep better at night, then by all means buy it. The chances are that for most of the life of the machine it will just sit there underutilized - but at least it will be there if you need it.

Apple creates a lot of anxiety with the configuration of these machines. Back in the day you could buy the machine that you need now and then upgrade the RAM and storage when your needs changed. I used to do that all the time with computers and was able to keep them for years. These days, you have to try and guess your future needs if you plan to keep the machine for a long time - and at these prices you mostly likely will want to!

As for me, I have the 14" / 16GB / 1TB / M1 Pro spec. It's lightning fast and very quiet. Nothing that I can do in my normal Office / productivity workflow can even get this machine to run its fans. That includes a Windows 11 ARM VM in Parallels running some old Adobe software through x86 emulation, plus a ton of open browser windows and tabs, all the MS Office apps, 50GB email and a 40GB Devonthink database - all with Apple Music and half a dozen productivity apps open in the background. This machine is a beast. On weekends - Light video editing is a breeze and Apple Photos runs like butter. I suspect that it will be fine for 3-5 years and then I'll trade it up for the next shiny new thing Apple makes. ?

Does your scrolls smoothly?
I find mine stuttering a lot compared to ipad or iphone with also 120hz

 

[Sanpete]

Long thread all about this:

PSA: you probably don’t need 32 or 64Gb RAM unless you know you need it.

With the new MBPs, this question is super-popular on these forums, and I see multiple posts spreading misinformation and FUD about 16Gb models, causing a bunch of people to most likely overspend of panic about their purchases. There is a lot of misunderstanding how RAM and swap files work and...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[dwsolberg]

Currently, my experience is that nothing I do slows this computer down, but if I were editing long format 8K video, I'd go for more RAM though.

 

[wilberforce]

I have a base 14" MBP, and am very confident 16GB will be fine for many years for the type of usage you plan, plus more.
I personally have some (extreme) usage cases where I think 32GB might be a benefit (editing of very high resolution photos), but 16GB is not "wrong" or a "mistake."

 

[CalMin]

Does your scrolls smoothly?
I find mine stuttering a lot compared to ipad or iphone with also 120hz

Apple is working on an update. 120hz scrolling is currently in beta for Safari.

 

[bill-p]

How will perform next year for example? Ther would be any differences then, with all kind of software or OS updates?

Never buy a device based on future needs. Buy a device based on your current needs.

Once the device does not fit your needs anymore either because the OS or your software somehow magically became much more demanding, then just buy the next device.

It is foolish to try and predict how technology will be like some years down the line. No one could expect the M1 Pro/Max to outperform Intel MacBooks with discrete graphics by this much.

 

[haruhiko]

For a rookie 16GB is overkill.
Few years later the whatever baseline MacBook Pro at that time will easily outperform your top of the line today.

 

[wilberforce]

Few years later the whatever baseline MacBook Pro at that time will easily outperform your top of the line today.

I wouldn't be too sure of that. Intel made the same mistake.
Apple Silicon was a bit of a paradigm shift, with a leap in performance taking it to another level. I would not be surprised if the next several years offer more incremental improvements. Or improvements in unexpected areas or directions.
But we shall see.

 

[goMac]

RAM is RAM. Apple Silicon doesn't make your data smaller or bigger. Your data will take the same amount of memory as it would on any other computer. A lot of threads here pretend the M1 has the power to bend time and space and compress 1s and 0s into some new form that occupies less space. And thus there are a lot of people saying that any more than 16 gigs of RAM is useless.

It's pretty much the same decision you would need to make with a PC. If your software uses 32 gigs of RAM easily, you probably need 32 gigs of RAM. If the stuff you use only needs 16 gigs of RAM or less, go with 16. You don't need to be a power user computing the human genome while editing the next Star Wars movie to need to make the jump to 32 gigs. I know plenty of people who are hitting limits for performance with 32 and 64 gig configs.

With that said:
Everything you've described should be just fine on a 16 gig system.

If you think you might use it for more later, or software gets bigger and occupies more memory (like it has since the beginning of computing) than it won't be as good. But maybe at that point it's better to trade up to a new laptop.

 

[Sanpete]

A lot of threads here pretend the M1 has the power to bend time and space and compress 1s and 0s into some new form that occupies less space. And thus there are a lot of people saying that any more than 16 gigs of RAM is useless.

There are no such threads, and no such people. The thread linked to above explains it well.