Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How much RAM should I get?

E

EddieVanHalen98

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 3, 2011
10
0
I'm planning on buying the new Mac Mini (making the switch from Widows :D), and I can have it for $599 with 2GB RAM, or, for a 4GB model, I can fork over an extra $150. No, I do not want to buy from anyone else, and I don't really mind about the price, I just want to know if I need it? I'm the sort of person who does have quite a lot of things open at the same time, like, music, internet, video editing software, text editor, XCode, Autodesk Maya, things like that, all at the same time. Is 2GB enough?
Plus, I want to keep it for at least 2/3 years, so I want to make sure I am eligible for future major Mac OS updates, only until like 10.8, I think by the time 10.9 releases, I'll get a new computer. Because each major software update demands more RAM:
10.5 Leopard - 512MB
10.6 Snow Leopard - 1GB
10.7 Lion - 2GB
10.8 ??? - 4GB?
Also, should I spend ANOTHER $50 on an extra 0.2GHz, and better graphics card? (Intel HD Graphics 3000 being the original, and AMD Radeon HD 6630M, being the second option for the extra $50 and the CPU increase)
 
For what you said you wanted to do (music, internet, video editing software, text editor, XCode, Autodesk Maya), at the same time, 4GB has to be the minimum amount to even consider.

I'm not sure if the Mac mini's support it as I haven't checked, but I'd even recommend 8GB.

EDIT: Just checked, and yes there is an 8GB option for the minis. Go with that if you have enough cash.
 
Sorry, I guess I didn't word this correctly :L
MOST of those applications will be open, most likely, music and internet WILL BE OPEN, and ONE OF THE FOLLOWING, from Maya, XCode, Text editor, and video editing software, sorry for the confusion :eek:
 
In the decreasing order of preferability, I suggest that

1. If you can afford it, go with 2.7 GHz i7 CPU/8 GB memory/750 GB@7200 HD + SSD.
2. 2.7 GHz i7 CPU/8 GB memory/SSD.
3. 2.7 GHz i7 CPU/8 GB memory/750 GB@7200 HD.
4. 2.5 GHz i5 CPU/8 GB memory/750 GB@7200 HD.
5. 2.3 GHz i5 CPU/8 GB memory/750 GB@7200 HD.
 
EddieVanHalen98 said:
Sorry, I guess I didn't word this correctly :L
MOST of those applications will be open, most likely, music and internet WILL BE OPEN, and ONE OF THE FOLLOWING, from Maya, XCode, Text editor, and video editing software, sorry for the confusion :eek:
Click to expand...

I'd still go with 8GB. Would definately help.
 
@Frankhan
The processor and HDD is perfect for me. It's just the RAM I was concerned about
@cambookpro
I can't afford an 8GB one :/
I guess I'll have to go with a 4GB one :p
 
Apple.. haha, they sell you 8g ram for 200$, and you can get the same thing for half the price...

If you want 8g, don't buy it from apple, it's totally overpriced. You could also upgrade to 6g ram by buying only one stick, it may be a good alternative
 
Given that you are doing video editing and 3d rendering, you should definitely max out the RAM (8GB), get the fastest CPU, and the best video option available. You are also going to want the faster (7200 rpm) disk drive. That takes you to $1,249.00. If you add a solid state disk for the OS and scratch, you are looking at another $600 beyond that (if you buy it from Apple).

For that matter, you may want to consider that even the fully tricked out Mac Mini may be underpowered for your needs. The higher end iMac or low-end Mac Pro may be more appropriate...
 
Well, I could easily run these tasks one at a time? I run these on my Windows PC, (some at the same time), and it's fine (although I do realize you'll need a lot more RAM on a Mac):
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.2GHz, and 4GB RAM
Yeah, I probably will buy a 2GB one, then manually upgrade it to 8GB ;)
 
EddieVanHalen98 said:
although I do realize you'll need a lot more RAM on a Mac.
Click to expand...

I'm all for doing the 'upgrade yourself, cheaper' option, but why are you saying that you need more RAM specifically on a Mac? It's been my experience over the last decade or so of using both PCs and Macs that Macs handle memory management much better and usually can do things with less RAM as efficiently as a PC can.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back