I am really torn between 8GB vs. 16GB RAM

[Sanpete]

There is nothing, I repeat nothing about the M1 which reduces memory requirements by 1/4 compared to Intel systems. At least I haven't seen anyone demonstrate as much.

Those are two very different claims. You keep making versions of the first, actually much stronger versions, while you only have a potential basis for the much weaker second. You assume too much.

There is of course data compression that can affect the amount of RAM needed even for data. I don't know if that's changed much for the M1 or not. And smart programs can swap data in and out as needed, sometimes without noticeable penalty, so what you say about data is too broad.

 

[pshufd]

What you see with m1 is low latency and less need to be fetching back and forth. Native apps may also be tighter and better fit. The download are definitely smaller. If like using COBOL when assembly or other code bases do a better job. But nothing magically to it. Shorter lines in checkout counter are always nice to have.

This makes no sense.

I've programmed in COBOL and Assembler and a lot of other languages. COBOL compiles down to machine code. So does Assembler. You have more options with Assembler but it's also ten times the work writing in Assembler.

 

[JeepGuy]

Yes, that makes sense. But I don't see how it follows that people in general should just get the same amount of RAM as they would have before. Different RAM uses appear to behave differently on the M1, some faster than before, some not so much. Seems to depend heavily on what the application is.

I think if there was a 4gb version for less money, some people would jump on that as well.

 

[pshufd]

Would anyone buy a 16 inch MacBook Pro with 8 GB of RAM?

 

[Sanpete]

Would anyone buy a 16 inch MacBook Pro with 8 GB of RAM?

Interesting question. Some probably would if it didn't also come with other expensive performance upgrades. If the only cost difference were for the screen and larger case, and maybe larger speakers, say plus $500, it might be attractive.

 

[hans1972]

Loaded up a few photoshoots on my Mac mini 8/256gb config today. I'm probably going to go ahead and return this one for a 16gb version as the MBA handles Lightroom much better. Not sure if the native version will fix this but when importing multiple 45MP RAW DSLR files my Mac mini slows to a crawl while my MBA M1 16gb keeps going smoothly

Memory pressure definitely in the yellow majority of the time

View attachment 1683395

You are one of the few I have ever noticed posted a screen shot of the memory pressure being yellow.

A lot of other people are just looking at the "Memory Used" or "Swap Used" numbers and concluding wrongly that they need more RAM while the memory pressure is gloriously green.

 

[scalpel_shredr]

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[pshufd]

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A lot of excellent deals there. I assume that their shipping times remain the same as Apple's though.

 

[pshufd]

I think if there was a 4gb version for less money, some people would jump on that as well.

I have a 2009 iMac 27" with 4 GB of RAM. It runs reasonably well with about 1 GB of swap but I'd like to run a few more applications. Remember that this PC has a HDD. I ordered 8 GB of RAM a few days ago to get it to 12 GB. That should be more than enough for what I plan to use it for. Another two probably would be enough unless I started to use this for trading. But the sweet spot is the 4 GB sticks. I like to put in more than is needed in case needs change.

My i7-10700 system has 64 GB of RAM and two more slots in case I want 128 GB of RAM. I did some experiments playing around with other operating systems and had five virtual machines running at the same time at one point. It is nice not to have any limits for playing around with stuff.

The M1 Macs have so much CPU horsepower - a shame that you can't crank up the RAM to match it. It would be nice to have a few more ports to plug in large disks too.

 

[JeepGuy]

I have a 2009 iMac 27" with 4 GB of RAM. It runs reasonably well with about 1 GB of swap but I'd like to run a few more applications. Remember that this PC has a HDD. I ordered 8 GB of RAM a few days ago to get it to 12 GB. That should be more than enough for what I plan to use it for. Another two probably would be enough unless I started to use this for trading. But the sweet spot is the 4 GB sticks. I like to put in more than is needed in case needs change.

My i7-10700 system has 64 GB of RAM and two more slots in case I want 128 GB of RAM. I did some experiments playing around with other operating systems and had five virtual machines running at the same time at one point. It is nice not to have any limits for playing around with stuff.

The M1 Macs have so much CPU horsepower - a shame that you can't crank up the RAM to match it. It would be nice to have a few more ports to plug in large disks too.

My 2008 with 4gb, runs pretty good since I put an SSD in it, these old iMacs are built like tanks.

 

[Bea220]

That was the whole intent of the stimulus payments - get people to go out and spend money to boost the economy

I saved up my stimulus check exactly for this. I've been waiting since April! Still torn about waiting longer for the 14" however it really feels incredible to be on a new machine. I'm not using this Pro as frequently as I should be while I'm within my "return window" but I really hope I just love it and keep it. Once the 14 is out (whenever that really may happen) I may consider selling/upgrading. We will see....

It's crazy how many new products Apple has put out during a pandemic so I wouldn't underestimate them.

This M1 MBP is more machine than I even need. It would actually be ridiculous for me to get anything above a base model. Damn that stupid inch! 🤣

 

[Booji]

I saved up my stimulus check exactly for this. I've been waiting since April! Still torn about waiting longer for the 14" however it really feels incredible to be on a new machine. I'm not using this Pro as frequently as I should be while I'm within my "return window" but I really hope I just love it and keep it. Once the 14 is out (whenever that really may happen) I may consider selling/upgrading. We will see....

