Benefit of 16GB of RAM

[pcd213]

I've never had more than 8GB of RAM on my laptops but I've always wondered what the tangible benefit of 16GB RAM would be. My general usage is in lots of web with lots of open tabs, streaming video and audio, emailing, messaging, photo viewing, document writing, and calendaring. Often times I'll have Safari with a bunch of tabs and maybe five other programs running at the same time. I don't edit video, I don't edit music, I don't game, I don't develop.

What benefit would 16GBs have on my type of usage? Is 16GBs really only beneficial for video editors/gamers/developers?

 

[mdnz]

As programs and websites get more demanding over time, it would be smart to get 16GB right now if you intend on keeping your laptop for at least 4-5 years.

Right now it won't make much of a difference, but in due time it will.

 

[RobbieTT]

Of zero benefit to you and probably most customers. People like to think they 'must' need more, probably from the days when it made a difference or have got used to Windows appetite.

I do have use cases where I need more (VMs) and 1 laptop has 16GB and the iMac Pro has 32GB, but the other 4 Macs run with 8GB as that is the minimum you can buy. Those that genuinely need more RAM know exactly why and the amount they require. The future-proofing argument is flawed for everything save for storage space (if relevant to you).

 

[Herrpod]

8 (on a Mac) is perfect for what you described. Mirrors my usage. People told me in 2014 when I bought a MBP that 8 would be enough but I should go with more because it wouldn't be enough for long. 2019 is here and 8 is still enough.

 

[kp98077]

I believe 8 is just fine for most and even professionals. I hear people say they will keep their laptops 4,5 or 6 years but the truth is they usually upgrade, therefore, the need is eve less...you can compare what 8 was 5 years ago and what it is now, computers work differently. I have an 8 MBP 2019 13" now and honestly push it hard and have not noticed any issues at all! I'd rather save that $

 

[cube]

I believe 8 is just fine for most and even professionals.

8 was basic years ago.

 

[Herrpod]

8 was basic years ago.

And it was fine years ago. It's still fine for what the OP described. More than fine actually.

 

[cube]

And it was fine years ago. It's still fine for what the OP described. More than fine actually.

How is it fine when an OS + Firefox takes 12GiB now?

 

[kp98077]

8 was basic years ago.

but 8 years ago, we didn't have base model quad core either from apple....

 

[pcd213]

Thank you, all! Very helpful!

Now, same question for an i7 processor. I’m asking more for my own knowledge than something I’d really consider.

 

[Stephen.R]

OP: when you’re doing your usual activities on the computer, open up Activity Monitor (spotlight for “activity” or look in Applications > Utilities), click the memory tab and look down the bottom where it says memory pressure.

If it’s green, you probably don’t need more. If it’s yellow or red, you’d probably (almost certainly) benefit from more memory.

With the rise in popularity (amongst some people) of chrome, and it’s cousin Electron based apps (eg slack, Skype, discord, etc) claiming that 8GB “is enough for most people” is disingenuous at best.

There’s no such thing as too much RAM.

 

[Howard2k]

How is it fine when an OS + Firefox takes 12GiB now?

I can run Firefox on my 8GB system.

The more memory macOS has the more it will use.

 

[cube]

I can run Firefox on my 8GB system.

The more memory macOS has the more it will use.

Sure you can. It is much worse when the system is on a hard drive.

 

[Howard2k]

OP: when you’re doing your usual activities on the computer, open up Activity Monitor (spotlight for “activity” or look in Applications > Utilities), click the memory tab and look down the bottom where it says memory pressure.

If it’s green, you probably don’t need more. If it’s yellow or red, you’d probably (almost certainly) benefit from more memory.

With the rise in popularity (amongst some people) of chrome, and it’s cousin Electron based apps (eg slack, Skype, discord, etc) claiming that 8GB “is enough for most people” is disingenuous at best.

There’s no such thing as too much RAM.

8GBs is obviously enough for most people since it’s the most popular 13” configuration.
[doublepost=1563044075][/doublepost]

Sure you can. It is much worse when the system is on a hard drive.

For sure. Much worse when it’s a Pentium
75 too. Luckily it’s neither

 

[cube]

8GBs is obviously enough for most people since it’s the most popular 13” configuration.

