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Luba

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Apr 22, 2009
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So for general computer use (surfing with 50 tabs open, Office apps) 8 GB RAM is fine? And also fine for occasional Final Cut Pro video editing mainly 1080p with some 4k files shot using my iPhone? Would 16 GB RAM reduce waiting time in half while using FCP in comparison to 8 GB?
 
16Gb RAM would definitely reduce waiting time especially if you're dealing with occasional 4K footage from your iPhone while having 50 tabs open and office apps running. RAM is RAM and the M1 RAM requirements aren't any different than on regular system without taking the unified memory architecture into account. The benefit with the M1 is the unified memory architecture which allows the M1 to work faster and more efficient than Intel chips and to page in and out of RAM onto its built-in SSD storage for situations when your needs exceed the 8Gb RAM limit. I think you can still get by with some occasional 4K edits if your final output is 1080p. But 16Gb RAM is more future proof if your needs ever rises beyond 1080p editing, because unlike Intel macs, you can't upgrade RAM. You have to pre-buy RAM in anticipation of future needs beyond the 3-5 year time horizon, unless you plan to update before that time.

Hope this helps.
 
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I sold my MacBook Pro 15 (2019) 2.3GHz i9 (8 core), 16GB RAM, Radeon 560x 4GB and buy MacBook Pro M1 16GB performance difference is amazing in FCPX.
16GB is for FCPX - Compressor allow 3 project export in parallels + you still can work on FCPX without freeze (4K 25fps 264 codec from Sony, GoPro, DJI).
Lots of review after months say M1 with 8GB in real world is x2.5 slow when you start doing lots of things parallels.
Thats why this smol upgrade from 8GB to 16GB dramatic change potencia of your M1. 16GB allow you work in multitask.
 
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