It's crazy how many new products Apple has put out during a pandemic so I wouldn't underestimate them.

This M1 MBP is more machine than I even need. It would actually be ridiculous for me to get anything above a base model. Damn that stupid inch! 🤣

I am guessing the new models will be the 16" and the base MacBook. It seems too early to upgrade the 13" but then again who knows!

 

[the8thark]

As I understand it RAM is not soldered onto the board, it's a part of the M1 processor die itself. A distinction with the same end result (i.e. non-upgradable memory) but it's one of the design characteristics of the M1 processor which helps it perform better.

You are correct. It is part of the SoC. But as you also said, it's still not user upgradable.
It's a good design choice in my opinion.

 

[m1maverick]

You are correct. It is part of the SoC. But as you also said, it's still not user upgradable.
It's a good design choice in my opinion.

It may be a good choice for systems which do not require a lot of RAM. I wonder how Apple plans to handle systems which require large amounts of RAM. Will they be able to put, say, 128GB on the chip itself? Will they resort to external RAM? Or something in between where there's, say, 16GB on chip (as is the case today) which will function as a cache for the off chip RAM? It'll be interesting to see.

 

[pshufd]

It may be a good choice for systems which do not require a lot of RAM. I wonder how Apple plans to handle systems which require large amounts of RAM. Will they be able to put, say, 128GB on the chip itself? Will they resort to external RAM? Or something in between where there's, say, 16GB on chip (as is the case today) which will function as a cache for the off chip RAM? It'll be interesting to see.

The problem would be that too many RAM options would create a lot of SKUs and they should ideally cover 16, 32, 64, 128 for the systems up to the iMac and then variable amounts for systems from 128 to 1 TB of RAM. So they would have to go to external RAM for the iMac Pro and Mac Pro. I don't think that they want to make that many SKUs for the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini though.

So two-tier RAM. That's fine with me. I wouldn't mind 16 GB of super-fast RAM and then more that isn't as fast.

 

[macnmac]

i think the best bet is to get 16GB so you can start complaining about not having 32GB etc., welcome to the party

 

[Booji]

The problem would be that too many RAM options would create a lot of SKUs and they should ideally cover 16, 32, 64, 128 for the systems up to the iMac and then variable amounts for systems from 128 to 1 TB of RAM. So they would have to go to external RAM for the iMac Pro and Mac Pro. I don't think that they want to make that many SKUs for the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini though.

So two-tier RAM. That's fine with me. I wouldn't mind 16 GB of super-fast RAM and then more that isn't as fast.

I actually like how they kept it relatively simple this time around. It was a pretty complex decision process before with too many options. Now it is down to really three - MBP/MBA, two RAM options plus storage.

 

[pshufd]

I actually like how they kept it relatively simple this time around. It was a pretty complex decision process before with too many options. Now it is down to really three - MBP/MBA, two RAM options plus storage.

I like more options.

What I'd prefer - user serviceable DIMMs. My general preference is 6 DIMMs, then 4 DIMMs, then 2 DIMMs. My desktop has four DIMM slots. My iMac has four DIMM slots. I'm not sure what my MacBook Pros do but they are soldered in.

 

[MarkC426]

I actually like how they kept it relatively simple this time around. It was a pretty complex decision process before with too many options. Now it is down to really three - MBP/MBA, two RAM options plus storage.

And yet where up to 26 pages of indecision....... 🤪

 

[1240766]

I keep going back and forth...

I have been working on a MBA 8/8/8/512 without any issues whatsoever, day in and out completely replaced my other system(s).... BUT, I have one 8/8/16/512 ordered due end of December. I am really not sure which one I will keep, the 8gb is doing a great job...I don't really need the 16gb, but want it... not sure what to do...

 

[phil.544]

So I made a decision. I'm getting the base version because I'm upgrading in about 6 months to the coming MBP 14". Here is my decision process!

 

[phillytim]

SAME. But we know that Apple ain't bringing DIMM slots back to their mobiles.

I like more options.

What I'd prefer - user serviceable DIMMs. My general preference is 6 DIMMs, then 4 DIMMs, then 2 DIMMs. My desktop has four DIMM slots. My iMac has four DIMM slots. I'm not sure what my MacBook Pros do but they are soldered in.

 

[phillytim]

I keep going back and forth...

I have been working on a MBA 8/8/8/512 without any issues whatsoever, day in and out completely replaced my other system(s).... BUT, I have one 8/8/16/512 ordered due end of December. I am really not sure which one I will keep, the 8gb is doing a great job...I don't really need the 16gb, but want it... not sure what to do...

16GB is the right answer, if you wish to have longevity with it. Simple.

 

[magbarn]

I keep going back and forth...

I have been working on a MBA 8/8/8/512 without any issues whatsoever, day in and out completely replaced my other system(s).... BUT, I have one 8/8/16/512 ordered due end of December. I am really not sure which one I will keep, the 8gb is doing a great job...I don't really need the 16gb, but want it... not sure what to do...

Do the heaviest thing you do on a daily basis while activity monitor is up and running. If you see memory pressure go into yellow (which my 8gb Mac mini does) then you need 16gb. If it's green all the time despite pushing as hard as you want to, then 8gb is fine.

 

[1240766]

So I made a decision. I'm getting the base version because I'm upgrading in about 6 months to the coming MBP 14". Here is my decision process!

I like that. Question - what if there is no MPB 14"?