Apple has typically skimped on RAM giving half the regular amount.
[doublepost=1563044274][/doublepost]

For sure. Much worse when it’s a Pentium
75 too. Luckily it’s neither

It can be a 2TB SSHD that you put in a cMBP.

 

[Stephen.R]

8GBs is obviously enough for most people since it’s the most popular 13” configuration.

I forgot, everyone who buys a computer always buys exactly what they need, as opposed to what’s cheap and ready to take home that day.

 

[Howard2k]

Apple has typically skimped on RAM giving half the regular amount.
[doublepost=1563044274][/doublepost]
It can be a 2TB SSHD on cMBP.

Simply not true. If 8GB wasn’t enough for most people it wouldn’t be the base configuration of the 13”. Otherwise people (myself included) wouldn’t be able to use 8GB.

Your logic just doesn’t work.

 

[Howard2k]

I forgot, everyone who buys a computer always buys exactly what they need, as opposed to what’s cheap and ready to take home that day.

Again, if it wasn’t enough it wouldn’t work.

 

[cube]

Simply not true. If 8GB wasn’t enough for most people it wouldn’t be the base configuration of the 13”. Otherwise people (myself included) wouldn’t be able to use 8GB.

Your logic just doesn’t work.

Yes it works. Whenever I bought a Mac the first thing I did was replace the RAM and hard drive.

 

[Howard2k]

Yes it works. Whenever I bought a Mac the fist thing I did was replace the RAM and hard drive.

That’s because either:
1) your needs are higher than average, or
2) you needlessly upgraded (and hey nothing wrong with that)

Again, if 8GB wasn’t enough (and as you obviously know, we can’t upgrade our MBPros) the forum would be full of posts from people complaining that they bought 8GB, the system has to constantly swap, it slows to a crawl, and it’s easily observable in Activity Monitor. Where are those posts?

 

[cube]

That’s because either:
1) your needs are higher than average, or
2) you needlessly upgraded (and hey nothing wrong with that)

Again, if 8GB wasn’t enough (and as you obviously know, we can’t upgrade our MBPros) the forum would be full of posts from people complaining that they bought 8GB, the system has to constantly swap, it slows to a crawl, and it’s easily observable in Activity Monitor. Where are those posts?

- When I did that I was using a regular amount of RAM. It was not until later that an Apple laptop was no longer enough.
- Normally the drives would be slow or not enough for carryover.
- It is normally better to upgrade yourself than from the computer maker.

 

[Stephen.R]

Again, if it wasn’t enough it wouldn’t work.

A car with a flat tire “works”. A bbq that’s burning out of control “works”.

Your entire point is based on anecdotal evidence - your computer “works”, and some kind of blind faith that Apple has any clue how you intend to use the computer or how much memory you need. Go read what they say about “how much memory is right for you”.

I’m done arguing this point with you. OP, I told you above how you can check if more memory would help your specific usage or not.

 

[Herrpod]

Don't get fear mongered into buying what you don't need. And no, Firefox does NOT require 12 gigs to run well. Thats one of the dumbest things I've read all day...and I've been on Twitter today.

 

[Altis]

Simply not true. If 8GB wasn’t enough for most people it wouldn’t be the base configuration of the 13”. Otherwise people (myself included) wouldn’t be able to use 8GB.

Your logic just doesn’t work.

Apple has been consistent in giving the bare minimum RAM on their products. Then, in just a few years, the permanent/forced "updates" suddenly run like garbage and all we hear is, "well of course, it only has X RAM!".

That aside, 8 GB is okay for basic computing tasks at the moment. It'll likely just page to the SSD when it needs to (which can wear it sooner, and it can no longer be replaced independent of the logic board). But in a few years? Who knows.

... or have got used to Windows appetite.

Windows 10 seems to run much, much better on less RAM than macOS. Even 4 GB isn't a big deal for it, and it's still very quick on even older hardware (with SSD of course).

 

[cube]

A
Windows 10 seems to run much, much better on less RAM than macOS. Even 4 GB isn't a big deal for it, and it's still very quick on even older hardware (with SSD of course).

My usual 12GiB OS+Firefox experience is on W10.